PROTECT YOUR ASSETS
Peter Dumigan, managing director of the Hultafors Group UK, which owns Snickers Workwear, advises contractors on selecting the correct knee protection to prevent long- term injuries.
Knee injuries are commonplace in the workplace. Sore and swollen knee joints are something that many people suffer from at one time or another. It’s a perennial problem and highly aggravating but prevention is far easier than cure and damage can be avoided by taking the proper steps to look after your knees.
The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body and there are different types injuries that are of particular concern to anyone who works on their knees.
The most common is probably housemaid's knee or bursitis, a painful condition which is caused by kneeling for long periods of time, repetitive knee movements such as crouching down and standing up or even by innocuous accidents. Fluid builds up in the bursa, which is the sack
36 | TOOLS, ACCESSORIES & WORKWEAR
of fluid that cushions the knee joints, causing swelling, soreness and stiffness in the joint.
So, what is the answer?
Effective knee protection on site is, as you might expect, covered by EU legislation. The EN 14404 Knee Protection Standard deals with the size, force-distribution and penetration-resistance of kneepads.
Type 2, Level 1 protection ensures reliable knee protection for workers in a mobile working environment that involves regular kneeling to perform their job. This protection level is designed to protect the knees in all types of working environments with rough, hard and damp surfaces from small objects and debris up to 1cm.
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