ISEA experts detail changes to standards for high-visibility apparel and hand protection

Anaheim, CA – Experts in the area of high-visibility apparel and hand protection spoke about recent changes to ANSI/ISEA standards that affect employers and workers alike, during a “Solutions From ISEA Experts” session Tuesday at the 2016 NSC Congress & Expo.

Richard McNeely, a New York City-based personal safety market manager for ORAFOL Americas and chairman of ISEA’s product group for high-visibility safety apparel, offered details about the latest revision of the high-visibility standard ANSI/ISEA 107.

McNeely said the revised standard combined ANSI/ISEA 107 and ANSI/ISEA 207, which were issued in different years and out of sync with each other.

“Unlike head protection or hand protection, this is a soft type of protection,” McNeely said. Geno Lechuga, director of sales at Grand Rapids, MI-based HexArmor and ISEA’s hand protection expert, went over changes in hand safety standards.

ANSI/ISEA 105 includes some revisions for the classification of cut resistance, Lechuga said. He also discussed new glove standards and outlined the direct and indirect costs to employers when a worker lacerates his or her hand.

Lechuga said he often asks safety managers why so many hand injuries happen.

“One of my biggest pet-peeve comments I’ve ever heard is, ‘Because my people are stupid,’” Lechuga said.

To illustrate his point, Lechuga told the story of a friend named John who seriously injured his hands while working for a mining company. Lechuga made a point of saying that his friend is not stupid.

“He’s human. We’re all human. We make mistakes,” Lechuga said. “Gloves are the last line of defense. However, if his company understood hand safety, could his injuries have been reduced? They might have been.”