Tag Archives: cut resistant

Hand Protection

THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING THE RIGHT WORK GLOVES (GUEST POST)

Most of us take our hands for granted, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize that they’re fairly important and should be protected the best that we can! If you’re working in certain jobs, it’s vital that you wear the right work gloves to help prevent any injury or harm. Let’s take a look at why it’s so essential.

First, the danger of cutting in many roles is a very real one and must be avoided. Whether you’re using a small craft knife or a large saw, try to match the level of protection from your gloves with the level of danger that may be presented. Puncturing is a related worry, and specialized gloves exist if this is a worry in your particular line of work.

Another reason to wear the right gloves is vibration. Tools such as drills will often give off vibrations that can be potentially damaging, but lessened by wearing a pair of gloves. Cushioned gloves are a great option here as they provide insulation to lessen the shocks. If you’ve read about conditions such as Vibration White Finger, you’ll know just how harmful this can be and why it must be avoided.

Next up, hot and cold can have a serious impact on your hands. Lower temperatures can lead to frostbite in more extreme cases, and there’s the obvious danger of burning if you regularly handle items that are hot. A good pair of gloves will reduce the chance of either of these occurring, and will also enable you to carry out the job in comfort.

Finally, there’s the issue of grip. If you’re working with small and fragile items, gloves can lessen the likelihood of causing any damage to your material by ensuring a firm grip. In this case, gloves can increase levels of productivity and accuracy.

As you can see, choosing and wearing the right work gloves is vital for both your own safety and for ensuring that the task is carried out to your highest ability. Make sure that you do your research and buy the best pair of gloves for the job. There are several retailers that specialize in protective gloves for the workplace, so you’ll be able to find the right product to suit you needs. Your hands will thank you for it!

About the Author

This article was written on behalf of Protec Direct. Protec Direct are one of the largest suppliers of PPE & Workwear in the UK. Whatever industry our customers operate in, from heavy industrial to light catering, from professional construction to laboratory work, we are able to offer a comprehensive range of products to satisfy the most demanding performance criteria.

Note: We thank our guest contributors for this informative article about the importance of wearing work gloves.  Texas America Safety Company has been in the business of selling all types of personal protective equipment for over 25 years.  We have gloves that range from work gloves to medical grade gloves.  As stated above, it is surprising that injuries to our hands that can be avoided by wearing the right type of glove for every specialized type of work. pb

 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

PROTECTING YOUR MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS – YOUR HANDS (GUEST POST)

1 Comment

 We all have a favorite tool, maybe it is that new Lithium-Ion powered cordless drill, it might be a new air compressor for powering all of your pneumatic tools, or it might be an old set of wrenches that you’ve had since you were a teenager and bought your first car.  But no matter what your favorite tool is and what tools you use each day to make a living, you have to invest in the right pair of gloves to protect your most important tools- your hands.

Chances are that if you work for a large company, there are regulations and programs put in place by the safety coordinator or safety manager.  Depending on what kind of job you do, you might use many different types of gloves to protect your hands.  If you work for a smaller company or are a DIY’er, you may not have any expertise on the subject or mandated regulations.  It is up to you to protect yourself.

Like any other type of safety gear, hand protection come in all shapes and sizes and are often specific to what type of job is at hand.  Depending on what type of job you are doing will determine the proper glove for the task.  Gloves will be divided into different categories such as cut resistant, chemical resistant, insulated, arc protection, high temperature, general purpose and many specialized gloves.  The most important thing to remember is that you must use the correct glove for the job and you should have a basic understanding of why that glove is the right choice, not just because somebody told you to wear it.

1.        Cut Resistant.  Cut resistant doesn’t mean cut proof.  There are many degrees of protection, depending on what glove you chose.  Most of the cut resistant gloves will be a mix of material, usually coated on the palm with extra protection such as Nitrile or Polyethylene.  They may be cloth mixed with rubber or Kevlar.  These gloves are going to be used for handling parts with sharp or pointed edges such as sheet metal of glass or tile.  They will be puncture resistant and protect your hands from cuts and scrapes. 

2.       Chemical Resistant.  Usually made of rubber, Nitrile or PVC, chemical resisatnat gloves are going to protect the worker form harmful chemicals.  They are often longer cuffed gloves, protecting past the wrist and can even be elbow or shoulder length depending on the required needs.  They are going to protect against oil, grease, acids, alcohol and solvents.  They are used in mining, utilities, manufacturing and the automotive industries.

3.       Insulated.  These gloves are going to protect from electric shock and are very important for the safety of lineman, electrical utilities and electrical workers.  It is very important to verify voltage protection and to inspect for cracks and tears before each use.  These will be very specific to a job and most people will never need this type of glove.

4.       Arc Protection.  Arc protection gloves are going to be made of Kevlar and Nitrile.  They are going to be cut and flame resistant and are used in facility work, machinery work, and heavy equipment service and cable installation.

5.       High Temperature.  High temperature gloves are exactly what they appear to be, they are going to protect the worker from being burned.  These gloves will protect form burns and high temperatures, usually with a cotton or Nitrile blend.  They are used in production of glass and plastics, foundry operations, steel mills and in the automotive industry.

6.       Disposable Gloves.  Latex and Nitrile disposable gloves fit into this category.  They may be used in laboratory, medical and janitorial applications.  They are good for protection, but are thin and allow for greater dexterity.

7.       General Purpose.  This is a broad category; it is going to include any of the gloves that you may use in a job that isn’t inherently dangerous, such as yard work, driving, working around the house.  These are gloves to protect from blisters, splinters and other common problems on the job. 

There is a glove for just about any job that needs to get done.  Workers are injured every day because they are not wearing the proper hand protection and it is often left to the individual using the glove to decide what is appropriate for the job.  Just like you would always put on a pair of safety glasses to protect against eye injury, hand protection should be available at all times and in every tool box.

Bio: Jay Preston is author and Brand Manager for ToolHQ, Australia’s premiere cordless tool source.

Thanks, Jay for this thorough explanation of the types of gloves.  For anyone who wants to protect their hands, depending on the right glove for the job, check Texas America Safety Company for just the right type.