As we know, a significant percentage of work-related accidents involve hand injuries. These injuries may cost up to $26,000 in medical bills, lost wages, not to mention pain and suffering. Workers are always exposed to a multitude of risks at any given time. Selecting the ideal safety gloves may be a challenge but it’s of the utmost importance.
It’s no surprise that some of the most common risks include cutting and welding. Also, according to statistics from the construction industry in the United Kingdom, about a fifth of the minor injuries result from handling, lifting, and carrying construction and other materials.
Industries that rely on activities such as moving, handling, cutting and using the hands to fix various items are especially problematic. Also, construction workers use a wide variety of hazardous chemicals, which can be in the form of solvents or cement. As a result, hand injuries are the most common during a construction project. Hands need extra protection!
We have to do everything we can to avoid being one of the millions of workers who visit various emergency response centers in the country by thinking safety first at all times, including wearing safety hand gloves when carrying out different tasks. Every employer should ensure that workers are protected against all potential hazards. But let’s face it, we have to protect ourselves first and foremost.
Adhering to safety practices can help to reduce the number of accidents in construction sites. However, they cannot be entirely eliminated. Therefore, choosing the ideal gloves is one vital step for all construction and industry workers.
There are no standard gloves for workers engaging in different activities as they are exposed to varying levels of risks. Over the years, the number of work gloves manufacturers has increased. Handymax, Mechanix Wear, NoCry are among the top 10 work gloves brands.
A Brief History of Safety Gloves.
Traditionally, gloves were used for decoration by peasants, soldiers, and shepherds. Usually, they were made of cheap materials. In Egypt, Pharaohs wore them to symbolize their power while women wore them to preserve the beauty of their hands.
Importance of Wearing Gloves for Construction Workers.
1. Prevention of Punctures and Needle Injuries.
Safety gloves have extra safety features as compared to the typical hand gloves. The safety gloves have hard surfaces that protect users against punctures and injuries that may result from the use of needles.
2. Preventing the Loss of Fingers.
Construction workers handle a wide variety of equipment, which can lead to the loss of fingers and hands when they come into direct contact with the sharp parts of the equipment. When you wear the best work gloves, your fingers and hands will be safe when dealing with risky construction tools.
3. Offering Protection against Chemical Burns and Injuries.
Construction works may involve the use of toxic chemicals. If such substances fall over the hands of the workers, they are likely to cause severe burns and injuries. However, the use of safety gloves provides protection against such incidences.
4. Protection against Temperature Variations.
During a construction project, there may be significant temperature changes, which may make working difficult. Safety hands gloves will offer the protection you need when there are drastic temperature changes in a construction site.
5. Preventing the Absorption of Toxic Materials.
Construction workers may absorb hazardous materials when they come into contact with them. Such incidences can be avoided if safety hand gloves are used when handling the substances.
Some Considerations when choosing Safety Gloves.
Identify the tasks to be carried out and the potential risks. For example, evaluate whether the construction work will involve the use of toxic materials, cutting, and welding tools to be used. You should also consider any other potential hazards during the construction work.
If you are a manager in a construction site, assess how your workers will come into contact with the toxic chemicals and for how long. For example, a mixture of water and cement is highly alkaline and can cause burns and dermatitis.
Identify how the construction workers will be exposed to the chemicals. For example, if the exposure is through immersing their hands or splashing. How they are exposed will affect the level of risk and the choice of gloves.
The gloves to be used in different tasks must offer the minimum protection required by regulatory bodies. The classification of safety gloves is based on factors such as chemicals to be used, penetration resistance of the gloves, material degradation, and the permeation rate.
The testing of gloves is done using 18 substances, and they are grouped into three categories depending on the level of protection that they can offer. The first category is for gloves that provide the highest level of protection, and the last one offers low protection against the substances.
Common Types of Safety Gloves.
Different types of gloves are designed to offer protection for different kinds of risks, including chemicals, cuts, and burns. The following are some of the most common types of gloves and their most appropriate application:
- Cotton and Fabric Gloves.
Wearing these types of gloves will help you to keep your hands clean and also offer protection against abrasion. One of the drawbacks of using cotton and fabric gloves is that they are not strong enough to protect users when working with rough and sharp tools.
- Coated Fabric Gloves.
If you use moderate concentrated chemicals in your construction site, consider using these types of gloves. You will have nothing to worry about when handling such chemicals.
- Rubber, plastic, or synthetic Designs.
These types of gloves are ideal for use when working with oils, different types of solvents, and chemicals in a construction site. You can also use them when carrying out cleaning exercises.
- Leather Gloves.
The leather material can resist sparks and moderate heat. Therefore, you can use the gloves when welding in your construction site. In addition, the tools are ideal when dealing with sharp construction tools and for offering protection against abrasions.
- Aluminized Gloves.
The insulated and reflective properties make them ideal for welding and furnace tasks. Aluminized gloves can reflect radiant and ambient heat. However, they are not suitable for conductive heat.
- Kevlar Gloves.
They are ideal for a wide variety of industrial applications as they can protect users during hot and cold conditions. You can use them when handling sharp construction equipment, and they are abrasion-resistant.
- Chemical-Resistant Gloves.
There are many types of gloves that are designed to offer protection against specific chemicals. For example, butyl rubber designs have strong resistance against nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and peroxide. Gloves made of natural latex can also provide protection against acids, alkalis, and salts. If you use hydraulic fluids, gasoline, and organic acids in your construction site, you should consider buying neoprene gloves.
Obviously, work gloves are essential. Check out our list of the Top 5 Work Gloves! Also, let us know below what your favorite work gloves are and why!
