Laceration Avoided at Paper Manufacturing Plant

Change-overs are a very common part of maintaining production lines at paper mills. The different types of slitter blades used to produce product must be adjusted or replaced daily in order to meet customer specifications for finished goods.

 

HexArmor® had been working with a large international provider of packaging, paper products, and services to find a solution for lacerations that their mechanics were experiencing during routine maintenance on production lines. The company had been using the Whizzard Glove (a heavy duty Spectra blended cut-resistant glove) for years, yet hand injuries were still present and the mechanics did not like how the gloves bulky fit got in the way of handling smaller parts.

 

A team of HexArmor® Trusted Safety Advisors recommended the Chrome Series® 4025 for the mechanics changing slitter blades, as it has 360 degree Level 5 (ASTM/CE) cut protection, as well as added impact guards on the back of hand in case of tool slips or bumps.

 

After about a month of use, a mechanic performing a blade change-over came in contact with one of the slitter blades, cutting through both the impact protection and the synthetic leather on the back of the Chrome Series® 4025 .

 

SuperFabric® brand material protected the worker from injury. While the glove itself was damaged, the worker was not injured due to the high level of protection provided by the SuperFabric® brand material underneath the surface of the glove. Had the worker been wearing a competitive product, he would have had to make a trip to the hospital for treatment. The company would have had to pay out insurance claims, as well as factor in lost time and revenue because of the injury.


Download PDF