The Importance of Gloves on Industrial Work Sites

When working on an industrial site, wearing safety gloves is a top priority. Understanding of the importance of wearing work gloves on the job and finding a pair that is right for the task at hand is vital in reducing injury.

Below are some key factors to consider when purchasing a pair of work gloves:

Hazard – The first step in finding the right work gloves is to identify the need for hand protection. Consider the industry and setting in which you will be working to determine the hazards you may be up against. Evaluating what could cause you harm (or what you could cause harm) will ultimately determine what kind of glove you’ll need to get the most protection.

For instance, you may need to wear gloves to protect yourself from harmful chemicals. Conversely you may need to wear leather gloves to protect the product your handling from the natural oils on your skin. Other hazards common job-site hazards include cuts or scrapes, viruses or bacteria, extreme temperatures, or electrical currents. Understand the industry and product you’ll be working with before investing in work gloves.

Fit & Agility – Another important component when choosing a proper work glove is the fit. If a glove is too large for a workers hand, the glove could create an obstacle and prevent work from getting done safely. On the other hand, if a glove is too small, this could restrict a worker’s range of motion, again hindering work from getting done. Poorly fitting gloves can cause the hand to cramp or blister, ultimately impairing a worker from doing their job safely. It is important to measure hands in order to find properly sized gloves.

Coating – Depending on the industry, a worker may need gloves with protective coatings to prevent damage from certain elements. For example, if you are working with harsh chemicals, you will need gloves with an impermeable protective coating. Other options of safety gloves include ones made with a special hard backing to prevent puncture from things like needles or cutting tools. Some research should be done before you buy to ensure you are protecting yourself from potential dangers your job will pose.

Recognizing the fact that you need to wear gloves and carefully assessing each of the factors that you need to be protected from will help determine the glove that is right for you. For all of your work glove needs, reach out to the professionals at L&A Safety.

Advantages of Synthetic or Leather Industrial Work Gloves

There are advantages and disadvantages to both synthetic and leather industrial work gloves. There is no perfect material, but both of these choices provide advantages to the wearer.

Some of the benefits of synthetic safety gloves include…

Flexibility – They make excellent disposable gloves for medical, laboratory, and chemical environments.

Strength – Whether you choose Kevlar for cut resistance, Thinsulate for protection against wind and cold, or a combination of materials, synthetics provide strong protection.

Weight – Most synthetic industrial work gloves are lighter than leather counterparts, which can be very beneficial over long work days.

Safety leather gloves also provide valuable advantages to the user, including…

Durability – While not necessarily true with cheap work gloves, leather is a very durable and long lasting material.

Breathability – Unlike most synthetic material, leather “breathes” giving the wearer much more comfort, while being substantially cooler in hot conditions.

Allows effective “combinations” – Because of its malleability, leather is a perfect outer shell that can be securely attached to linings, such as electrical safety gloves with leather outer shells and natural rubber linings.

As you can see, the strengths of one material become the potential liabilities of the other, but both are good choices. Your personal preference for comfort and safety reasons will be the deciding factor since both designs are effective. Cost differentials are not a major consideration with the majority of choices of industrial safety gloves made with either material.

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Contact L&A Safety for all your safety wear and equipment. We can provide you with anything from safety gloves and boots to boiler suits and respirators.