Industrial hand protection manufacturer SHOWA has launched its Sentinel by SHOWA hand protection programme across the EMEA region, to help employers reduce hand injuries, improve protection and identify cost-saving opportunities
Sentinel by SHOWA is a free of charge, two-stage process. It begins with a site-wide survey which identifies risk factors and potential improvements in hand protection, and makes recommendations tailored to the needs of each end user. Where required, this can be followed by a four-week structured trial, which enables end users to evaluate recommended SHOWA gloves against their current products in terms of comfort, dexterity, durability and suitability for specific tasks.
The programme also supports compliance with relevant health and safety legislation such as the EU PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC, whereby employers are required to identify risks and provide appropriate personal protective equipment to their workforce.
High-risk sectors
The programme is specifically designed for large end users in high-risk sectors such as manufacturing, construction, transportation and energy, where at least 150 workers are using hand protection. Sentinel can help employers reduce the number of non-fatal injuries to hands and wrists, which account for 25% of non-fatal workplace injuries. It is already operating successfully in the US market, where customers have already seen measurable benefits. Wabtec Graham-White, for example, a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and electro-pneumatic components, saw a US$18,000 reduction in glove spend, a drop in hand injuries and a more sustainable approach to PPE selection through the introduction of SHOWA’s biodegradable EBT hand protection solutions.
“Sentinel by SHOWA provides a practical framework for engaging with workers and safety teams to ensure the right gloves are used for the right applications,” said Tony Lynch, vice president EMEA & USA from SHOWA. “By understanding user needs on site, testing against actual job demands, and following through with data-backed recommendations, we can improve safety performance and reduce incidents while helping customers optimise their PPE spend; and it’s all for free.”
