Page 80 - Occupational Health & Safety, June 2018

HAND PROTECTION
ment fibers and staple fibers.
Filament fibers are longer, lined up, and bundled. They produce
products with higher tensile strength that resist breakage under tension. Staple fibers are shorter in length and are mechanically twisted to form a variety of sizes.
Machine knit glove shells can be made from many different types of materials, including natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and fi- ber blends. Natural fibers are plant based and include cotton, bam- boo, wool, silk, and hemp fibers. Man-made synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, are frequently used in glove shells.
Typical fibers for blended yarns include cotton, acrylic, nylon, and polyester. The blend of polyester, nylon, and cotton fibers of- fers extra durability and strength while maintaining the comfort benefits of cotton. Blends help manufacturers develop a variety of gloves to satisfy a wide range of applications.
Common glove materials are listed in the chart on page 75.
Coatings
Coated gloves are ideal for jobs that require a high degree of touch sensitivity, dexterity, and a superior grip. Industrial applica- tions include general assembly, painting, the handling of small oily parts and components, horticulture, machining, and maintenance.
Glove coatings:
■ improve the gripping power of a glove
■ increase the glove’s resistance to puncture and abrasions
■ offer protection from liquids and chemicals
Common glove coatings include nitrile, latex, and polyure-
thane (PU).
Nitrile gloves, an industry staple, hold up well to gasoline, tur-
pentine, acids, bases, oils, and diesel fuel. They are generally stron- ger and more puncture resistant than latex gloves. They are avail- able in different finishes, such as smooth nitrile, foam nitrile, and sandy foam nitrile.
Latex gloves, which are one of the most recognized glove ma- terials in the world, resist acetone, thinners, and ketones but of- ten cause allergic reactions if the wearer is over-exposed to the product. Semi-smooth texture is extremely flexible and provides superior dexterity and sensitivity. Latex gloves are also available in different finishes, including foam, sandy foam, and crinkle latex. Rough finishes on gloves improve the worker’s grip.
A PU coating can be silicone free and has a low-particulate shed, which reduces risk of contamination from the dip itself. The coating “strikes through” onto the inside of the glove, which can lead to heat retention and sweating. Not as durable as nitrile or la- tex, PU gloves can be used for inside light duty, detailed assembly, inspection, light fabrication, and box/small parts handling.
Function: ‘Danger, Will Robinson’—
Matching the Glove to the Risk
Since we don’t have a robot (yet) that informs us of impending dan- ger as Will Robinson does in the Netflix adaption of Lost in Space, choosing the right glove for your safety program requires safety professionals to conduct a proper PPE hazard and risk analysis, also known as a “risk assessment.”
Put on your detective hat and ask these questions to discover the dangers lurking in your workspace.
1. What specific risks are present in your facility that could put your employees’ hands, fingers, thumbs, and wrists in danger?
2. Can these risks be eradicated via engineering or administra-
tive controls, such as putting up guardrails on machinery (engi- neering) or regular inspections of work spaces by safety officers to ensure employees are wearing their gloves (administrative)?
3. What glove features are required to safely protect against the risk, especially if engineering or administrative controls aren’t fea- sible or possible?
4. Do you need a Cut Level A3 or does the task require A7 cut protection? Do you need a coated glove with a crinkle latex finish or will a typical coated glove work? Does the glove need a thermal layer? Does it need thermal plastic overlays for enhanced impact resistance?
The questions are many and the answers can be complicated but you need to know: You are not alone. Most leading glove man- ufacturers and suppliers have product managers, product cham- pions, and trained safety specialists who can help with risk as- sessments and specify the perfect glove for your safety program. Don’t hesitate to call and get the support you need to help protect your workforce.
For more information about engineering, administrative, and PPE controls, visit OSHAcademy at https://www.oshatrain.org/ courses/pages/700engineer.html.
Fit: If the Glove Fits, Comfort and
Compliance Skyrocket
Just as people don’t like to wear shoes that are too small or too large, they don’t like to wear gloves that don’t fit. However, far too many workers are thrown into situations where they are wearing work gloves that don’t fit.
Proper sizing of work gloves will manifest itself into improved compliance statistics. Gloves that are too small or too large can interfere with productivity and lead to hand injuries. Improperly sized gloves are uncomfortable so workers will frequently remove them. Gloves that are too large can often get caught in machinery, which can cause serious hand injuries. Gloves that are too small can cause hand fatigue. It seems like common sense but far too many workers wear gloves that don’t fit them. Gloves that are too tight may lead to increased sweating, which nobody likes.
Determining proper glove size
Encourage employees to measure their hands using a sizing chart. To determine the proper glove size, use a soft cloth tape mea- sure to measure your dominant hand as in the image below.
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