Every year, hand injuries result in more than a million emergency room visits, making them the second-most common work-related injury, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The most important reason to reduce these numbers is worker health and safety. But a compelling business case for accident prevention exists, too. The direct costs of hand injuries are very high, but the indirect costs – such as lost productivity, training for replacement workers and even negative publicity – are even higher.
To reduce these costs, make sure your workers wear appropriate protective gloves to prevent cuts and abrasions, the most common types of hand injuries. Take note of an OSHA study indicating approximately 70 percent of workers who experienced hand injuries did not wear protective gloves when the injury occurred. Safety leaders need insights into why workers choose not to wear protective gloves, and fresh solutions to reverse this resistance or neglect. New material technologies that combine a high level of cut protection along with light weight, thinness for improved dexterity and breathability to prevent overheating enable the manufacture of high-performance, comfortable gloves that workers willingly use.