CASE STUDY: How Blackwoods helped a manufacturing company reduce hand injuries without impacting productivity?

Safety that works as hard as your team.

In fast-paced manufacturing environments, minor hand injuries can quickly become a major concern. For one leading manufacturing company, repetitive hand injuries were not only affecting team-member wellbeing — they were threatening productivity and operational efficiency. The company needed a solution that could move fast, deliver results, and protect its people without slowing down its processes.

That’s where Blackwoods stepped in.

The challenge: Speed, safety, and scale.

The company’s operations involved a wide range of tasks and applications, each with its own risk profile. With operators working across multiple functions and environments, identifying the root causes of hand injuries — and implementing a solution — required more than just protective gear. It demanded:

• Deep industry knowledge and technical expertise
• A broad product range and access to world-leading brands
• Responsiveness and flexibility to move quickly
• A partner capable of leading the process from assessment to implementation

The goal was clear: reduce minor hand injuries through correct product selection and increased operator compliance — all without impacting productivity.

The Blackwoods approach: Collaborative, targeted, effective.

As a trusted advisor and supply partner, Blackwoods worked closely with the company’s safety and operational teams to launch a series of collaborative workshops. These sessions, combined with direct operator interviews, helped uncover the root causes of injuries and establish clear success measures.

From there, Blackwoods led targeted product wear trials to validate glove selection and performance in real-world conditions. These trials ensured that every recommendation was not only technically sound — but comfortable, practical, and fit for purpose.

Toolbox talks were rolled out across the business to educate operators on the changes, reinforce correct usage, and build buy-in from the ground up.

“…early engagement with the end users and operators was essential to accurately understanding the needs, solving the challenge, and obtaining the necessary buy-in to deliver a successful outcome at the end of the process,” says Drew Dauncey, Technical Specialist, Blackwoods.

The outcome: Safer hands, smarter operations.

Blackwoods delivered a solution that was both strategic and sustainable. The company now operates with a validated, task-specific hand protection matrix that empowers operators to choose the right protection for every job — reducing injuries and improving compliance.

Key benefits included:

• Confidence: A full survey of tasks and applications to determine where hand protection was required — or where risks could be eliminated altogether.
• Validation: In-line operator wear trials confirmed product performance and improved compliance.
• Identification: Practical, economical glove recommendations tailored to each task and risk level.
• Solution: A hand protection matrix that simplifies selection and enhances safety.
• Deliverable: Increased operator compliance and a measurable reduction in minor hand injuries.

Why Blackwoods?

Blackwoods doesn’t just supply safety products — it delivers safety outcomes. With decades of experience, technical depth, and access to Australia’s leading safety brands, Blackwoods helps businesses turn risk into resilience.

From root cause analysis and product trials to education and implementation, Blackwoods is your partner in building safer, smarter workplaces.

Contact Blackwoods today to discover how our tailored solutions can keep your business safe.