Minimising the Risk of Musculoskeletal Injury to Bouygues Construction Workers Through Innovation & Technology
Workers in construction trades are at high risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) – injuries to the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, tendons, nerves, cartilage, and other supporting structures, caused by sudden or sustained exposure to repetitive motion, force, vibration, and awkward physical positions on the job.
With 32,400 employees working in 60 countries, Bouygues Construction designs, builds and refurbishes the infrastructure and buildings that are essential for a sustainable society. Throughout the world, the teams support the development of low-carbon energy production and public transport
infrastructures, and provide their expertise in the design, construction and renovation of buildings and neighbourhoods that are essential to life. As a safety champion, they strive to continuously minimise the risks and hazards faced by employees. In FY23, Bouygues Construction sought to capture data on risky hand movements linked to specific tasks performed by its construction workers and to put ergonomic solutions in place to reduce and potentially eliminate WMSD injuries.
Enter Inteliforz™ Motion Series, a new Software as a Service (SaaS) introduced by Ansell. The wearable sensor technology tracks data to identify workrelated musculoskeletal disorder risks so training and work processes can be adapted to keep workers safe. A three month trial of the Inteliforz Motion series in October 2022 at Bouygues Construction Matériel’ Distrimo warehouse in Tourville, France yielded significant data, leading Bouygues Construction to extend the trial for a year to ensure sustainable results. We have recently launched an additional trial at a Bouygues Construction Matériel warehouse in Chilly-Mazarin, France.
In another consequence of the pilot and the trust established between our two companies, Bouygues Construction has converted to Ansell HyFlex® gloves as hand protection solutions for the company’s construction sites.Thanks to Ansell innovation and technology, Bouygues Construction workers performing manual repetitive tasks are now equipped with state-ofthe-art products and services to reduce the risk of WMSD injuries.
Protecting Emirates Airlines Maintenance Workers from Static Electricity Buildup
Airline maintenance workers are exposed to countless hazards, and electrical sparks are no exception. These workers require gloves that provide a discharge of static buildup to stop harmful electric charges in their tracks.
Emirates Engineering is one of the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft maintenance providers, employing around 15,000 maintenance workers. Emirates employees currently use Ansell’s best-selling disposable glove, TouchNTuff® 92-600, for their daily work. In discussion around industry hazards, the need arose for a specialised glove that offered protection against static electricity buildup.
Enter Ansell’s innovative new product solution: MICROFLEX® 94-242 Static Dissipative glove. This glove safely controls the passage of electric charges, preventing fires, explosions, and damage caused by static discharge, and is suitable for Atmospheric Explosion (ATEX) environments and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) applications.
Emirates will use MICROFLEX® 94-242 from the tarmac to the workshop. For example, Emirates maintenance workers paint planes using an electrostatic spray-paint gun. This painting process results in a flawless, quick-drying finish of branding elements, but also presents unique hazards. The high voltages applied with the spray gun could result in electric shock to the operator, or a spark could ignite the paint.
Now, thanks to Ansell’s product innovation, Emirates workers have an effective barrier against electrical shocks and sparks — which is critical in the aircraft industry where flammable liquids like paint and jet fuel are standard. In addition to its use for electrostatic spray painting, employees will don 94-242 when fueling aircraft.
AnsellGUARDIAN® Provides Knowledge, Tools and Training to Prevent Injuries at EthosEnergy
Operating in the power, oil & gas, industrial and aerospace markets, EthosEnergy’s customers depend on them to deliver services and solutions to make energy affordable, available and sustainable.
With a workforce of 4,500 operating in over 100 countries, the company recognises that success is tied to its ability to achieve world-class safety performance at its manufacturing facilities. EthosEnergy consistently works to improve performance across the value chain, not least of which includes the safety of its workforce. While proud of its workplace safety record, they remain vigilantly focused on new, better, more efficient and safer methods of working. In this effort, they rely on business partners like Ansell to mitigate and minimise risks.
In July 2022, Ansell conducted an AnsellGUARDIAN® safety assessment to reduce hand and arm lacerations to employees working with sharp materials at its US manufacturing location in Massachusetts. Through glove and sleeve testing, the assessment identified solutions which enabled workers to safely complete their required tasks while driving worker acceptance and compliance with their new PPE; ultimately reducing injuries. AnsellGUARDIAN® assessments lead to injury reduction, reduced cost to protect, increased compliance and PPE portfolio complexity reduction.
EthosEnergy’s management team was impressed with the level of detail and solutions provided to achieve their safety objectives. Based on this tailor-made assessment, EthosEnergy expanded the AnsellGUARDIAN® assessment to three additional manufacturing locations. Coordinating with our distributor, W. W. Grainger, and health & safety management at Ethos, AnsellGUARDIAN® assessments were completed and, as of November 2022, EthosEnergy now uses Ansell as its primary vendor for gloves in all 37 U.S. locations. EthosEnergy employees are now better protected, and the company is advancing its goal of worldclass safety performance.
Reliable Supply, Sustainability & Value-Added Services Help NSW Public Hospitals Recover Post-Covid
New South Wales (NSW) is the largest state in Australia, home to over seven million people. Prior to the pandemic, Ansell had limited hospital medical examination glove market share in the region. As part of its post-Covid economic recovery program, NSW public hospitals required a reliable supply of quality examination gloves from manufacturers with strong corporate social responsibility credentials.
With strong brand recognition, an industry-leading position in tackling the challenges of a sustainable supply chain, as demonstrated by its recent Silver Ecovadis credential, and a reputation in NSW public hospitals for high-quality surgical gloves, Ansell was able to quickly meet NSW’s requirements by expanding manufacturing and sourcing capabilities. This ensured a responsible and reliable supply of medical examination gloves, protecting both patients and healthcare workers, demonstrated fast lead times and an On Time in Full (OTIF) delivery performance exceeding 98%.
Since April 2023, Ansell has consistently delivered over 11 million examination gloves per month to NSW hospitals.
At all stages of engagement with NSW public hospitals, Ansell went above and beyond its role as simply a glove manufacturer. In addition to providing high-quality gloves, Ansell offered value-added services, conducted regular business reviews, addressed specific hospital needs, and delivered tailored solutions like AnsellCARES™, a clinical education program focused on advancing healthcare worker development, improving safety, and enhancing patient care.
As a result, Ansell’s dedication and innovative solutions led to significant new and ongoing business, servicing a high number of public health districts and its hospitals, healthcare professionals and communities in New South Wales.
