Case Study: MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL
VVB ENGINEERING -TACKLING HAND INJURIES AND CHANGING PERCEPTIONS
At a Glance
INDUSTRY: Mechanical & Electrical
LOCATION: United Kingdom
ORGANISATION:
27 site locations
500 people
Work across infrastructure projects that cover, fire, communications public health, rail, highways, power, and tunnelling.
CHALLENGE:
Tackle a consistent rise in hand injuries and a complicated hand protection range.
SOLUTION:
Specified a simplified range of gloves that enabled work rather than inhibited it, without compromising on protection.
- Hand injuries halved in 2024
- A change of attitude across the business towards valuing hand protection
- Thus reducing consumption and enhancing the safety culture.
Identifying the Problem
Back in 2020, VVB Engineering were experiencing a consistent rise in hand injuries. This prompted an investigation which found that their glove range needed to be better suited to their working environment and activities.
“They were too bulky for precise work, and many were wrongly specified without high enough cut resistance.”
Group Safe, Sustainable and Wellbeing Director
Their current range was complicated and easily allowed for the selection of the wrong glove. Gloves were viewed as a disposable commodity by all, and this meant additional waste. There was also an attitude of complying rather than wearing the right glove.
“The biggest challenge we had was the removal of gloves to undertake precise electrical work. This was a result of our current gloves being too bulky. I realised we needed thinner gloves with better dexterity but in addition, all the gloves needed to have higher cut resistance which was hard to find.”
Finding the Solution
STALSEN worked with VVB Engineering to specify a range of gloves that enabled work rather than inhibited it. The new range focused on innovative gloves that were ultra lightweight with much higher dexterity and comfort, but also offered the highest cut resistance, ensuring there was no compromise on protection.
Hand injuries most frequently occur when gloves are not on hands. So ensuring all bases were covered in protection, comfort, and functionality, while also ensuring the range was suited to the activities VVB’s workforce were engaged in, meant that we had eliminated the reasons to remove gloves while at work.
STALSEN enabled us to create a simplified range of quality gloves that are activity based. We have a direct link to Kieran who is the right person to make it all happen. He looks beyond the gloves at behavioural elements. It is rare in this industry to be given such a personalised solution to hand protection”.
Delivering the Outcome
STALSEN has helped to change the perception of hand protection and safety at VVB. The introduction of a specified range of site-specific hand protection has resulted in a significant reduction in hand injuries, halving injuries in 2024.
There has been a change in attitude across the business which has also had some other positive outcomes, including a reduction in consumption and waste and building a stronger safety culture. The new gloves last longer and are looked after by the wearers. It is easy for them to wear the right gloves now as the guess-work has been taken out.
“We don’t feel like a number to STALSEN, our business and our safety really matters to them.”
The headlines
TALK TO US ABOUT HAND PROTECTION
Want to talk to the Stalsen team about your hand protection requirements?Call: +44 (0)1394 447090. Email: info@stalsen.com.Or complete the contact form below.