Revolutionising PPE for the Glass & Glazing Industry
Glass is a fantastically versatile material, but if handled incorrectly it can inflict severe cuts and other serious injuries. Kozane® fabrics effectively minimise these risks, offering unbeatable cut, tear, puncture and abrasion resistance and ensuring that both your workers and your company’s reputation are safe at all times.
The cutting truth about workplace safety
Having worked with companies in the glass industry for many years, Kozane® knows that manual handling is often unavoidable and that accidents can occur despite comprehensive safety measures and training for staff. Whether you manufacture flat glass or operate a bottling plant, tasks such as selecting and moving stock, laying materials on a bench for cutting, or placing products in racks ready for dispatch, pose a high risk to workers.
Over a third of all injuries in the UK glass industry are caused by moving, lifting and carrying (RIDDOR, 2019), while in the US, nearly 20% of all injuries in glass and glass product manufacturing involve a cut, laceration or puncture (US Bureau of Labour Statistics, 2018). With the right personal protective equipment (PPE), accidental injuries like this can be avoided, keeping workers safe and saving your company both time and money.
In 2011, a UK glass firm pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 after two men were severely injured moving a trolley loaded with glass. The company was fined £20,000 and forced to pay costs of over £5,000. But this is not an isolated case. In 2105, following two deaths and 431 injuries over a three-year period, WorkCover NSW (now SafeWork NSW), embarked upon a targeted safety initiative demonstrating the risks of unloading glass sheets from containers and vehicles.
Already widely used as a protective lining for Granberg’s award-winning protective gloves, Kozane® fabrics offer high levels of cut, tear, puncture and abrasion resistance, protecting against cuts, lacerations and other serious injuries caused by contact with sharp or broken glass. With PPE made from Kozane®, business owners can avoid worker injury and the subsequent loss of income through sick-days, legal action and reputation damage. Accidents will happen, but injuries don’t have to.
Reducing risk with effective cut resistant PPE
The Kozane® range combines nearly 60 years of knowledge and experience in protective glove design with the very latest textile technology. Its multi-layered composition is engineered to prevent or minimize a wide range of dangers in hazardous environments. It protects against cuts and lacerations while simultaneously offering high levels of abrasion, tear and puncture resistance. As such, products and garments utilizing this technology benefit from both increased safety and longevity.
The fabric range offers cut protection up to EN388:2016 Cut Level F (ANSI Cut Level A8), making it far stronger than traditional aramid fibres and other cut resistant textiles in its class. In addition, Kozane®‘s unique flexibility and breathability make it extremely comfortable to wear – vital for repetitive, manual tasks and working in warm conditions.
The UK’s Glass & Glazing Federation recommends the following cut resistant PPE for glass industry workers, all of which can be produced using Kozane® fabrics:
upper arm and shoulder protection
gloves
gauntlets and cuffs
apron
overalls
The US National Glass Association (NGA) similarly recommends cut resistant PPE, stating that: “Cut-resistant PPE is critical, particularly in the areas of the body where major arteries would render a cut most harmful. These areas include the neck, upper under arm, upper inside leg and wrist”. Kozane® offers a range of ready-made protective garments, including sweatshirts, jackets and pants, all of which you can view here: Kozane® — Shop — Cut Resistant Clothing Canada
If you are as passionate as we are about worker safety, then contact us today to discuss your requirements. Wes will work with you to establish the exact level of risk in your workplace and recommend a solution to effectively protect your workforce. Call us on 289-314-7900 or contact us via our website.
