SAFETY GLOVES THE PERFECT FIT
When it comes to selecting gloves specifically designed to protect against mechanical hazards, what are the key features to look for? Here, Steve Shale, Marketing Manager for hand protection specialist Globus, provides some insight.
You only have to look at the latest figures from the HSE to see how risk- exposed the hands are, especially from handling and ‘struck-by’ impact injuries.
Handling injuries - most often found in physically demanding environments, from exposure to mechanical hazards in sectors including engineering, construction and oil and gas – remain the single biggest cause of over 7-day injuries in the UK, with ‘struck-by’ injuries the fourth largest cause according to the HSE. Between them they account for many thousands of lost working days every year, but like most workplaces hand injuries can often be prevented from happening in the first place.
Hand protection should always be seen as a last line of defence in protecting workers against hazards. Whilst the ideal scenario is to remove human contact with any potential hazards, practically this is often not achievable, especially in physically demanding environments. So where workers are, or could be, exposed to mechanical hazards, such as cuts, abrasions and impacts, you need to supply a solution that not only protects against the physical hazards likely to be encountered but enables workers to perform their job efficiently and effectively.
The goal is not to look at the mechanical hazard in isolation but look at what the worker needs, to perform their job safely and efficiently. Thankfully, developments in glove material technology are enabling safety managers to specify gloves that provide a number of wearer benefits. So when it comes to mechanical hazards – what should you look for?
MECHANICAL PROTECTION Hands are often in the firing line when it comes to risks associated with impacts, cuts and abrasions from contact with sharp metal edges and blades, maintenance tasks on plant and equipment and carrying
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and handling heavy or awkward materials. Where these risks exist, it is essential to ensure the glove has the right level of cut and abrasion resistance to protect adequately. With the EN388 standard set to change, using a different test to determine cut resistant performance, it is worth speaking to a provider to ensure you are clear on the latest guidance surrounding the new standard.
THE RIGHT GLOVE MATERIAL Safety gloves have come a long way in recent years. Before the advent of the latest technology, gloves
were typically made of materials such as leather and whilst offering protection in dry environments, did not provide secure grip and control. While older-style leather rigger gloves are still occasionally used for low-risk handling, they are thick, heavy and uncomfortable and lack grip in many industrial applications, especially those involving oil. Look for gloves with enhanced features such as nitrile coatings providing enhanced abrasion resistance twinned with wet and dry grip.
ERGONOMIC DESIGN For those who need continual hand protection, comfort is a must. Opt for a glove design that mimics the natural curvature of the hand to allow maximum dexterity.
GRIP If workers need to lift and carry components in wet and/or dry environments then grip will be essential. Opt for gloves with enhanced grip features such as a nitrile foam coating on the palm and fingers which will provide grip performance in oily, wet and dry environments.
FLEXIBILITY AND TACTILITY Just as comfort is vital, so too are flexibility, tactility and dexterity - features that will lead to increased wearer compliance and greater worker efficiency.
Manufacturers are increasingly developing solutions to counter the threat of mechanical hazards using a combination of these features. One of the latest is the SHOWA 377-IP which combines impact protection with wet and dry grip performance, durability, comfort and dexterity.
Mechanical hand protection remains a key challenge for safety managers but thanks to the development of glove material technology and innovation, comfort and flexibility can now go hand in hand with physical protection.
www.globus.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com
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