Hazards

General

Gloves of various designs provide protection against a range of hazards, including:

• Protection from cuts and abrasions, for example, when handling sharp or pointed objects;
• Keeping the hands warm and supple in cold weather, for example, when working on a building site, as manual dexterity is lost when the hands are cold or when working with any extremes of temperature, either hot and cold;
• Keeping hands warm in cold weather when operating machines that cause vibration, such as pneumatic drills and chain saws. Vibration white finger occurs more often and more severely when the hands and fingers are cold as the blood supply to the fingers is reduced by the body in an attempt to conserve heat;
• Danger from electrical hazards;
• Handling or coming into contact with chemicals, for example, maintenance of machinery, cleaning up chemical spillages and mixing and dispensing pesticide formulations;
• Handling radioactive materials;
• Handling hot or cold materials and work involving accidental contact with naked flames such as welding, ovens etc.;

The type and degree of protection depends on the glove material and the way in which it is constructed. 

Gloves Resistant to Mechanical Hazards

Mechanical hazards are associated with the handling of rough or sharp objects which could abrade, cut or pierce the skin such as glass. Thin metal sheet and masonry blocks.

Note a mechanical hazard is not associated with moving machinery. It can be very dangerous to wear gloves when using machinery as they can catch in moving parts or serrated blades

Gloves should not be used when working with serrated blades. In this circumstance, guard should be used.

The British and European Standard is BS EN 388.

There is a scale indicating the resistance of gloves to

Abrasion        Performance Index              1  to  4

Blade Cut       Performance Index              1  to  5

Tear                Performance Index              1  to  4

Puncture        Performance index               1  to  4

In each case 1 is the lowest performance rating.

Gloves Resistant to Chemical Hazards

Any substance which could irritate or burn the skin is classed as a chemical hazard whether splashing or total immersion is involved. Some substances have an immediate effect whilst others can cause skin sensitisation over a period of time.

The European Norm covering the performance of Chemically Protective Gloves is now EN 374.2003

At least twelve chemicals have been identified by the letters A to L have be nominated and a manufacturer has to submit gloves to be tested by any of these against any of these three before approval is obtained. Penetration and permeation through the glove is measured to determine the breakthrough time.

To gain approval as a chemically resistant glove a breakthrough time of greater than 30 minutes. The glove then carries a pictogram together with the identification letters of the 3 chemicals against which it was tested for example, BS EN 374 ABC

If a glove fails to achieve 30 minutes of breakthrough time it can still be classified as “Low Chemical Resistance” and is identified by a different pictogram without the identification letters. BS EN 374.2003.

It is not necessary for a manufacturer to resubmit gloves already approved under the previous version of BS EN 374. Gloves approved to BS EN 374 will carry a pictogram indicating that information is available about the glove and its instructions and limitations in use.

The microorganism pictogram is used where the glove performs to at least level 2 for the permeation test, i.e. at least 30 minutes.

Gloves resistant to Thermal Hazards

Heat - These come in many forms. It may be radiated and conducted or it may come into contact with flames. Heat-resistant gloves are approved to BS EN 407

Cold - Cold may be something like cold water, freezers, or frozen gases. It is important to know the type of hazard and the temperature involved in order to recommend the appropriate protective gloves. Gloves that are resistant to cold are approved to BS EN 511.