 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Selecting the Right Glove For BetterHand Protection ID Substances and Their Hazards |
|
|
As many as one million U.S. workers receive emergency department treatment for acute hand injuries every year leading to about 110,000 estimated lost time hand injuries.If you work with your hands, chances are you or someone you work with has experienced a hand injury. And many of these injuries can potentially be avoided with the proper use of the right hand protection: namely, gloves. In fact, a study conducted by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety found that glove use reduced hand injury by 60 percent. But how do you select the right gloves for your needs? As with the selection process for any personal protective equipment (PPE), the first step should be a risk assessment to identify and understand potential hazards. Start by identifying the substances (particulates, liquids and gases) present in the work site, as well as the hazards associated with these substances (e.g., dermal toxicity, reactivity, etc.). A survey of the work site should list physical and environmental hazards such as sharp instruments, rough surfaces or machinery. Also, make a list of who will be wearing the gloves, the work that person will do, and what equipment will be used. To determine the potential hazard exposure for each worker task, ask the following questions to determine what hand protection is needed: • What state is the hazardous substance (solid, liquid or gas)? • What is the route of potential exposure? • Is exposure expected? • What is the frequency and duration of exposure? • What are the expected short- and long-term physical outcomes if exposure occurs? • What engineering changes can be made to eliminate or minimize the hazard? • What changes can be made to worker tasks to eliminate or minimize the hazard? Once the task is engineered to be as safe as possible, it’s time to turn to glove selection. The best place to start is with ANSIISEA 105-2005, American National Standard for Hand Protection Selection Criteria, developed by the American National Standards Institute, Inc. and the International Safety Equipment Association. The standard addresses the classification and testing of hand protection for specific performance properties related to chemical and industrial applications and can help users select the appropriate hand protection. ANSI-ISEA 105-2005 calls for gloves to be classified according to a variety of performance attributes. Glove users should evaluate the glove under consideration against the following standardized tests as described in the standard: • Mechanical protection – cut resistance, puncture resistance, abrasion resistance; • Chemical protection – chemical permeation resistance and chemical degradation resistance; • Detection of holes; • Heat and flame protection – ignition resistance and burning behavior, heat degradation resistance, conductive heat resistance; • Vibration reduction; and • Dexterity. Additional recommendations provided in ANSI-ISEA 105-2005 (Appendix C) include: • Review past experience with the use of gloves for insight into what performance levels are appropriate; • Consider hand protection features that are needed in terms of length, areas of coverage, type of cuff, surface finish, and any other attributes affecting function or comfort; • Choose the glove that offers the optimum combination of features and performance; • Select gloves of the appropriate size, fit, function (dexterity, tactility and grip) and comfort; and • Periodically reevaluate the choice of glove to determine if appropriate protection, function and comfort are being offered. When it comes to glove materials, some users may be sensitive to the proteins found in latex – an issue that has prompted the glove industry to find alternatives in materials such as vinyl, nitrile and neoprene. Occasionally, users may experience glove-associated irritation that has nothing to do with an allergic reaction. Suggested tips for alleviating such symptoms include: • Wearing a larger glove to increase air circulation until the hands heal; • Changing gloves more frequently to allow air to get to the hands if gloves are worn for long periods; • Wearing powder-free gloves; • Considering anti-inflammatory creams. But avoid petroleum-based creams while wearing gloves as they may compromise glove barrier integrity. • Choosing gloves low in residual chemicals; and • Considering the use of glove liners made of cotton, nylon or other materials and replacing the liners every time gloves are changed. FSM Source: Kimberly-Clark Professional
|
      
|
||||
|
© 2010 Facility Safety
Management - All Rights Reserved - |
