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Key Takeaways:
- Hand accidents constitute a significant percentage of workplace incidents, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right gloves.
- A variety of work safety gloves exist, each offering distinct protection depending on the task at hand.
- Cotton/fabric gloves, coated fabric gloves, leather gloves, latex/rubber/plastic gloves, Kevlar gloves, Butyl rubber gloves, vibration-resistant/impact-resistant gloves, puncture-resistant gloves, and aluminized gloves each have specific advantages and applications.
- Butyl rubber gloves offer optimal protection against a wide range of harmful chemicals.
- Identifying potential hazards and understanding the properties of various glove materials can aid in selecting the right glove for chemical protection.
Gloves: Your First Line of Defense Against Workplace Hazards
In many work environments, your hands are often the first point of contact with potentially harmful materials. The Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) suggests that hand accidents comprise between 40 to 60 percent of recordable workplace incidents. Given this statistic, it’s crucial to understand the types of gloves that can protect your hands from hazardous chemicals and other workplace dangers.
Cotton/Fabric Gloves: Basic Protection for General Work
Cotton or fabric gloves are the most common types used for general tasks where extensive protection isn’t necessary. Although these gloves provide a lightweight fabric covering, their safety offering is minimal. They are suitable for preventing minor scrapes or splinters but offer little protection against punctures, burns, or cuts.
Coated Fabric Gloves: An Upgrade for Moderate Hazards
Coated fabric gloves offer enhanced protection against punctures, cuts, and some chemicals compared to their non-coated counterparts. Common types of coatings include nitrile, PVC, and polyurethane. The type of coating chosen usually depends on the nature of the job.
Leather Gloves: Good Grip and Durability
Leather gloves are valued for their good grip, insulation, and durability. Their thickness provides better protection than regular fabric gloves. However, they tend to dry, crack, or shrivel when excessively exposed to high temperatures, making them less ideal for heat-intensive work. Welders frequently use leather gloves, often paired with a durable liner for extra protection.
Latex, Rubber or Plastic Gloves: Ideal for Medical and Lab Work
These gloves are commonly used in medical settings or laboratories. They’re typically form-fitting to allow mobility but offer protection from biohazards, chemicals, solvents, and other harmful substances. However, due to their thin and flexible material, these gloves offer no puncture or heat resistance, making them less suitable when using sharp tools, flames, or abrasive surfaces.
Kevlar Gloves: Robust Solution for Industrial Situations
Kevlar gloves are an excellent choice for industrial settings due to their durability. The material is lightweight yet robust, offering cut and puncture resistance while allowing mobility. Kevlar is often used as a lining in other types of gloves for additional protection.
Butyl Rubber Gloves: Top Choice for Chemical Protection
For tasks involving hazardous chemicals, butyl rubber gloves are your best bet. These gloves don’t absorb liquids they come in contact with and resist harmful chemicals such as alcohols, ketones, nitro-compounds, acids, bases, and even rocket fuel. They can withstand hot and cold temperatures, abrasion, oxidation, and ozone corrosion, providing an all-round solution for chemical protection.
Vibration-Resistant/Impact-Resistant Gloves: Reducing the Impact of Extended Vibration
Prolonged vibration can cause harm to your hands, and vibration-resistant or impact-resistant gloves are designed to mitigate this. These gloves absorb much of the impact of vibrating tools or equipment, reducing the amount of energy transferred to your hands. They are particularly beneficial in the fabrication, automotive, and construction industries, where workers often use vibrating tools for extended periods.
Puncture-Resistant Gloves: Defence Against Sharp Objects
Puncture-resistant gloves are designed to deflect sharp objects that could pierce the skin. They are specifically beneficial in industries that involve manual cutting, such as construction, food service, and warehousing.
Aluminized Gloves: The Go-to Gloves for High Heat Exposure
Aluminized gloves are one of the best types of gloves to use when working with high temperatures. They’re common in welding, foundries, and laboratories, and can protect your hands at temperatures of up to 2,000ºF without failure.
Choosing the Right Gloves for Hazardous Chemical Protection
Understanding the potential hazards of a job is the first step in choosing the correct hand protection. Knowing the characteristics and limitations of different types of gloves can guide you to the best choice for your specific needs. Always remember that the correct gloves not only ensure your safety but also enable you to perform your tasks effectively and comfortably. Your hands are counting on you to make the right choice!
