When injuries and accidents happen, they are often analyzed and talked about for days or even weeks. Yet precious little time is given to discussing near misses — the occasions when injuries almost occur. Because there is no recordable injury, workers typically continue to perform tasks as always — the same way and with the same hand protection products — until someone suffers a painful and costly injury.
This scenario is too common as safety personnel and workers overestimate their hand protection’s performance capabilities, or underestimate the degree of risk. Sometimes workers and safety personnel are unaware of the extent of the hazards involved.