FEATURE ADVANCEDPROTECTION
Hardworking craftsmen and women put more pressure on their knees than many top athletes. That’s why the risk of knee injuries is far higher among trade professionals and manual workers than other occupations.
Knee injuries are common in the workplace. Sore and swollen knee joints are something that most tradesmen and women suffer from at one time or another and bumps to the knee can be innocuous but troublesome. They’re a perennial problem and can be highly aggravating but prevention is far easier than cure 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 of injuries that are of particular concern to anyone who works on their knees for any length of time.
The most common ailment is Housemaid's Knee or Bursitis, which is caused by kneeling for long periods of time and by repetitive knee movements such as crouching down and standing up. Fluid builds up in the bursa – which is the sack of fluid that cushions the knee joints – causing swelling, soreness and stiffness in the joint.
WHAT’S THE ANSWER? The most effective knee protection in the workplace is, as you might expect, covered by legislation and PPE certification standards. 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 where you find rough, hard and damp surfaces as well as ground debris up to 1 cm thick. The Type 2, Level 0 standard designates effective knee protection for those people who need to work on their knees indoors – but only occasionally.
There have been various types of knee protectors available over the years such as inflexible strap-on pads that cut into the back of your knees, causing bruising and potentially impeding blood circulation.
Effective protection really only comes from combining properly designed Work Trousers that use market- leading fabric technology with a knee protection system that has been thoroughly tested, manufactured and certified using materials that perform to the highest standard day in, day out.
The most effective kneepads are those that work efficiently and in tandem with the design of the Work Trousers they’re used with – staying in precisely the right position all the time to ensure reliable and comfortable knee protection.
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Peter Dumigan, Managing Director of the Hultafors Group UK, which owns Snickers Workwear, shares expert advice on selecting the optimum knee protection to prevent injuries.
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