As a business owner, you have to make the workplace safe and provide the necessary PPE equipment to all your workers. Safety equipment plays an important role when your workers are often involved in handling various hazardous materials. It’s essential to protect their hands using hand protection equipment like gloves so that they provide a barrier between the skin and chemicals.
They not only protect your workers from contact with harmful chemicals but also ensure that you comply with the regulations. However, to reap the maximum benefits, choosing the right safety gloves is necessary. Perfect-fit gloves will enhance the comfort and boost productivity of your workplace operations.
Let’s see what factors you should consider while selecting the right gloves:
- Identify the Hazards in Your Workplace (e.g. chemical, mechanical, temperature, electrical, biological)
To select the right gloves, you have to assess the risks associated with your business. Identifying them is the first step to making your workplace safe. Start with understanding the materials that your workers handle.
Do your employees work with sharp objects, chemicals, heat or electrical components? Or do they perform physical tasks like heavy lifting, precision work or maintenance tasks? Also, understand the working conditions – will the gloves be exposed to wet, oily, or extremely cold conditions? Having the right answers to these questions will let you choose the right gloves for your workers.
Knowing the risks associated with your workplace and choosing the relevant safety equipment will keep your workers safe, and also protect your business from any legal issues. - Types of Safety Gloves and Their Uses
Various types of gloves are available to meet the unique risks and regulations of your business operations. They are:
Cut-resistant gloves: if your business operations involve working with sharp tools and materials, then these are the gloves for you. They are made with materials such as Kevlar or metal mesh providing you varying levels of cut resistance. Industries related to construction and manufacturing need to have these gloves to ensure workplace safety.
Chemical-resistant gloves: If your workers deal with hazardous substances, then they should have these gloves. Chemical-resistant gloves are made from nitrile, neoprene and PVC materials which provide a protective layer against various chemicals.
Heat-resistant gloves: These gloves are useful when your workers do tasks involving hot surfaces or molten materials. They are made from materials like leather and aramid fibres providing great heat resistance and tolerance.
General-purpose gloves: To handle minor cuts and provide protection against abrasions, you can have these gloves which are made from cotton, leather, and synthetic materials.
Electrical gloves: Ensure to have these gloves if your workers work with live wires and electrical equipment. They prevent electrical shock and keep your workers safe. - Fit, Grip and Comfort
Gloves should be neither too loose nor too tight. Improper-fit will lead to fatigue and cause discomfort while reducing productivity. Make sure you have gloves in a variety of sizes or consider ergonomic designs.
You should see the grip of the gloves especially if your workers are slippery or small objects. Consider having textured surfaces to enhance grip and thin-materials gloves allow great dexterity. - Certifications and Industry Standards
Always look at the industry standards and certification while choosing gloves. You don’t want to end up with ill-performing gloves and compromise the safety of your workers. Look for reputable safety equipment suppliers when choosing gloves for your business. - Cost vs Durability
Always choose high-quality gloves when you are purchasing. It might become a higher upfront cost but is more economical in the long run due to their longevity. - Training and Proper Use
While some gloves are disposable, you can reuse other gloves with proper care and maintenance. With proper maintenance and washing after use will let your workers reuse the safety equipment. However, evaluate how much maintenance you can manage and analyse how well your employees are trained to reuse the gloves and see whether they have proper access to the cleaning facilities.
Final Thoughts
One of the essential steps in making your workplace safe is by choosing the right safety equipment. Consider the associated risks, explore your options and think about the comfort and durability they provide. While it may sound like an investment, you are making your business compliance with rules and regulations and ensuring the safety of your workers.
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