Gloves protect hands from injuries. If only it was as simple to say that if all workers, from medical to industrial and everything in between, would just wear gloves, then more than 1 million hospital emergency visits by U.S. workers per year (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) could be avoided.
Are workers wearing gloves? Are they wearing the wrong gloves, and if so, how do they know? If only there was an easy answer.
In industrial and professional worlds alike, workers demand gloves that provide multiple degrees of protection. For example, a worker may need a glove that not only is heat resistant, but also is chemical resistant as well. Plus, workers demand that gloves not only protect their fingers and hands, but provide them with better performance. In today＊s specialized world, how do you select the right glove to fit the job?
In an attempt to educate and clarify the different glove options available, think of this article as a practical guide to hand protection. Use this information to ask the right questions of your glove supplier to ensure you and your workers get the best gloves for safety as well as performance.
Coated Gloves
Chemical- or liquid-proof gloves essentially are coated gloves. To be completely chemical or liquid proof versus just chemical and liquid resistant, the gloves must be fully coated. As a fully coated glove, they either can be supported or unsupported, which means with or without a lining. Supported gloves can have a variety of fabric linings that add to the comfort and fit of the gloves. The key with coated gloves is to make sure that with whatever coated glove you use, the coating is resistant to the types of chemicals that are present. These gloves have several coating options including latex rubber, nitrile rubber, polyurethane, PVC and neoprene. Other, less common coatings that also are used include PVA, butyl or Viton.
Latex rubber is a low-tech glove that works. Although it is waterproof, it will blister and delaminate when in contact with petroleum-based products. The nature of latex allows for the gloves to be manufactured with a crinkled or exaggerated texture to increase the gripping surface. And because they are inexpensive ($1 to $3 per pair), they can be disposable if necessary. Some applications for latex-coated gloves include construction, general assembly, material handling, landscaping and gardening.
Nitrile rubber (NBR) resists grease, oil and other petroleum-based products, and is water resistant or waterproof (if fully coated). The coating is applied to the glove either as a foam coating or a solid-finish coating. The variation allows for increased gripping in the foam version, making this coated glove a good choice for tasks that require a high degree of dexterity and sensitivity where a grip is important, such as handling small oily or wet parts.
Polyurethane gloves, due to the polymer strength, provide extra abrasion resistance and extended wear. Manufactured from a cleaner polymer, they offer a softer feel. In addition, the polymer can be harder to puncture, providing increased protection. The coating does provide waterproof protection, but only limited chemical resistance. The combination of strength and cleanliness makes these gloves ideal for high-tech and electronic assembly work, inspection and quality control and an excellent choice for use in critical environments.
Both PVC and neoprene offer excellent chemical-resistant properties. Polyvinylchloride gloves frequently are used in the petrochemical industry. Neoprene gloves provide excellent chemical resistance to a broad range of hazardous chemicals, including acids, alcohols, oils and inks. Although neoprene gloves can offer good grip, they generally are thicker and heavier.
Coated gloves coupled with a lining such as cotton or cotton/polyester blends, textured nylon, Aramid and Dyneema fibers provide a mixture of levels of protection and comfort. Also, coated gloves are available in a few versions: full-coverage for complete liquid-proof or chemical-proof protection; palm, finger and fingertip coverage for a breathable glove; and palm, fingertip and knuckle coverage. Whatever the coating coverage, all can be textured or have thicker finishes for better gripping.
Beyond the specialized coated gloves as mentioned above, there is a medley of coated jersey gloves or canvas coated gloves (often worn by painters or your average do-it-yourselfer) that are available in every hardware store.
Cut-Resistant Gloves
Cut-resistant gloves are used when workers are at risk to be sliced or cut by equipment or the products they are handing. For food processing, industrial or assembly applications, using gloves with Kevlar or Dyneema fibers are preferred because of their comfort level. There also are Kevlar knit gloves containing metal fibers that offer higher cut-resistance properties. And for the highest degree of cut resistance, there are heavy, metal mesh gloves used within the meat and poultry and food preparation industries. One final comment regarding cut-resistant knit gloves used in food prep and processing: it is preferred if the gloves are made with a continuous filament, cut-resistant fiber (not spun fiber) for an easier to clean glove.
While Kevlar offers a high tensile strength that is five times stronger than steel, Dyneema fibers, a brand of polyethylene fibers, are engineered to be 10 to 15 times stronger than steel by weight. Both types of fibers, when blended with other fibers such as Lycra, can be very form fitting. Often these synthetic fibers tend to be slippery, so while they protect against cuts, the addition of the coating ensures a safer grip.
Disposable Gloves
Disposable gloves, often used in food processing or assembly as well as a multitude of other industries, are available in latex rubber, nitrile, polyethylene, PVC and vinyl.
With respect to food processing and handling, disposable gloves are available in a variety of colors to prevent cross contamination as well as detection. Also, there are specialized detectable disposable gloves made of non-metallic, metal-detectable material that ensures that if torn or cut, small pieces of the gloves do not go undetected in the food when it passes under metal detectors.
Polyethylene gloves, often called cafeteria gloves, are the cheapest disposables used for food assembly and preparation at restaurants or cafeterias. In beef and pork processing specifically, synthetic nitrile gloves are a better choice all around, since the proteins in the meat will break down latex in a matter of hours.
Disposable gloves also are used in industrial and healthcare applications. For industrial applications when there is the presence of oil or petroleum-based products, nitrile disposables must be worn because latex breaks down in oil. For the healthcare industry, latex often is used; however, nitrile or PVC can be used if there is a concern of latex allergies.
Other Types of Gloves
Anti-vibration gloves, as their name states, are used for protection for highly specialized tasks such as operating chainsaws, grinders, nail guns, sanders and any machinery that produces high level of vibrations or where the individual is exposed to excess vibration. These gloves provide extra padding to help prevent hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) that often occurs from repeat exposure to vibration.
Electrical hazard gloves should be used at all times when working on general electric equipment, elevators, moving walkways, swimming pools, fountains, branch circuits and switches, carnival rides, emergency power systems and solar photovoltaic systems, etc. One interesting new application where electrical gloves must be worn is when working on hybrid vehicles with high voltage batteries.
Electric hazard gloves are rated by section 70E of the NFPA and are classified based on amount of voltage that a worker might be exposed to if shocked by an electrical current. And, of course, OSHA 每 29 CFR, part 1910.138 is very clear that these gloves are necessary.
General purpose gloves are available in jersey, canvas or string knits, and are in placed in two basic classifications: drivers＊ gloves and leather palm gloves.
Drivers＊ gloves (note: drivers is a generic term for this type of glove) are thin leather gloves for general-purpose use. They allow good dexterity, while providing protection at the same time. They protect the entire hand from abrasion and punctures, and are a dependable, comfortable glove for a wide variety of jobs. Drivers＊ gloves are available in various types of leathers and can be unlined or lined for cold weather.
Leather palm gloves provide maximum protection against abrasive and puncture hazards. They are made of durable cotton or canvas with leather palms and fingers. These gloves come with either knit wrist cuffs, reinforced 2
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