A workplace or project can be termed successful if it is free of injuries. A project with zero lost man-hours can be termed and graded as a well-executed project. To achieve the goal of injury-free projects, companies are recruiting more trained safety officers on the site. Clients will give a good rating for injury-free work. All industrial works are exposed to various hazards. Hand injuries are one of the most common types of workplace hazards. A healthy worker is the backbone of a good workplace. Proper PPE needs to be used to protect hands and fingers. Every site should have a well-trained safety team. Safety officers designated in the work area used to conduct daily toolbox meetings and discuss the importance of safety and usage of proper safety gloves. Safety gloves are personal protective equipment or PPE used for protecting fingers and hands. There are different types of gloves available in the market. The safety gloves should be selected according to the type of work an employee is assigned. It is very important to use proper PPE. A trained safety officer is the best person who can select the correct grade of safety gloves depending on the nature of work for which the safety gloves have to be used.
Type of safety Gloves
Safety gloves can be categorized into various types in relation to the type of work and type of material used. Different types of gloves and their usages are explained below.
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Cotton Gloves
Cotton gloves are one of the most common types of gloves used in the workplace by laborers and unskilled workers. It helps to keep the hands free from dirt. It is not advisable to be used for hot works. It acts only as a small barrier between the hand and the tool which is assigned to the workers. Persons working in stores also use this because these gloves can suck and absorb oil and moisture and helps in keeping other materials free of dirt. Glove sizes can be selected according to hand sizes. It varies from 6.5 inches to 12 inches.
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Coated Fabric Gloves
Coated fabric gloves are multi-purpose gloves. This is best to protect hands and fingers from cuts. Coated fabric gloves have a higher degree of chemical resistivity when compared with normal fabric gloves. There are different coatings available based on the type of work that is intended to be used.
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Latex Gloves
The hospitals and labs make use of latex gloves. Latex gloves help the user from exposure to chemicals, oil, and biohazards. The Healthcare industry makes use of this type of gloves. People working in healthcare need proper PPE because they deal with highly toxic chemicals. These gloves cannot safeguard users from abrasive surfaces.
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Leather Gloves
Leather gloves can provide a tight grip for the user. Its most commonly used in welding works. Leather gloves can withstand moderate heat and since welding is hot work it is highly preferred. The durability of leather gloves is high compared to gloves made with other soft materials. The leather gloves designed for welding works are highly heat resistant. The leather quality will change according to the welding operation carried out and it clearly mentions amperage range. Some examples are as follows
- Traditional MIG Welding gloves
- Heavy-duty MIG Welding gloves
- Leather TIG Welding gloves.
The manufacturer will clearly mention which application it is to be used and up to what amperage range. The size ranging from 6 -7 inches – XS and 10-11 inches -XXL.
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Aluminized Gloves
Aluminized gloves most preferably used for casting, forging, and furnace works in foundries and steel rolling mills. These types of gloves have good reflection properties for radiant and ambient heat. In some welding purposes also aluminized gloves are used. Aluminized back-arc welding gloves are widely used in heavy steel fabrication industries due to their heat reflective properties.
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Kevlar Gloves
kevlar-fiber is a lightweight fiber having high dynamic properties. These yarns are used in ballistic applications for making bulletproof jackets, high safety gloves for military applications, and high safety helmets. It is widely used to make safety gloves such as bulletproof gloves, life protection safety helmets, vehicular armoring as rubber reinforcement in tires of armored vehicles. Kevlar gloves are manufactured with Kevlar fiber and it has good resistivity to cuts, heat, and flames. It can highly resist cuts in workplaces and protect fingers. Kevlar fibers can also be used as lining support to safety gloves.
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Puncture Resistant Gloves
These are gloves that give protection from abrasions and penetrations. It is applicable in the usage of clearing of metal scraps and other abrasive works. It protects hands from all types of punctures. It might be woven kevlar gloves.
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Chemical & Liquid Resistant Gloves
Chemical exposure is very dangerous as it has immediate or life long side effects. The safety of personnel working in chemical exposures is very important. The chemical manufacturers will provide safety data sheets and as per this exact type of hand, protection can be designed.
Types of chemical gloves and their applications are furnished below.
1. Butyl rubber gloves: These are gloves that can safeguard against acids like nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, and peroxides. These can also resist steam
2. Neoprene gloves: Neoprene gloves are used in situations where a person is well exposed to acids, bases, alcohols, fuels, and gasoline.
3. Nitrile rubber gloves: Nitrile rubber gloves have good versatility and applied in situations having incidental contacts. It has got high flexibility. The nitrile formation helps in making it fit to hand and helps in free motion. It protects hands from solvents, petroleum oils, gasoline, and some acids and bases
Nitrile rubber gloves sizes areas follow
- 2.9 to 3.3 inch small
- 3.2 to 3.5 medium
- 3.5 to 4 IN large
- 4 to 4.4 XL
- above 4.4 XXL
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Insulating Gloves
Generally, insulating gloves helps workers who make direct contact with electrical equipment such as cables and wires. The electrical rubber insulation gloves are manufactured in accordance with EN60903 Standards. Insulating hand gloves are used based on the class and the voltage. It is also classified based on environmental resistance properties. The glove sizes are ranging from 7 -12.
Insulated mechanical gloves: It provides excellent protection against tears and punctures
ASTM D120 Insulating gloves: These types of gloves provide protection from electrical shock.
It is further classified into type 1 which is nonresistant to ozone & type 2 which is resistant to ozone.
Conclusion
The document discusses the importance of hand gloves in industrial works. Safety and quality are like two sides of the same coin. Even a minor injury to the hand of a worker will force the contractor to stop work. A minor injury will lead to a stoppage of work and can cause major man-hour loss to the company. Every new Project needs safety supervisors & officers from the time of mobilization.
Also read – The Importance of Safety Shoes In Workplace
