Selecting the correct glove for your job

Next to our eyes, our hands are probably the most important part of our body when it comes to doing our work. They’re involved in almost everything we do. Yet many of the things we do with our hands are done without any deliberate thought. Your hands have no fear. They’ll go anyplace they’re sent and they only act as wisely as the person to whom they belong. So, before you use your hands think of their safekeeping.

Consider, each year more than one million U.S. workers receive emergency room treatment for acute hand injuries. Nearly 70 percent of the workers who experienced hand injuries were not wearing gloves. The remaining 30 percent of injured workers were wearing gloves that were either damaged or inadequate for the task being performed. In an effort to prevent such workplace injuries, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) implemented the hand protection standard (29 CFR 1910.138) which mandates that employers provide and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees’ hands are exposed to any of the following hazards:

• Skin absorption of harmful substances (e.g., chemicals or infectious materials)
• Severe cuts or lacerations
• Severe abrasions or punctures
• Chemical burns or thermal burns
• Harmful temperature extremes

When selecting proper hand protection it is important to choose the right type of glove for each specific task, since no one glove protects against all hazards. Consult the relevant Safety Data Sheet (SDS) which may recommend a particular glove material. Otherwise, select gloves that are resistant to the chemicals with which you are working. Listed below are general rules to follow when hand protection is needed:

• Select gloves of the correct size and fit; gloves that are too small are uncomfortable and may tear, whereas gloves that are too large may interfere with dexterity.
• Before use, check gloves (even new ones) for physical damage, such as, tears or pin holes and for previous chemical damage.
• When removing gloves, do so in a way that avoids the contaminated exterior contacting the skin.
• Wash hands after removing gloves.
• Dispose of contaminated gloves properly.
• Do not attempt to re-use disposable gloves.
• Never wear possibly contaminated gloves outside of the work area or to handle
  telephones, computer keyboards, etc.

Once you have selected the correct gloves, care must be taken to inspect, maintain, and determine when to discard them. Gloves should be checked for physical damage before each use to ensure they are not torn, punctured or made ineffective in any way. Non-disposable gloves that are discolored or stiff may also indicate deficiencies caused by excessive use or degradation from chemical exposure.

The following chart provides guidance on glove selection.