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Hands-On Protection Evaluate Work Gloves for Task,
Integrity and Effectiveness |
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As human beings, our hands are essential to our everyday lives. We
depend on our ability to grasp objects as common as a pencil and as
complex as crane controls. In fact, take a moment to think about how
you would need to adapt without the use of your hands. It would mean
a different way of life altogether. So, in order to retain the functionality of our hands and protect them for the future, proper precautions must be taken. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) encompasses a wide range of protective devices for defending the human body during the course of potentially dangerous occupational conditions. Proper hand protection falls into this category and should under no circumstances be overlooked. Gloves, in particular, can protect hands from chemical absorption, cuts and punctures, as well as from extreme thermal conditions. As in any PPE program, gloves should be evaluated for specific tasks and then reevaluated for integrity and effectiveness. OSHA regulations concerning hand protection 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. 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. In addition to the OSHA standards for hand protection, the revised American National Standard for Hand Protection Selec¬tion Criteria was released in 2005. This revised standard, ANSI/ISEA 105-205, guides employers on proper glove selection in adherence with the OSHA standards. “The past practice of rating work gloves’ protection level as ‘good, fair or poor’ created inconsistencies among glove manufacturers in rating their gloves’ ability to provide protection,” according to ISEA Technical Director Janice Comer Bradley, CSP. “ANSI/ISEA 105 provides a consistent, numeric-scale method for manufacturers to rate their products against certain contaminants and exposures. With classification based on this scale, users can make better-informed decisions about which gloves are suitable for which tasks.” Chemical protective gloves are designed to provide a barrier from potentially hazardous chemicals or biological products by preventing contact of those chemicals with the skin. These are often the last line of defense against contact, making them very important in the ongoing effort for occupational health and safety. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), permeation rate, breakthrough time and degradation are all elements to consider upon your evaluation of chemical glove protection. “Permeation rate is the rate at which the chemical will move through the material. It is measured in a laboratory and is expressed in units, like milligrams, per square meter per second (or some other [weight of chemical or material] per [unit of time]). The higher the permeation rate, the faster the chemical will move through the material.” CCOHS also points out that permeation is not the same as penetration, which is leakage by means of a hole or tear in the glove. Another factor in the evaluation of the effectiveness of chemical-protecting gloves is breakthrough time. CCOHS explains, “Breakthrough time is the time it takes a chemical to permeate completely through the material. It is determined by applying the chemical on the glove exterior and measuring the time it takes to detect the chemical on the inside surface. The sensitivity of the analytical instruments used in these measurements influence when a chemical is first detected. The breakthrough time gives some indication how long a glove can be used before the chemical will permeate through the material.” Degradation is another factor to be considered with the use of gloves for hand protection. Degradation “is a measurement of the physical deterioration of the material due to contact with a chemical. The material may get harder, stiffer, more brittle, softer, weaker or may swell,” according to CCOHS. In addition to their application in evaluation of type for use, the three factors just explained should also be included in reevaluation of the PPE program. Finding the right glove for the job, at least where chemicals are concerned, should begin by referencing the MSDS for the chemical and moving on from there. If this information cannot be located, or if you still have questions, the manufacturer of the chemical, as well as the manufacturer should be contacted for specific information relating to each type of glove used. It is important to determine the proper glove for conditions in which the hands must be protected from situations such as lacerations, abrasions and punctures. Designed to protect the fingers, hands and arms from potentially dangerous situations (including direct puncture from sharp objects, as well as slash protection), cut and puncture resistant gloves differ greatly in material and use. There are many materials to choose from when considering cut resistant protection – Kevlar, metal mesh and Vectran are three of the many options. Kevlar is a material made by DuPont, which is a flexible fiber used for cut and abrasion protection. Metal mesh is a pattern of tightly woven metal rings, creating protection as a metal barrier between the potentially dangerous object and the skin. Vectran is a high-performance multifilament yarn spun from liquid crystal polymer. These are only a few types of material available for cut-resistant gloves – there are several other products avail-able, and before beginning a task where there is a potential for cuts or punctures, all options should be properly researched and considered. The standard commonly used for measuring cut resistance of ma¬terials used in protective clothing is ASTM F1790-05. In addition to protection against chemicals and cuts, other gloves are designed to protect the user from extreme thermal conditions, which might hinder the job process as well as cause physical injury. There are many types of thermal resistant gloves available for use in protection against temperature extremes and extreme heat and flame. Gloves can be made for use in wet or dry environments with a range of temperatures in which they lend protection. As with any program, reevaluation for the integrity of materials is key. According to OSHA’s guide to Personal Protective Equipment (OSHA 3151-12R 2003) “Protective gloves should be inspected before each use to ensure that they are not torn, punctured or made ineffective in any way. Gloves that are discolored or stiff may also indicate deficiencies caused by excessive use or degradation from chemical exposure.” The OSHA guide continues to explain that gloves whose integrity has been compromised should be immediately discarded, as they no longer provide the protection they once did. “Any gloves with impaired protective ability should be discarded and replaced. Reuse of chemical-resistant gloves should be evaluated carefully, taking into consideration the absorptive qualities of the gloves. A decision to reuse chemically-exposed gloves should take into consideration the toxicity of the chemicals involved and factors such as duration of exposure, storage and temperature.” The facts presented here can potentially be of great value to companies and individuals who work with potential “hand-injury” materials and situations. The important thing to remember is having the knowledge to protect your hands from injury is not enough – it must be applied and adhered to on a consistent basis. Management and supervisors must take the PPE research, relate it to their specific employees and tasks, and most importantly, always have the proper protection available and easily accessible or “on hand” for everyone to use. FSM KRISTINE GRESH AND JAMIE BISSOT are freelance writers from Birmingham, AL.
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