5 Steps to Maximizing the Effectiveness of Work Gloves

Employers must provide their workers with proper personal protective equipment to reduce the chances of injury and meet OSHA safety standards. It’s essential to protect your hands against cuts and lacerations, chemical spills, thermal burns, abrasions, punctures, and dangerous temperatures. Appropriate gloves are part of the PPE you need to do your job safely. Here are five steps to maximizing the effectiveness of work gloves.

Assess Where Gloves Are Needed

Your occupation usually impacts the longevity of your gloves and how much protection they will provide you. One of the first steps to maximizing the effectiveness of work gloves at your job is to review loss experience to find the right pair of gloves.

Additionally, you can conduct a job hazard analysis that considers the environment and situations employees are subjected to. While many gloves have chemical protection, they should also provide other safety features like puncture and resistance.

Understand Different Work Gloves

Working in construction, landscaping, and welding requires specific gloves. Standard cotton or fabric gloves, coated fabric gloves, and leather gloves provide puncture resistance and durability for many different occupations. Medical professionals use latex, rubber, or plastic gloves, which protect against biohazards, chemicals, solvents, and other harmful substances.

Puncture-resistant and aluminized gloves keep your skin protected from sharp objects and allow you to work in extreme temperatures. Anti-vibration safety gloves protect your skin from long-term bodily harm from excessive vibration exposure.

Include Employees in Glove Selection

If you’re a business owner, get your employees involved in choosing the best gloves for their jobs. Doing so will ensure that the gloves chosen will help them work while remaining comfortable and safe. Check-in with your glove supplier and have them provide samples for your workers to test for protection, comfort, and dexterity. Additionally, ensure that the gloves you choose go through inspection to check for tears, cuts, and torn areas.

Proper Glove Maintenance

Whether you choose leather gloves or nitrile-dipped gloves, only proper maintenance will keep them fresh for years to come. Clean them after every workday, lubricate leather, and store them in a dry, dark place to prevent sun damage. It’s also essential to inspect them regularly if they need to be replaced.

Remove Potential Hazards

Eliminating hazards will allow employees to work better. Altering the way people work and providing the proper PPE will help prevent workplace accidents and ensure safety.