Page 30 - Occupational Health & Safety, April 2018

HAND PROTECTION
out irritation. This new yarn is also significantly lighter and feels cool to the touch, making PPE more comfortable and helping to ensure that workers will put it on and keep it on. Some manufactur- ers are even developing sleeves specific to particular industries, for example anti-microbial sleeves with high cut protection for food service, making sleeve choice a no-brainer.
Another important consideration in comfort is how the sleeve stays up or down. A quick online search reveals that many sleeves either come in just one large size or use closures that may not be ideal for your environment. The tried-and-true methods include alligator clips, elastic, rub tape, and Velcro. And while they’re all easy to use, they also tend to have drawbacks that make workers less likely to wear a sleeve over time.
Advances in comfort include Velcro closures with a gusset and tubular knit sleeves that come in multiple sizes to accommodate larger and more varied bicep sizes than ever before. On the other end of the arm, traditional options such as thumb slots keep sleeves from rolling up, while innovations such as thinner materials at the palm are making sleeves a better and more practical option, par- ticularly when worn under a glove.
What’s In It for You?
Other benefits that make sleeves particularly attractive for safety managers are that they’re cost effective and reusable. In the past,
Luciano Cosmo/Shutterstock.com
DuPont ProShield 60 2-2018.qxp 2/2/18 11:08 AM Page 2
arm hazards might have been addressed by using cut- or flame-
resistant clothing. But a pair of cut-resistant sleeves is a fraction of the cost of an average cut-resistant shirt or jacket. If the hazard extends only to a worker’s elbow or shoulder, it’s possible you can save money and increase comfort and compliance with a simple pair of sleeves.
And, depending on your needs, you can choose customization or standardization in your sleeve choices. If you’re looking for cus- tomization, knit sleeves come in varying fits such as tubular, blousy, and tapered so you can tailor the fit for the job your worker is do- ing. You also can choose from varying sleeve lengths to run from hand to elbow, hand to shoulder, or in between.
If you’d prefer to buy in bulk to save money and avoid the hassle of too many choices, gusseted sleeves allow you to buy one size for your facility because the adjustable closure fits all but the most extreme arm sizes.
Most sleeves can also be professionally laundered and reused, extending their life and increasing cost effectiveness. In general, most sleeves last longer than an average pair of gloves because they don’t get the same wear and tear.
One Basic Question
Lee advises safety managers to ask themselves, “Why are you wear- ing gloves in the first place?” and extending the answer to your workers’ arms. Whatever jobs your workers are doing, it’s a better time than ever to reevaluate your needs to see if new technologies may offer solid protection while keeping your workers more com- fortable and compliant.
M.B. Sutherland is the Senior Safety Writer at Magid -- proud U.S. manufacturer and distributor of head-to-toe PPE since 1946. For more information about Magid’s safety products and expertise, visit magidglove.com/ohs-sleeve or call 800-444-8030.
www.wisesafetyenv.com
Experience the WISE AdvantageTM
High-performance, affordable protective garment
ProShield® 60
• Barrier against a variety of non-hazardous aerosols, liquids and dry particles
• Microporous film laminated to a nonwoven fabric
• Uses include automotive refinishing, waste cleanup and sanitation engineering
Jacksonville. . . . . . . . . . . 877-655-7347 Kansas City. . . . . . . . . . . 800-255-1101 Little Rock. . . . . . . . . . . . 800-901-4678 Louisville. . . . . . . . . . . . . 502-637-4337 Salt Lake City . . . . . . . . . 800-559-7347
24
www.ohsonline.com
St. Louis Wise . . . . . . . . 800-727-8541 St. Louis Reis . . . . . . . . . 800-777-7347 Boston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-257-3263 Denver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-677-7347 Houston . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-234-2377
Circle 22 on card.