Not All Gloves Are Made The Same Way
Gloves: They’re not all the same. It’s something that experts from hand protection manufacturers wish workers and employers better understood.
Working with sharp objects, heavy machinery, or chemicals exposes workers’ hands to several hazards. Choosing the wrong hand protection puts workers at even higher risks, creating discomfort and bringing additional costs to your company.
“All gloves are not created equal,” said Jeff Cohen, QSSP, director of product management for hand and arm protection, Protective Industrial Products. “There’s a reason why certain gloves do not hold up when they are tested against others in the same applications or environments.”
Brian Moseley, regulatory affairs/quality assurance manager/technical manager for Showa, added: “There are specific gloves created for different working environments. If used incorrectly or for the wrong occasion, gloves will not properly protect workers from danger. Using a glove not specifically suited for certain materials or environments can pose threats to both employees and businesses alike.”
And don’t forget about fit. “Glove fit is crucial in determining its wearability and hazard protection,” said Joe Geng, vice president of Superior Glove.
A Proper Fit
How do you determine fit? First, Geng said, look at finger length. “If the finger crotch doesn’t fit to the base of your fingers or if there’s excess material on the tips, this indicates you should size up or down, respectively.”
Next, check the palm. “If the glove’s palm doesn’t cover your palm fully, this indicates that your gloves are too small,” he said. Lastly, “Excess material around your hand or bunching in your palms when you close your hands indicates the gloves are oversized.”
Another key point?
“Safety does not stop at the wrist,” Cohen said. “If you’re using gloves to protect against heat and sparks, why would you not want to protect your arms against these same hazards? Arm protection should be a key consideration when selecting the proper PPE for jobs.”
Moseley added: “Identifying the most appropriate glove for specific workplaces will best protect employees from perilous situations.”
ANSI Level A6 Cut Protection Glove
Rig Dog™ Xtreme gloves from Honeywell put safety first. Protecting workers across tough environments, they are well-fit for rigging, drilling, material handling, ship building and other rugged industrial applications. The cut-resistant and enhanced oil-grip palm–featuring minimum stitching–enables these gloves to be worn with comfort and confidence all day long.
Cut Protection Glove
The DesPro® Cut Resistant gloves build protection exactly where it is needed. The balance of the glove is knitted utilizing a more economical cut resistant yarn where the protection is not as demanding. By using a combination of materials, the result is a product that protects yet costs less.
Flame Resistance Gloves
The Tru-Fit Rescue glove by Dragon Fire includes a sewn in flame, cut, puncture, thermal and abrasion resistant liner. Inside is a thinner layer of Kovenex, this provides a level of flash protection allowing you vital seconds to remove your hands from the dangerous environment. The glove is finished with a high dexterity outer shell with double stitched, extremely flexible diamond profile rubber wear pads.
Lightweight Glove
This Lakeland line of extraordinary Grapolator® gloves offers hand protection to the max. Stainless steal wire core is combined with high-strength man-made fibers to give workers an extremely effective protective glove. These gloves provide super protection from cuts, and for all their “muscle”, lose no comfort or manual dexterity properties. Use the Grapolator® around sheet metal, knives, sharp plastic edges and glass.
Reach out to a SOS Safety Professional and receive expert guidance every step of the way. We’re always available to provide product advice and solutions. Let’s talk about how we can help you and your workers crush it safely in 2022.
