P roviding C utting E dg E PPE F or t h E P a PE r a nd P ul P i ndustry In the pulp and paper industry maintenance workers and millwrights are constantly exposed to cut and laceration hazards on their hands and arms during slitter blade changeouts and other blade maintenance operations While reducing cuts and slashes was a priority giving these specialized workers the exact dexterity and feel required to remove and replace blades effciently was the key to providing the right PPE for the job Th E chall E ng E of chang I ng ou T shar P sl ITTE r blad E s Changing out circular slitter blades like this is hazardous work for pulp and paper millwrights W orking in confned spaces surrounded by sharp blades increases the exposure to cuts and lacerations for both hands and arms it also demands PPE that allows maximum dexterity and feel to perform blade changeouts quickly and effciently hE x a rmor f I nds solu TI on for T ough ma I n TE nanc E T asks W orking with paper mill industry leaders like W eyerhaeuser Georgia Pacifc and Kimberly Clark HexArmor provided a full range of protective glove and arm guard solutions to mitigate millwright and maintenance crews risk of cuts and lacerations in handling and replacing straight edge doctor blades and circular slitter blades HexArmor discovered that maintenance workers had traditionally used leather gloves or gloves made of materials that offered no more than ISEA and CE Level 2 less than 1000 grams cut protection in these tasks In cases where manufacturers had mandated improved PPE like Kevlar trials of Kevlar gloves failed rejected by unions and workers because of insuffcient cut protection poor ft and unacceptable dexterity and grip characteristics Since maintenance workers and millwrights play such a critical role in keeping production lines running having the right level of protection and dexterity is key to a stronger and safer paper and pulp facility Slitter blades and other circular blades can come in many different sizes weights and can be saturated with grease or have no coating at all With a variety of hazards in play it is critical to keep the workers in the best protection for the application HexArmor ensures the protection and quality of its PPE by testing to ISEA Level 5 Ratings for cut resistance and also feld tests products for industrial puncture protection from wires wickers slivers and glass Since dexterity and grip requirements vary by specifc application HexArmor leveraged its relationships with industry leaders in paper and pulp mills to adjust recommendations based on company and plant specifc needs Circular Slitter Blade Changing circular slitter blades and straight edged doctor blades created hazards for the maintenance crews in charge of keeping machinery running Most of the PPE that was used was less than ISEA and CE Level 2 cutresistance not enough to keep hands safe HexArmor introduced a variety of ISEA and CE Level 5 cut protection for hands and arms which helped reduce injuries and increase safety records Pulp Paper facts