Hands are valuable but also most vulnerable

News items such the following is rather distressing to read and is regrettably escalating:

“A worker sustained serious injuries to his right hand at a manufacturing plant in Epping this morning after his hand became caught between two rollers of the machine he was operating at the time.

The events leading up to the incident is unclear at this stage, but the worker, aged 42, was working on the machine when his right hand got caught and pulled into the rolling mechanism. The worker then activated the emergency stop button preventing the machine from doing any further harm. Concerned co-workers rushed to the man’s aid.

The machines rolling mechanism called for the top roller to be dismantled. Technicians later lifted the top roller of the man’s hand with the use of a crane, freeing the injured worker from the machine. ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene and found the man in severe pain.

The man had sustained crushing injuries to his right hand, up to his wrist as well as a deep laceration. Paramedics treated the man for his injuries and administered pain relieving medication before transporting him to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

The incident will be investigated by the appropriate authority.” (Andre Visser, ER24)

Hands are superbly designed tools of amazing strength and dexterity. They can pinch, grasp, twist, lift, hold and manipulate while doing a wide variety of other specific tasks.

Hands together with wrists are a complex system of bones, muscles and tendons, ligaments, blood vessels and nerves protected by layers of skin.

A total of 27 hand and wrist bones are connected to the muscles by tendons. Ligaments join bones together and hold the joints in place.

Blood vessels supply nourishment to all these parts. Nerves convey sensations and help to control hand

and finger movements. The skin provides a barrier against chemicals, heat

and cold. Skin on the back of the hand is thin and elastic and,

on the palm, it is thick to provide traction, cushioning and insulation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand injuries account for 1,080,000 emergency department visits by workers per year in the United States. In fact, as part of the analysis done on body parts injured in heavy industry, the hand was the number one body part that was injured.

Hand injuries resulting from cuts and puncture cost the construction industry $382 million each year, this injury figure is second only to back strain and sprain injury, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

◦ 70 present of workers who experienced hand injuries were not wearing gloves

◦ The remaining 30 present of injured workers did wear gloves, but experienced injuries because the gloves were inadequate, damaged or wrong for the type of hazard present

Workplace hazards and hand injury prevention

Hands are exposed to the following workplace hazards:◦skin absorption of harmful substances ◦severe cuts or lacerations ◦severe abrasions or punctures ◦chemical burns or thermal burns ◦harmful temperature extremes◦vibrations (HAVS: Hand Arm Vibration

Syndrome)◦impact and blunt force

In addition to the physical harm that hand injuries pose to workers, these injuries also take a financial toll.

The average hand injury claim has now exceeded $6,000, with each lost time workers compensation claim reaching nearly $7,500, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Safety Council.

The overall drain on employee productivity becomes apparent especially when you consider that there are about 110,000 estimated lost time hand injuries every year.

Gloves save hands

While glove use is not the only way to protect against hand injuries, it is a crucial component of any injury prevention programme.

A Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety study found that wearing gloves reduces hand injury risk by 60 present.

Employers must do appropriate research in order to select the right glove for the workers’ needs.

Fortunately, advanced technology has resulted in hand protection products that meet specific needs while enhancing worker comfort, dexterity and productivity.

Hand protection products are available, for example, that offer up to 300 present more abrasion and cut resistance than leather gloves.

Gloves are also offered that are form-fitted with an ergonomic design that enhances comfort and allows workers to keep the gloves on throughout the day.

Bramhope Safety Solutions has recently announced hand protection innovations introduced as a result of a partnership formed with a Eureka, a Swedish family-owned business and innovators who to focus on quality and continuous improvement.

Quality hand protection products are manufactured at Eureka’s factory in China and raw materials are obtained from various suppliers in Europe, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.

Bramhope Safety Solutions now offer products in the following range:◦SupraCoat : high quality waterborne PU/Nitrile

foam◦SupraBlock Cut : unique cut resistant fibre◦SupraCoat Dry : strong and durable oil and water

repellence treatment ◦SupraBlock 4u : durable synthetic leather

(microfiber fabric)◦SupraBlock Impact : excellent impact protection◦SupraBlock Stop : needle stick resistant fabric

Eureka 13-4 Edge Series

NOT All CE Level 5 gloves are created equal. Many of these gloves offer a minimal level of protection for industrial applications. There is significant confusion in global markets because many glove manufacturers misrepresent how they test their gloves, and the standard doesn't provide clear direction.

The Eureka 13-4 Edge products are evaluated according to EN388 / ISO 13997, the mandatory performance standard for all gloves as standardised and regulated by the CEN.

The cut-test method, called the Coup test, uses a constant weight on a counter-rotating circular blade that is moved back and forth across a sample by the test machine. The ISO 13997 test is the recommended methods by the EN388 standard to calibrate the cut resistance of high cut-resistant materials.

CE Level 5 gloves offer a wide array of performance ranges. Some of these gloves score as low as 1,000 grams (10 Newton), qualifying them barely for a Level 3 on the ASTM/ISEA scale.

Note that the force required to cut through is expressed as grams in the ASTM test and in Newton in the ISO test. These numbers can be converted for comparing the results on these tests (100 grams = .98 Newton).

The Eureka 13-4 Edge Series provides more than 2.5 kg of cut resistance.

This innovative product features advanced knitting and construction which provide a superior fit and comfort due to a sunk little finger bottom,  ergonomically shaped coating and two-layer knitting that eliminates any fiberglass in the vicinity of the hand.

Furthermore, the 13-4 Edge Series is 100% solvent free and available in Latex, textured nitrile or SupraCoat.

The revolutionary Eureka 13-4 Edge Series from Bramhope Safety Solutions

Eureka Puncture Assembly

Many cuts begin with a puncture. Cut-resistance tests are just one element of what needs to be considered.

Often punctures are misreported as cuts. A sharp edge, corner or other protruding hazard can penetrate the glove and scrape or cut skin.

With knit gloves, the hazard actually can poke through the open knit and cut the skin without cutting the glove.

Depending on the density of the knit and gauge of the glove (the measure of the number of knitting needles per inch) and the thickness of the fibres, a glove may “window,” with the knit spreading apart, thus allowing a sharp point or blade to cut the hand.

Plating with small guard plates can reduce this effect as the plates shield the knit structure from the hazards. The plates also lock in the knit and don't allow the knit to window.

Bramhope Safety Solutions offers a solution with ultra-tight woven Kevlar covered with an advanced ceramic composite that provides an EN388 Cut Level 5 protection against needles and other protruding hazards.

For industrial applications the 13-6 Heat Nitrile is suitable as it is manufactured with a knitted and nitrile-coated para-aramide composite liner with puncture and needle resistant palm.

The 13-6 Heat Nitrile has the extra ordinary cut resistance of EN388 Level 5 and a force of 60N is required to cut through. The 13-6 Heat Nitrile is evaluated according to EN388 / ISO 13997, the mandatory performance standard for all gloves as standardised and regulated by the CEN.

The Eureka Puncture Assembly is available in red/grey colour, or all black fabric with grip dots in black leather

Eureka 15-1 Assembly Nitrile II

The Nitrile glove provides barrier protection without the hazards of latex allergy, designed to shield working hands from specific chemicals such as oil. An ultra-thin and solid layer blocks oil penetration while the textured nitrile foam protects the barrier and provides an excellent grip.

The exposed textile at the top of the hand is protected by a high performance fluorocarbon that provides excellent oil repellence, yet allowing some breathing to ensure comfort.

Improved oil resistanceThin solid nitrile coating for best barrier

propertiesNitrile foam for best gripSupraCoat Dry oil- and water repellent on

backStrong and moisture transporting NylonElastic tight fit

The Eureka 15-1 Assembly Nitrile II is designed for precision handling in oily or dirty environments

Eureka Impact Xtreme Series

This glove was designed for unimpeded function and performance, providing a powerful defensive layer of shock absorbing armour to protect your hands and fingers from crushing injuries.

The Eureka Impact Xtreme Series combines high dexterity with a protection level 3-5 times higher than traditional technologies through advanced the uniquely designed SupraBlockImpact material.

A fitted ‘intelligent’ foam layer provides up to five times reduction of the bone shattering impact compared to other gloves.

The Eureka Impact Xtreme series includes:◦Impact Xtreme Dry (standard style)◦Impact Xtreme Dry Grip (silicone grip)◦Impact Xtreme Wet (waterproof, PVC grip)◦Impact Xtreme Mud (waterproof, cut/needle

resistant, PVC grip)◦Impact Xtreme Winter (PVC grip, water proof)

The Eureka Impact Xtreme Series is widely used in the mining industry

Eureka 13-1 Clean Assembly

Bramhope Safety Solutions has introduced the new Eureka 13-1 Clean Assembly glove for “clean-touch” applications while offering the lowest possible environmental impact.

Wearing the appropriate barrier protection in food handling and food service as well as medical establishments is especially important in minimising the spread of bacteria and protecting consumers.

This product is silicon and fingerprint-free and is manufactured from 100% recycled un-dyed polyester. It is free from any emulsifiers, organic solvents and most of the other chemicals found in standard rubber gloves.

An innovative clean green product – no environmental impact

Too often we forget just how amazing and vulnerable hands really are. Routinely working with tools or machinery can sometimes result in carelessness. Although cutting-edge PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) technologies offer increased protection, employees need to stay alert, be aware of hazards and work safely at all times.

Bramhope Safety Solutions is a specialist importer/wholesaler, supplier and dis tributor of more than 17 000 CE certified and ANSI approved safety products through various re-sellers, partners and retail outlets.

With operations in 18 Afri can countries, Bramhope is the leading and fastest growing supplier of personal protective equipment across Africa.

Contact Bramhope Safety Solutions on:086 000 2726 / 086 00 BRAM or +27 11 397 5075/6or sales@bramhope.co.za or visit www.bramhope.co.za