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Why Some Work Gloves May Actually Cause More Injuries

By: William Penworthy Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Work gloves and safety gloves, like protective eyewear, are essential aspects of personal protective equipment at work, but all too often the idea of protective hand wear and safety wear for the hands and wrists is misunderstood. There are several assumptions and myths surrounding proper hand protection, and in many cases this is placing workers’ hands at risk. The fact is that wearing or providing the wrong kind of work glove can be every bit as dangerous as not having any safety glove at all. Yet at the same time, the company, business or employer is still fully responsible for the safety of workers, and for providing adequate and appropriate PPE, including suitable work gloves.

The main mistake many people make is to assume that by providing almost any kind of safety glove they are complying with safety regulations and providing appropriate protection for workers. The thinking goes that any material which covers the hand must be offering a degree of protection, and that this therefore means that the employer is fulfilling their obligations. However, this thinking is in error, and as a result workers may be being put at risk, with all of the implications which follow an issue regarding safety at work.

The first assumption, therefore, is that any material which covers the hand must be offering protection. Let’s examine why this isn’t necessarily the case, and go on to look at why this may in fact be adding to any danger or risk which might be present. In industry, business, and manual labour there are many various risks which may pose a danger to the hands. From sharp steel blades to abrasive materials, from continuous vibrations to punctures and even corrosive substances. Because of the range of dangers which exist, a range of work gloves and safety gloves also exists, ensuring that workers can be protected against the specific risks which their job entails.

But a work glove is not simply a thick layer of material which covers the hand. The technology exists to create safety gloves which offer very specific protection against specific risks. For this reason a glove manufactured from a material which offers resistance to corrosive substances may offer little or no protection against the risk of injury from saw blades, punctures or abrasion. Similarly a safety glove designed to offer protection from the risk of cutting may offer little or no degree of safety where corrosion is concerned. By wearing the wrong kind of glove, the protection being gained may be wholly inappropriate, and this may in turn offer a false sense of security, allowing the workers to place themselves in more danger than they might otherwise.

But it isn’t just about the specific type of material either, because the shape of the glove can play a very large part in whether safety and protection is really being offered. There are two aspects to this, the first being the size and shape of the glove relative to the hand. People’s hands vary greatly in terms of both size and shape. Women’s hands and men’s hands may be quite distinct from each other, but even subtle differences such as the lengths of the fingers, breadth of the palm and overall size and shape of the hand may determine whether a glove fits well, or doesn’t.

Work gloves which are too small or pinch in certain places may be uncomfortable, and may restrict blood flow and circulation as well as increasing the temperature of the hand. Over extended periods of time not only does the blood flow constriction pose a very great risk to the worker’s health, but the discomfort may mean that the worker removes the gloves and chooses not to wear the safety equipment provided. This does happen in many cases, yet in spite of the worker’s decision not to wear the safety equipment the employer may still be liable in the event of an accident if it can be shown that the safety gloves provided were in any way inappropriate or unsuitable.

The other issue regarding the size and shape of safety gloves is whether the protection is appropriate to the location of any risk. What does this mean? Very simply, it may be that a worker operating a saw is placing more than their fingers or hands at risk - it could easily be that the saw blade might cut the wrists as well. For this reason many gloves designed to offer protection against cutting will have an extended sleeve which offers protection for the wrists as well. Similarly, gloves designed to offer protection against abrasion will have extra padding across the inside of the fingers and palm, but very little across the back of the hand, where it simply isn’t necessary.

Too much material, or material which simply envelopes the hand in thick layers of protection will restrict movement and dexterity considerably which can lead to either a reduction in work rate, a reduction in safe handling of equipment, or simply resentment and discomfort, leading to workers failing to wear the supplied personal protective equipment.
Work gloves and safety gloves have been designed to offer specific, targeted protection against specific risks and dangers. Make sure your workers are protected against the actual risks they face, rather than assumed or inappropriate risks.