Hand Protection

Hand and Arm Protection

Most work requires a degree of manual dexterity and consequently the hands are exposed to a wide range of hazards Risks include cuts, abrasions, heat, cold, chemical contamination, vibration, burns, infection, skin irritation and dermatitis.
BS EN 14328 is the standard for gloves and armguards protecting against cuts by powered knives while BS EN 407 contains the specifications for gloves intended to protect against thermal risk such as heat and/or fire. BS EN 374 Part 1 covers gloves for protection against chemicals and microorganisms. BS EN 511 covers gloves for protection against the cold. BS EN 388 covers the specification of gloves against mechanical hazards.

The following are examples of some factors that may influence the selection of protective gloves for a workplace.

Type of chemicals handled;

• Nature of contact (total immersion, splash, etc.)
• Duration of contact
• Area requiring protection (hand only, forearm, arm)
• Grip requirements (dry, wet, oily).
• Thermal protection
• Size and comfort
• Abrasion/resistance requirements

Gloves made from a wide variety of materials are designed for many types of workplace hazards. In general, gloves fall into four groups:

Gloves made of leather, canvas or metal mesh;
• Protection from cuts
• Protection from burns
• Protection against heat (note: leather or canvas only)

Leather gloves provide protection against rough objects, chips, blows, sparks, and moderate heat, while canvas and metal mesh gloves offer similar, yet different, kinds of protection.

Also, one major advantage to metal mesh gloves is that they provide protection against cuts and punctures.

Fabric and coated fabric gloves;

• Fabric gloves and coated fabric gloves are usually made out of cotton and other materials and offer protection against abrasions, chafing, and more.

• While fabric gloves uses are limited to protection against slivers, dirt, and cuts, coated fabric gloves are more general-purpose in nature, are slip-resistant, and are designed for applications like handling wire and lab containers.

Chemical- and liquid-resistant gloves;

These gloves are exactly what they sound like – gloves which are resistant to different kinds of harmful chemicals and liquids such as peroxides, rocket fuels, acids, gasoline, and caustics.

OSHA states that gloves that fall in this PPE category are made of different kinds of materials:

• Rubber (Natural, butyl, neoprene, fluorocarbon, and nitrile)
• Plastic (Polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polyvinyl alcohol)
• Insulating rubber gloves

Insulating gloves offer personal hand protection for workers against electrical shocks when working near or on live wires, cables and electrical equipment including substation switchgear and transformers.