Or at least in the majority of operations. Whether it’s because of power tools, production machinery, or just opening boxes. I’ve yet to see a manufacturing, fulfillment/e-comm, or food processing operation where there is no possibility of a laceration.

Today we’re going to review some unique cutting tools and cut resistant PPE that is designed around real-life applications instead of laboratory settings where the traditional ANSI scale comes from.

One thing before we dive in - FlexPAC and our resources can provide third-party audits and training to support your safety team and keep your employees safe.

Did you know that, according to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, 30% of all workplace injuries are cuts and lacerations? And that they incur an average cost of $46,000 per claim?

In short, Slice replaces the hazard inherent in all knives, the blade, with a ceramic and finger-friendly® blade. If you want to read more about the science behind it, you can here. To keep it short, I’ll bullet point the benefits below:

Recently, Slice was acquired by Safety Products Global. This includes Klever for your film and simple box opening needs as well as Pacific Handy Cutter for applications, like food processing, where metal blades are needed.

All to say that regardless of your industry - if you’re looking to increase efficiencies, reduce cut hazards, and lower your spend over time, your knives and box cutters might be one area to look at.

We’ve addressed the tools, now let’s talk about the PPE. To start, we first need to understand how cut-resistant gloves are currently rated on the ANSI scale. The below video walks you through 1) how the ANSI scale works, 2) its shortcomings, 3) the employers responsibility, and 4) how to confidently provide your employees with adequate protection.

In short, the ANSI scale rates the glove material for how well it stands up against a razor sharp blade under 200 to 5,999 grams of pressure (.44lbs to 13.2lbs). Really, not a whole lot of weight…..and are the cut hazards in your facility razor-sharp blades or perhaps some jagged edges?

Banom’s focus is on tensile strength - which matters more in most real-life scenarios. And by following proper protocol, you can ensure your glove and sleeve PPE is proven adequate for your operations.

Additionally, Banom offers a wider range of glove sizes. Most EH&S managers will attest that one of the most difficult parts of a PPE program is employee buy-in. To that end, proper sizing and comfort/fit is nearly as important as cut resistance. Confirming both is an integral part of FlexPAC and Banom’s PPE program.

By doing an edge test and finding the right glove for your application (instead of a random ANSI rated glove that your supplier offers up), you will ensure:

For facilities with a large number of employees using gloves daily, it may make sense to utilize Banom’s Bantex® reconditioning program. The Bantex program is different than traditional laundering programs provided by other PPE providers. The Bantex program uses environmentally friendly detergents and a customer-specific QA check to ensure that any glove returned will not cause skin irritation, is completely free of contaniments, disinfected & sanitized, and individually paired prior to the product returning to you.

This process extends the life of your PPE and further lowers your overall cost.

If you have questions, want to learn more, or maybe you’d like an outside perspective or audit of cut hazards in your facility, let me know! You can reply to this email, book a conversation here, or reach out to me at the info below.

(812)244-9393 & [email protected]

If you found this insightful, please feel free to share with others - they can subscribe here. You can also view past newsletters at the same link.