3 Steps to Implementing a Hand Protection Program

Hand injuries constitute over a quarter (28%) of reported incidents in the workplace, thus underscoring how critical it is to have a detailed hand protection programme in place. Most employers understand the importance of hand protection, however, in many cases where incidents occur, it’s not because the employee wasn’t wearing any sort of glove, but because they were wearing the wrong one. The right choice of safety gloves not only mitigates the risk of injuries but also enhances overall efficiency and productivity.

With so many options available on the market, choosing the right kind of protection can be a daunting experience. However, by outlining the three fundamental steps in developing and maintaining an effective hand protection system, you will be able to build a programme that will ensure the safety of yourself, and your employees.  

Step 1. The Analysis

Any program aimed at improving hand safety must first begin with gathering and analyzing incident and injury data in order to spot patterns. Then, identify potential hazards that could lead to hand injuries such as being crushed, pinched, caught or jammed while workers are performing their regular duties.

The department leading the project or the health and safety specialist should consider the following queries/procedures:

1. What/where are the most common hand injuries? What types of injuries occurred
2. How did the injuries happen? Were they related to handling tools and equipment or near particular machinery? Are they the result of chemical exposure?
3. In what conditions did the injuries occur? Indoor? Outdoor? In dry, wet or cold?
4. Are the injuries due to a sudden act or a long term, repetitive action?
5. Conduct a thorough risk assessment to outline potential hazards involving tools, heavy machinery, closing doors, or moving objects.What are the existing barriers to workers wearing hand protection?

Upon completion of the study, the health and safety expert will have a comprehensive grasp on the types of hand injuries occurring, what the workers are doing at the time of the injury and a better understanding on why workers aren’t wearing hand protection in the first place. With this specific information, employers can then seek recommendations from suppliers and manufacturers on the proper type, style and level of protection needed.

Step 2. The Implementation Process

Once all of the types of protective gloves have been identified, tested and accepted, (Which may take a few weeks depending on your business) employers should focus on an action plan.

Training and educating your workers should be the first step in this process. This includes an explanation of why the program is needed as well as detailed instructions on the guidelines and application of the program.

Many companies include visual aids, such as glove boards, that make it easier for employees to:

1. Easily identify which safety gloves should be worn for particular job duties
2. Ensure the proper use, care, and maintenance of safety gloves/sleeve

Furthermore, creating an internal safety awareness campaign to highlight the significance of the hand safety program, after training has taken place, can help reaffirm the message as well as increase the buy in from your employees.

Step 3. Monitoring

With your new glove program fully launched and in place, it’s important to ensure that employees are adhering to the new safety guidelines and to track the results.

By performing regular safety audits and providing easy and efficient ways for employees to report incidents, management can monitor the outcome of the changes, and make adjustments where necessary.

Having an extensive and thorough hand protection program that matches the unique demands of certain workplace tasks, will exemplify how your business prioritizes employee well-being.

Whether your employees need medical grade disposable gloves or protection against objects or machinery that could cause harm, SSC has your covered.

From one employee to hundreds, we can help you establish a hand protection program that will keep your business running, and your employees safe.

Our team of experts are standing by, ready to help you launch your glove protection program. Give us a call, or connect with us via email or through our contact form.

Already know the category of gloves you need? Hit the quick links below to shop our vast selection!

Cut Resistant Gloves

Disposable Gloves

Insulated Gloves

Coated Gloves

Impact Gloves

Leather Gloves

Knit Gloves

Do you have a glove program in place? We’d love to hear your comments!