Hand Gloves and Safety

Personal protective equipment is an integral part of maintaining safety in the workplace. Hand safety is especially critical in industries that require workers to handle heavy machinery and equipment, such as in construction or manufacturing.

Significance

Hand safety impacts an individual's ability to perform work effectively and efficiently. Heat and chemical burns, lacerations, severed fingers and crushed or broken bones are hand injuries that can prohibit an individual from carrying out his work. As such, employees must take care to ensure that their hands are protected with the proper gloves.

Types

The type of glove that is used depends on the work being performed. Employees in the medical field, for instance, rely on latex or non-latex rubber gloves for working with patients, while construction workers' gloves are made out of a thick, durable material. Hand gloves cover only the hand and elbow-length gloves extend up to the elbow.

Features

Some gloves have grip features built into the palms that prevent objects from slipping out of an employee's grip. Gripping gloves are ideal for workers who handle chemicals or other sensitive objects. Gloves are also available with reflective material or tape on them for people who work in dark areas or on night shifts.

References

• OSHA: Personal Protective Equipment