Safety gear at work is a crucial necessity and a prime steward to save workplace injuries, burns, and cuts. Especially in industries that involve welding, chemical handling, or any other high-impact activity, PPE kits are inevitable. On this note, the minimal safety guard to feel and remain safe is safety gloves. These gloves, specifically designed for each work sector, keep away your hands from potential hazards like an abrasion, burn or cut. Also, not every safety hand glove can suit all types of industry workers. Primely, safety hand gloves differ in the kind of fabric they are out of. From leather gloves to kevlar gloves, there are multiple options to meet different safety standards.
Why are safety gloves essential?
Around 84 Australians were killed at the workplace to date in 2021, says a survey. Getting equipped with the appropriate safety hand gloves is important to get your job done the right way. From preventing needle injuries to loss of fingers, one cannot overlook the endless benefits of these hand gloves. Here is a list of some typical hazards safety hand gloves can guard you against,
1. Puncture and Abrasions
Cuts and abrasions are the basic hazard one will face in any kind of work. Every staff is prone to punctures during machinery handling, whether at the hospital or a construction site. Whatever be the need, fabric gloves have been the go-to choice for protection against mechanical abrasions and cuts. Luckily, there are versatile choices within fabric gloves to suit specific requirements at varying workplaces. For instance, coated fabric gloves are commonly in use among construction staff handling hard concrete items. On the other hand, synthetic fabric gloves can also protect against grease and oil dirt.
- Chemicals and Lab hazards
Burns and allergies are a common sight for workers handling chemicals and biohazards in various industries and laboratories. Also, infections from lab specimens when not used with the right gloves can spread instantaneously. In such cases, safety hand gloves are highly essential and, an absence is a big red flag. Chemical-resistant gloves can drive away direct contact of your skin with specimens and other biohazards. Fabric gloves coated with Latex or Nitrile can be an appropriate choice to prevent cross-contaminations and skin burns. These gloves are also comfortable, provide precise fitting, and are breathable.
- Heat and flashes
Any manufacturing unit will involve the emission of heat and flash arcs that can be potential hazards to your fingers. In such cases, gloves that provide a wrist and forearm fit and a highly intact barrier are the best to use. Leather gloves with gauntlet cuffs are the go-to choice for protection against heat emission and flames flashes while welding. Additionally, leather hand gloves provide impeccable resistance against mechanical injuries and other impacts caused due to a heated up setup.
- Extreme temperatures
Undeniably, not all workers and factories operate at a similar temperature range. As the setup differs, the temperature will also change. When it is about extreme temperatures, it isn’t just hot surroundings or metalworking scenarios. Cold storage or cryotherapy chambers may be extremely low down the temperature scale. In such cases, you will also need protection against extreme temperature and not just mechanical or biohazard. Safety hand gloves can do their maximum bit to keep your hands secured without causing tissue or skin damages. Safety gloves lined with Nitrile, Goat grain, buffalo hide, etc., have impeccable warmth and insulation properties.
