The Situation

Over 700 staff working on the shop floor in four departments; Assembly, Overhauls, Machining Services and Maintenance had previously been wearing a leading general-purpose knitted dipped glove. However, the glove had several issues, resulting in worker dissatisfaction, high glove usage rates and increased risk for the workers:

Issue one was the high absorbency resulting in skin contact with various oils leading to workers removing their gloves, putting them at risk.

Additionally, the short lifespan of the glove meant workers were using one pair per day on average, leading to significant costs for Siemens to implement their glove policy.

Furthermore, the gloves were causing high levels of hand perspiration making it uncomfortable for the wearer when performing physical tasks, leading to workforce dissatisfaction.

Finally, the gloves were also white, meaning they showed dirt easily and workers would therefore replace them more frequently. 

The Solution

Recognising that Siemens’ employees needed a more durable glove to provide enhanced protection, comfort and grip when working in an oily and greasy environment, Globus, along with the Siemens Health & Safety Department introduced the Globus 5-Step Hand Protection Programme.

The Globus 5-Step Hand Protection Programme

The Globus 5-Step Hand Protection Programme aims to understand the precise needs of the user and recommend the right glove(s) that are fit for purpose, fit for the user, and fit for the customer’s budget. Steps 1 and 2 involved an on-site survey and trial across all four departments and Siemens trialled the Globus SKYTEC gloves and SHOWA 380 Foam Grip glove. The trial involved 50 staff members and the results were as follows:

1. Significantly lower glove usage. The life of the glove was anything up to a week because the foam palm of the Globus SHOWA 380 locked in oil and grease to allow continual use, in comparison to a daily glove change with the previous glove. Plus the perception of the glove being less dirty due to the darker colouring increased the glove life further.

2. Increased comfort and dexterity for the user. The fine cotton liner and anatomical shaping of the glove meant that hands did not sweat as much and the glove was more flexible and comfortable to wear, with an improved sensitivity and feel.

3. Higher rate of user acceptance. The success of the trial even resulted in several non-glove users being converted. The SHOWA 380 is the first glove to do this since the introduction of a glove policy at Siemens. Step 3 involved presenting the trial results to the Health & Safety Department and due to the success, the Globus SHOWA and SKYTEC gloves replaced the previous glove across all four departments. Full staff training, on-site information and reviews were then implemented – forming steps 4 and 5 of the Globus Hand Protection Programme.

“Non-glove users have even been convinced since the introduction of the Globus SHOWA 380, the first glove to achieve this since the introduction of a glove policy on site. Guys used to come into my office every morning for a pair of gloves, but now I’m lucky to see them once a week.” Lee Wilson, Principal Health, Safety & Environmental Engineer, Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery.

Following on from the successful introduction of the SHOWA 380, other gloves from the Globus portfolio have now been introduced to Siemens in Lincoln.

The SHOWA 377 is used in the strip areas on the shopfloor where lubricants are used to clean and ease components that might have seized or be contaminated. In addition, for employees handling sharp objects, the SKYTEC Ninja X4 is used and finally to aid product protection, SKYTEC Utah single-use nitrile disposables have been adopted across the Lincoln site.

The Benefits

The Globus SHOWA and SKYTEC gloves are now the approved and accepted gloves on-site, with measurable benefits to both the company and workforce.

Comparing the benefit of the SHOWA 380 glove alone, Siemens estimates that the ratio of replacing the previous glove onsite is 1:5, one 380 for every five of the previous market leading lightweight glove. As a result, Siemens business in Lincoln estimates that it has made a cost saving of 22% over an equivalent six month period, due to lower glove usage and a decrease in worker downtime for re-issuing gloves.

From a Health & Safety perspective, occupational health onsite has also seen a measurable benefit, as reported accidents to hands have also been reduced by an impressive 12% over the same six month period.

The environmental policy at Siemens has also received a boost. Only first grade materials are used to manufacture the gloves and it is SHOWA’s policy to not use any materials during that process that may cause irreversible damage to the environment.

As such, this also has an impact on waste issues within Siemens, not only is the glove cleaner, the quantity of wastage has now significantly reduced.

The Globus solution for Siemens led to increased safety, compliance, and wearer acceptance with previous non-glove users being converted. With the glove replacements, Siemens also experienced a significant reduction in costs due to the extended glove life and darker colouring of the Globus glove.

Whether you're looking to enhance site safety, reduce costs, minimise your carbon footprint, or meet sustainability goals, the Globus 360 programme has got you covered. The Globus 360 Safety Programme is a free no-obligation service, to help assess and identify the specific personal protective equipment (PPE) needs for a particular site or workplace. We also go the extra mile to ensure our recommendations align with your broader business objectives.

To find out more, contact us today.