Figuring out hand protection just got easier

ImpaCTproTECTIon raTInGsTanDarDs

figuring out hand protection just got easier

Work site injury statistics prove just how costly injuries are for both companies and employees. We know that after the back, the hands, wrists, and fingers are the most injured part of the body on a work site. This is where gloves come in. Thirty per cent of hand injuries occur because workers wear the wrong gloves for the task they are doing and 70 per cent of hand injuries occur because workers wear

inadequate or worn out gloves.

Modern materials and technology are changing the glove world faster than ever. We now have standards that need to be adhered to with independent testing bodies. The gloves that are tested are marked with the ratings so the consumer can be sure they are properly protected. There is testing for cut resistance, abrasion resistance, tear resistance, puncture resistance, chemical risk and, new last year, impact resistance.

Ansi/ISEA 138 Impact standards were ratified April 2019, and this is great news for the end-user. This standard was created as a collaboration between ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and the ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association), hand surgeons, glove manufacturers and raw material suppliers. Watson Gloves was invited to participate as part of the working group to review, comment and vote on the drafts of the standards during the ratification process.

It’s a voluntary standard for the North American market, designed to accurately classify different levels of impact protection offered by the impact-resistant gloves on the market. This is important because there was no way to rate impact protection before. Anyone could slap a thin piece of rubber on the back of the hand and call it “impact-resistant.” Now there’s a rating system to help consumers decide which gloves will provide proper impact resistance, as it has passed North American testing standards.

Many hand injuries can be completely avoided with the proper hand protection, which is why it’s so important to choose the right glove for each task. Glove design is of utmost importance. By placing impact pads, resistant support, and hard plastic armor in the vulnerable spots of the hand, Watson Gloves can provide the perfect balance between protection and performance. As Watsons was part of the working group for ANSI/ISEA 138, they’re ahead of the curve and have a wide selection of Impact-resistant gloves that have been tested.

Amongst the many Impact resistant styles that have recently been developed is the Commander (style #9585), lined for winter. It has the highest level of impact resistance, Level 3, and also features:

• Cold MX insulation – compact insulation that is windproof, anti-bacterial and provides excellent thermal efficiency without bulk

• Polariz inner lining – microfleece lining coated with aluminum dots that reflect the body’s radiant heat back

• D3OiA Impact Additive – D3O Impact Additive loaded into the TPR will allow 30 per cent better impact-resistance compared to regular TPR at the same thickness

• Wounded Warriors – partial proceeds from the sales of every pair of 9595 (and

Shock Troopers) will be donated to Wounded Warriors Canada

• Also available in an unlined version (585)

Watsons also has many Level 2 styles if Level 3 is a little over-the-top for the job you are performing.

Whatever you do, as an employer or a consumer, make sure your or your employee’s hands are properly protected. Use the rating systems and reach out for further help if you need it while making your glove-purchasing decisions. Contact us at 1-800-663 9509 or research on our website www. watsongloves.com.

Don’t become a worksite accident statistic. 6

GEOLOGIC ALL-TERRAIN (GAT) DRILL Environmental friendly, highly portable drill for till (geochemistry), lake sediment and mineral grain sampling using 76 mm (3 in) augers or sampling tubes

Soil sampling and associated geochemical analyses (geochemistry, grain size, grain composition etc.) is being increasingly used as a prospecting and exploration tool. These techniques can be especially useful when applied after airborne or ground geophysical surveys have identified conductor zones or specific anomaly targets.

Sampling and geochemical analysis of till directly overlying bedrock most

often provides the most useful data. The till is often overlain by lake silt, clays or peat deposits and it is necessary to auger (drill) through these deposits to recover till samples. An efficient and portable drill has been developed to access and soil sample in remote areas.

Geologic All-Terrain (GAT) Drill

• Shallow bedrock coring (BQ) • Light weight 600 kgs (1300 lbs) and towable by ATV or long track snowmobile • Custom made rugged axle-less steel carrier • High flotation low pressure tires • High quality aluminum drill components • Hydraulically driven and controlled operation with quick interchangeable hydraulic motors • Quick hydraulic couplers for even more drill component break down • High torque 0-243 rpm soil augering capability - 15m + depth sampling • Higher rpm 0-970 rpm rock coring capability • US and CDN patents

One unit available for now, custom orders - two month delivery