Guides
Safety gloves for construction applications.Image Credit: welcomia/Shutterstock.com
Safety gloves are articles of clothing used to partially or entirely cover the hands—and, to some extent, the arms—to provide protection to the user or otherwise improve operational efficiency (e.g., improving grip or maintaining sanitary conditions) within industrial and commercial applications. Used for applications ranging from chemical processing to electrical equipment handling, manufacturers produce a wide range of gloves made with a variety of synthetic and natural materials—e.g., cotton, rubber, plastic, etc.—and characteristics—e.g., cut, chemical, heat, cold, and abrasion resistance.
Determining which type of glove to use generally depends on the occupational environment, duration of the job, and type of conditions or contaminants associated with the application. Based on these considerations, there are several types of gloves available for industrial and commercial use, including:
The following sections provide a brief description of the above-mentioned types of gloves.
Fabric and cotton gloves provide a thin barrier between the user and the materials and tools used for the application. While these lightweight gloves may offer some protection against contaminants—such as dirt or dust—and minor abrasions, they are generally not effective in guarding against cuts, punctures, burns, or strong chemicals and solvents. However, coatings, such as latex, PVC, and polyurethane, can be added to allow for minor to moderate resistance to these potential hazards.
In some cases, these gloves are also used as liners beneath more durable or effective gloves to provide better protection against low temperatures.
Designed for single-use, disposable gloves are suitable for applications with incidental contact—i.e., little to no exposure with the potential hazard. These types of situations include guarding against minor spills, splashes, or overspray, protection against infectious agents, and material contamination prevention.
As these gloves are typically made of thin material, such as latex, neoprene, nitrile, and vinyl, they allow users to maintain some sensitivity and dexterity in their hands. However, this characteristic also makes them unsuitable for handling sharp and abrasive materials or strong chemicals for extended periods as they offer little protection against tears, punctures, or chemical burns.
Chemical resistant gloves and liquid-resistant gloves are suitable to use for protection against intentional contact—i.e., long-term exposure to significant amounts—with acids, alkalis, and various other aqueous solutions. Depending on the particular chemical or solvent used in the application, these types of gloves are available in a variety of materials, including:
Tear, puncture, and cut resistant gloves are often constructed from materials such as high-grade stainless steel or poly-para-phenylene terephthalamide (e.g., Kevlar®) and commonly feature a mesh aesthetic. Resistant to damage from sharp or abrasive objects such as glass and knives, these gloves are often ergonomically designed for a precise fit.
As mentioned previously, fabric and cotton gloves can also be used for applications that require minor to moderate abrasive or sharp material handling. When produced with linings composed of stronger materials, such as plastics, they offer even more effective abrasion or cut protection.
Thermal proof gloves, such as heat resistant gloves and cold-resistant gloves, protect against extreme temperatures and are fabricated from a variety of materials, including:
Impact-resistant gloves and vibration resistant gloves are capable of absorbing any impact and vibration which may occur during industrial operations, such as those produced during fabrication or construction work. Absorption of this energy is critical to protecting operators, especially when they may be exposed to these hazards for extended periods of time, as prolonged exposure may be detrimental to their health (e.g., case of hand-arm vibration syndrome, or HAVS).
Some manufacturers use a combination of materials to produce heavy-duty gloves which provide even greater user protection.
This guide provides a basic understanding of the types of safety gloves used for industrial applications.
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