Living on the Edge

LIVING ON THE EDGE 30 MILLION BOX CUTTERS ARE SOLD YEARLY The most common way to unpack merchandise is also the most costly. Physical lacerations, lost labor and damaged goods are frequent side effects of using a box cutter to open a package. The costs associated with such accidents are in the billions. LOST LABOR: WORKERS AT RISK: Of the 3.6 million work-related injuries treated in emergency rooms across the United States, hands and fingers are the most commonly treated body parts. Besides the personal cost of a work accident, businesses must absorb financial losses that result from lacerations. On average, a single cut or laceration costs employers: $36,500 70% OF CUTS AND ABRASIONS ARE TO HANDS AND FINGERS AVERAGE 4 DAYS MON TUES WED TO RECUPERATE X X x X THUR 1 OF EVERY 150 WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIM IS FOR THE LOSS OF A FINGER OR A THUMB ONE MILLION US WORKERS RECEIVE EMERGENCY TREATMENT FOR ACUTE HAND INJURIES. 110,000 OF SAID WORKERS WITH HAND AND FINGER INJURIES LOSE DAYS OF WORK. While studies vary, cuts and lacerations often rank at the top as the most frequent workplace injury: 35% CUTS & ABRASIONS | 28% BACK STRAIN/SPRAIN 14% LOWER LIMB STRAIN/SPRAIN 12% EYE INJURIES LOST MERCHANDISE: 11% TRUNK STRAIN/SPRAIN REPORTED CASES 15.6% Leisure/hospitality 15.4% Construction Damaged and unsaleable products cost manufacturers 1-2% of their total gross sale (all which are preventable expenses), with a total loss of: $15B/YR PER INDUSTRY 12.0% Retail 11.9% Manufacturing SEGMENT: 10.0% Farming Damaged merchandise is the most common type of unsaleable product among manufacturers. CAUSES OF MANUAL CUTTING LACERATIONS: • Personal protective equipment not provided. • Cutresistant gloves are not cut-proof (do not completely eliminate the potential for cuts). • Pulling cutting utensil toward self. • Catching falling utensil. • Inability to keep fingers out of the way. 48% DAMAGED 20% DISCONTINUED 17% EXPIRED 10% OTHER I 5% SEASONAL Shurtape US Department of Lobor and Industries 2006 Annual Report. www.ernwest.com/documents/Newsletter/NewsletterK20Dec%202007.pdf Ohio Bureau of Werkers' Compensation. www.emeda.org/safety/safetyvoult/SMNS_Cuts%20end%20Lacerations.htm US Bureau of Lobor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 2006. www.bls.gov/if/oshwc/esh/os/osh05_25.pdf US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.pacificomp.com/Portak/0/kt2012/Cutslacerations/Cutslocerafions,.pdf Pocific Compensation Insurance Company. www.pocificomp.com/Portaks/0/ktc2012/Catslacerations/Cutslacerotions,.pdf Employment Services Contre, www.myerc.co/Content/Safety/Top-7-Dengers.asp Gloss Magazine. www.glassmagezine.com/articde/commercial/workploce-acidents-utyour bottom-line Ocupational Safety and Health Administration. www.osha.gov/desp/smollbusiness/safetypays/estimator_text.html Forging Industry Association. www.forging.org/system/files/field_dorument/Loceration200SHA%2011-21.pdf Grocery Manufacturers Association. www.gmoonline.org/downloods/researchand-reports/UnsaleablesFINALO91108.pdf TRUE TO YOUR WORK"