1. What is it for?Hand protection is designed to guard against a wide range of hazards, including: Show
Different types of protection are available, depending on the likely hazards. The most obvious form are gloves, which can be made from a wide range of materials. Barrier creams are also a type of hand protection and can be used as an aid to skin hygiene. Remember: barrier creams do not offer good protection against skin irritation and dermatitis, which can be caused by contact with oils and other chemicals. They must not be used instead of gloves, but as a supplement to them. To be effective, they should be applied to clean hands, over the wrist onto the lower arm, before gloves are put on. 2. What types are available?
Warning: Gloves must be stored appropriately and replaced regularly. Both natural and artificial rubbers decompose over time and may not provide the correct level of protection. For sampling purposes your exposure to a chemical should be short – but it is important to understand the risks and the capabilities of the gloves. The following terms are usually used:
Finally, it is important to avoid inadvertent exposure to the chemical when removing the gloves. Gloves designed for protection against chemicals must comply with the standard EN374, which provides different levels of cover: You should check that the glove provides appropriate protection for the chemical concerned and adequate time for sampling to be carried completed. There are several other standards which give markings for different types of protection: 3. Where must hand protection be worn?You must wear hand protection wherever there is a risk of any kind of injury or disease in the course of the work being carried out. Wherever it is compulsory to wear hand protection on a trader’s premises, a sign similar to that shown here will normally be displayed. In most cases this will mean gloves, except where there is a danger of them being caught in machinery or if it is important to retain some flexibility of movement. Disposable gloves should be worn in combination with other PPE when officers handle with dangerous goods or the chemicals with unknown composition as well as infectious agents, blood and body fluids. Additional layers of gloves may be necessary to provide greater protection or protection against a combination of chemical/biological and physical risks. 4. What are its limitations?PVC gloves should not be worn in very low temperatures because they can become stiff. Heavy leather or cotton gloves can become uncomfortable if worn for long periods, particularly in a warm environment. Gloves offer no protection to the wrists or forearms. If there is a risk of damage to these parts of the body, gauntlets should be worn and tucked into the sleeves of other clothing. This reduces the risk of spillages down the arm and into the glove area. When handling chemicals exposure must be kept to a minimum. Even though the SDS may recommend gloves these may only protect you for a limited time. The chemical may degrade or permeate the glove after even quite a short amount of time. If you are uncertain, seek advice or use trained staff or contractors to carry out the sampling. 5. How do I look after it?You can keep most gloves in good condition by cleaning and storing them in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The following specific instructions will prolong the life of certain gloves:
Disposable gloves are used for single operation and once used; they should be disposed of — but remember that they will probably need to be treated as hazardous waste. Especially when handling with dangerous goods, chemicals with unknown composition as well as infectious agents, special care must be taken when they are removed to avoid the secondary contamination. You must place any contaminated gloves in a separate tightly closed bag to be removed by an approved waste disposal company. The attention should be also paid to correct putting on and removal of gloves to avoid the cross contamination. You must refer to the legislation and the guidance of your national administration for more information. What type of gloves provide chemical protection?Nitrile is a synthetic rubber material that offers chemical and abrasion resistance and is a very good general-duty material for gloves.
Which type of glove is most resistant to punctures and chemicals?Type of glove:
Nitrile gloves are preferred over latex because of their chemical resistance, their tendency to visibly rip when punctured, and to prevent possible latex allergies.
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