More than a million workers go to the emergency room every year due to hand injuries. OSHA reports that 71% of all hand and arm injuries at work could have been prevented with safety gloves. The same report shows that 70% of workers don’t wear hand protection, and 30% don’t wear the right kind of gloves to protect themselves.
Hand injuries can be incredibly dangerous and expensive. Wearing the right safety gloves can be the difference between safety and a seriously injured or severed hand.
4 types of hand protection
Different types of gloves are designed to protect workers from a variety of hand injuries. Depending on the type of industry in which a worker is employed, hand protection can prevent job-specific injuries like cuts, splinters, bruises, fractures and burns.
The following types of hand protection can safeguard workers in their areas of work:
- Disposable gloves — Disposable gloves are usually made of lightweight latex or vinyl. They can help guard against mild chemicals and bacteria found in food. As such, they are often used in the food service and medical industries to help lessen the spread of germs. As these gloves are disposable, they should be thrown out between tasks to minimize infection.
- Fabric gloves — Fabric gloves are made of cotton or fabric blendsThey are often used to improve an employee’s grip while dealing with slippery objects. They can also protect workers’ hands from minor scrapes and mild temperature changes while still remaining breathable. Fabric gloves are usually used in warehouses and maintenance facilities. They should be changed when in contact with dirt or harmful bacteria, or when they look worn or dirty.
- Leather gloves — Leather gloves are thick and protect employees’ hands against cuts, splinters and chemicals. They can also be used with an insulated liner that protects hands against electrical shocks. They are often used when welding in a factory environment. While leather gloves can last years when properly cared for, they need to be replaced when the fabric has frayed or thinned.
- Metal mesh gloves — Metal mesh gloves are made up of thousands of metal rings in order to provide durable protection. These gloves are ideal for jobs that involve cutting and puncturing objects, like sheet metal work, food processing, and textile cutting, and they help prevent serious lacerations from sharp tools. Metal mesh gloves should be cleaned frequently.
Work-Fit can help you identify hand protection that’s best for your employees
Finding the right hand protection for your employees can be crucial to keeping your injury rates and expenses down. Our team of experts at Work-Fit can help you pinpoint which gloves you need to provide for your workers. Contact our team today for more information about our services or to learn how we can help keep your employees’ hands safe.
