Friday, July 25, 2014

Never Under-Estimate The Importance Of Work Gloves

By Miranda Sweeney


The protective gear that people use in many different occupations is an essential part of their professional equipment. The human body is susceptible to harm from various sources, and in some jobs protective clothing is not merely an optional item. Modern industry is rife with hazards and potential injuries, so taking safety seriously is not negotiable. Choosing the right work gloves is part of that attitude.

There are several reasons why people need to use hand protection in the course of their work. The first and most obvious is mechanical trauma. Even the operation of simple tools like secateurs or pickaxes can cause abrasions and strained muscles over time. Some people who use such tools refuse to wear gloves, and over time their hands have hardened and become accustomed to these dangers. However, even they occasionally suffer from cuts and bruises which could have been avoided through the use of safety wear.

Temperature is another issue. Some industries make use of high-heat machinery and processes. The human hand cannot take a very high temperature or tolerate even mild heat for more than a matter of seconds. A standard, everyday item like a home geyser can cause discomfort or pain to its users. Burns are extremely serious because they can mean a lengthy layoff from work and they can also turn septic.

Low temperatures also require protective gear. The skin needs protection against the cold, but workers also need to have enough hand motion to do their jobs. Their gear should accommodate both these requirements. The cold is easily able to damage the skin, as shown by mountain hikers who reportedly discarded their gloves in trying to deal with an emergency and then had frostbite afterwards.

Another issue is exposure to hazardous chemicals. This may involve corrosive substances or those which are biologically dangerous, such as medical waste. This is extremely important because some of these chemicals are lethally toxic (such as methyl mercury) or contain fatal diseases.

Corrosion is a notorious characteristic of some common industrial substances. Acids are the most popular among these, but there are others, such as benzene. Another example is caustic soda, which requires the worker to use PVC clothing, which in turn only lasts a few hours. The right material to use is determined by the chemical involved and how concentrated it is.

There are laboratory workers and medical staff who are tasked with handling samples of infectious illnesses. Gloves give these staff a sense of reassurance, allowing them to maintain a more positive attitude in dealing with their patients or research. For example, in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, needle-stick injuries are a common accident and result in the infection of the practitioner. This also happens with other diseases. Exposure to internal bodily fluids, especially during surgery, is a serious risk and is not tolerated in modern medical practice. Medical personnel usually use gossamer-thin latex gloves (which allow surgeons greater freedom of movement) or the thicker nitrile variety.

Many jobs would not be possible without the use of proper protective clothing. Hand injuries can cause permanent disability and loss of income. Taking a hands-on approach to safety is far better than having regrets about negligence afterwards.




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