CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY / REGION

Automotive

Safety Considerations in Automotive

Ranging from parts production plants to assembly plants, automotive manufacturing consists of making the parts and bodies of cars, motorcycles, trucks and other motor vehicles used across the world. Automotive workers are often exposed to hazards including dangerous machinery, chemicals, equipment and an arduous work environment. Workers in the electric vehicle battery and manufacturing environments are exposed to a wide array of workplace hazards from electric shock to handling sharp or abrasive materials

At Ansell, we are committed to protecting all automotive workers. We go beyond regulatory compliance to ensure our product portfolio fully protects against the specific hazards these workers face.

Identify hazards and reduce workplace injuries with a no cost AnsellGUARDIAN® assessment.

CONTACT A REPRESENTATIVE

What are the automotive industry hazards?

Workers in Automotive environments are exposed to an abundance of hazardous elements from harmful chemicals to handling sharp or abrasive materials. They regularly use their hands and spend much of their time performing repetitive tasks. These workers are exposed to different hazards every day.

If the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is not worn, injuries may occur which can lead to an exponential growth of lost or restricted workdays. To ensure maximum level of worker safety, it is important to understand some of the common hazards workers face in the automotive industry.


What about electric vehicle hazards?

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are rising rapidly due to an increased interest in minimization of fossil fuel use by environmentally conscious consumers. In using energy storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries, these vehicles present a set of safety risks that necessitate the use of specific types of personal protective equipment (PPE).

When it comes to manufacturing EVs, there are worker risks associated with OEM manufacturing and battery manufacturing. Every step of the manufacturing process brings unique requirements to ensure a reliable, safe means of powering greener road travel. Ansell offers a full suite of proper PPE solutions to protect your workers from electric vehicle manufacturing hazards.

DOWNLOAD A GUIDE TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Ansell Solutions

With the transition of automotive manufacturing to include fully electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, the industry is evolving into a cleaner, more automated, modular and distributed process.

The main difference in automotive safety is that there is now an electrical hazard where electrical insulated gloves are needed to protect workers. Our ultralightweight Class 00 rubber insulated glove offers suitable hand protection against electrical discharge up to 500V ac | 750V dc with a second skin fit and feel.

The shift in manufacturing applications coupled with the increase in digitalization impacts the types of hazards workers face. Our products are engineered to deliver the optimum balance of comfort, performance and protection for workers throughout the day.

With the rise of electric vehicle manufacturing comes with it the rise of battery manufacturing. The challenging process of converting raw materials into a final lithium-ion battery requires a comprehensive line of safety gloves and suits to launch forward into the connected world.

This clean and precise manufacturing process creates automobile batteries for pure battery electric vehicles, hybrid EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs.

Manufacturing automobile batteries is no simple task. Ansell offers a full suite of protective solutions for each step in the battery manufacturing process, including electrode manufacturing, cell assembly, battery module assembly, cell finishing and packaging/transport.

Automotive workers are at a high risk for experiencing cuts or lacerations while performing their daily activities. They are exposed to glass, dangerous machinery and other sharp objects and edges where cut injuries are likely to occur. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 30% of all workplace injuries every year are from cuts and lacerations, with 12% of those occurring on the hand (1). Selecting the right PPE with the appropriate level of cut protection is extremely important.

Ansell’s cut-resistant gloves are made with innovative technologies to provide outstanding cut protection with enhanced dexterity, grip and comfort. INTERCEPT™ Technology is a proprietary cut-resistant yarn that provides a lightweight, more comfortable alternative to other branded yarns.

When working in a plant, automotive workers are regularly exposed to oil-related tasks and require strong grip. Workers need surface barrier protection to prevent oils and other lubricants from making contact with the skin as well as enhanced grip to mitigate muscle fatigue.

Ansell offers ANSELL GRIP™ Technology, a coating treatment that minimizes the force required to grip dry, oily and wet tools or materials, reducing hand and arm fatigue while improving dexterity, safety and productivity.
Ansell’s highly durable abrasion-resistant gloves deliver outstanding comfort, performance and protection. When working in automotive manufacturing, abrasion resistance is essential to hand safety. Explore our wide range of best-in-class abrasion-resistant solutions and learn more about our FORTIX™ Abrasion Resistance Technology which applies a thin, resilient and breathable nitrile foam coating to knitted gloves – dramatically extending their working life and improving their comfort.
Throughout production, automotive workers are exposed to a variety of harsh chemicals including acids, bases, adhesives or solvents. Without proper PPE, workers may experience chemical burns or any other type of skin irritation. Repetitive and prolonged exposure to these chemicals can prove toxic to the worker and severely affect their skin or respiratory system. Thick non-porous PPE is needed that will prevent liquids from leaking inside and touching the skin, with the durability to withstand scrubbing and sharp corners. Ansell’s industry-leading chemical protection portfolio includes solutions with varying levels of resistance against acids, organic and inorganic chemicals and biological agents.
Musculoskeletal disorders are often caused by repetitive movements, overexertion of the muscle and improper positioning while working. Selecting the right ergonomic PPE can help reduce risks of damage to bones and joints. Gloves designed with Ansell’s proprietary ERGOFORM™ Ergonomic Design Technology is proven to effectively minimize discomfort from prolonged repetitive hand movements, enabling workers to work confidently and comfortably for longer.
When maintaining and operating machinery with rotating and pneumatic parts, such as forklifts and conveyors, workers are faced with the risk of crush and pinch injuries to their hands. Even easy tasks such as shutting a truck door can end up in a pinch point injury. Ensuring workers consistently wear the proper hand protection throughout the day can reduce the risk of accidents and incidents. Ansell’s Ringers Impact Protection System protects workers against the risk of impact while providing superior comfort and dexterity.

 

Image collage overlapped on top of a man and consisting of product in-use applications across multiple industries

Join the Conversation