Safety Gloves

Introduction

Operators’ hands at work are extremely vulnerable to a wide range of hazards which include cuts, blows, chemical attack and temperature extremes. Safety gloves protect hands of operators from such hazards.

There is a growing insistence on the use of "job fitted" safety gloves that meet each of the users' specific requirements and manufacturers of safety gloves are able to meet this demand.

(Source for the picture: http://www.alphabetsigns.com/p/SS032611/  [3])

OSHA Standards on Hand Protection - 1910.138 


1910.138(a)
 General requirements. Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.  1910.138(b)
Selection. Employers shall base the selection of the appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified.

 

 

European Standards for Gloves [1]

Implies that the gloves comply with the basic requirements laid down by the EEC directive: Personal Protective Equipment.

Simple Design (Category 1)

For areas of 'minimal risk' where the effects of not wearing a glove are easily reversible or superficial. Such products are self certified.

Intermediate Design (Category 2)

For areas of specific risk i.e. mechanical risks. Such products will have been EC type tested against European test methods and certified by a notified body.

Complex Design (Category 3)

For areas/applications that can seriously or irreversibly harm the health. Such products, in addition to the CE type test, will also have to be either produced under an approved quality system OR be typed tested on an annual basis.

EN 388 - This standard applies to all kinds of protective gloves giving protection from mechanical risks, in respect of physical problems caused by abrasion, blade cut, puncture, or tearing. This standard also covers risk of electrostatic discharge.
EN 374 - This standard specifies the capability of gloves to protect the user against chemicals and/or micro-organisms.
EN 511 - This standard applies to gloves which protect the hands against convective and contact cold.
EN 407 - This standard specifies thermal performance for protective gloves against heat and/or fire.
EN 659 - This standard defines performance requirements for gloves designed to protect fire fighters against heat and flames.
If a glove is to be used for food handling, it is required to carry either the words 'for food use' or this symbol.

	Mechanical Hazards EN 388	Performance Level
a) Abrasion resistance		0-4
b) Blade-cut resistance		0-5
c) Tear resistance		0-4
d) Puncture resistance		0-4
	EN 511 : Cold	Performance Level
a) Convective cold		0-4
b) Contact cold		0-4
c) Water proofness		0-1

	Thermal Hazards EN 407	Performance Level
a) Burning behaviour		0-4
b) Contact heat		0-4
c) Convective heat		0-4
d) Radiant heat		0-4
e) Small splashes of molten metal		0-4
f) Large splashes of molten metal		0-4

Types of Safety Gloves

General purpose

Latex (Natural rubber) gloves

Nitrile glove

Cut protection gloves

http://www2.dupont.com/Personal_Protection/en_US/products/kevlar/cut_products.html

Chemical protection gloves

Material of glove,

PVA

PVC

Butyl Rubber

(some more to be included)

Types of Gloves - Bibliography

http://www.dawginc.com/protective-gloves-ar1

http://www.safetycommunity.com/profiles/blogs/what-are-the-different-types

http://www.ehs.berkeley.edu/hs/63-laboratory-safety/94-glove-selection-and-usage.html

Safety Glove Manufacturers and  Suppliers 

India:

Vinit Gloves Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. [2] is an 100% export oriented company. They are are manufacturers & exporters of Industrial Leather Gloves from Kolkata, India. the product range includes rigger gloves. driver gloves and welder gloves.

UK:

Greenham Safety Gloves, UK [1] offers a comprehensive range of safety gloves - in excess of 200 different types and styles from which to choose.

Fix8 Ltd [5] have a range of safety gloves and other safety equipment for most, if not all work needs. Fix8 also have a large number of many other construction and industrial supplies to offer as a large UK supplier of industrial products.


USA:
Superior Glove Ltd, USA [4] has been in business since 1910. It has  three manufacturing facilities and sells over 250, 000 pairs of gloves a day.
Safety Signs [3] have a list of safety signs and produce many other types of signs for all sorts of businesses and uses.

References:

1. Greenham Safety Gloves, http://safety-gloves.greenham.com/

2. Vinit Gloves Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd., http://www.vinitgloves.com/

3.  Safety Signs, http://www.alphabetsigns.com/c/SS00/safety-signs.html

4. Superior Glove Ltd, http://www.superiorglove.com/about/index.asp

5. Fix8 Ltd, Safety Gloves http://www.fix8.co.uk/products/PPE+Safety+Equipment/Safety+Gloves

Bibliography

1. Chemical Glove Selection for farm workers, http://www.elcosh.org/docs/d0100/d000155/d000155.html

2. Medical gloves - FAQs, http://www.kchealthcare.com/LrnFAQsQandA.asp?id=804&CategoryName=Medical%20Gloves%20-%20Standards%20and%20Regulations

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Social networking site for safety professionals

http://www.safetycommunity.com/

Original post
http://knol.google.com/k/ safety-gloves, Knol Number 1148