Gloves

Gloves protect the hands from many different types of injuries. Choosing the right type of gloves involves looking at the work type and knowing the potential hazards involved. Full hand protection may require using different types of gloves throughout the day. AHAH requires gloves to be worn during certain tasks. Check the PPE Matrix for a breakdown of what type of gloves are required by work task.

Fabric Gloves

Fabric gloves are general purpose gloves. They are lightweight, breathable and comfortable. They offering a basic level of protection against impact, cuts, abrasions, blisters, and vibrations.

They can also be coated in a material such as nitrile, polyurethane or latex. The coating, in addition to being water-resistant, improves grip in both wet and dry situations. It also creates a durable glove, with resistance to punctures, cuts and abrasions. Portions of the gloves are often left uncoated to allow your hands to breathe.

Leather gloves

Leather gloves are typically used for construction, welding and working with lumber.

Leather is a material that offers a good grip, resists sparks, protects against sharp or abrasive surfaces, and has good shock absorption. This protection even continues when the glove is exposed to moderate levels of heat, such as the heat from welding or the friction from a rope passing through the palms of the gloves while lowering loads.

Leather gloves offer high durability, function, and a great fit, but they are known to harden or shrivel if exposed to too much heat. They can also dry out hands when they're not paired with a liner that serves as a barrier between the skin and the raw leather.

Chemical/Liquid-Resistant gloves

These gloves are crucial when working with chemicals that can be harsh or toxic to skin. There is no single material that protects for every chemical. Refer to the manufacturer's MSDS to know which types of gloves will protect against the chemical you are using. Common types include:

Butyl Rubber - used when in extended contact with a substance such as: Ketones, esters, alcohols, Alkali, Nitric acid, Sulfuric acid, Hydrochloric acid, Peroxides

Natural Latex/Rubber - Intended for incidental contact situations. Suitable for biological hazards and water-based liquids.

Neoprene - Used in extended contact situations with materials such as: Acids, Bases, Alcohols, Fuels, Peroxides, Hydrocarbons, Hydraulic fluids, Gasoline, Alcohols, Organic acids

Nitrile Rubber - Good versatile gloves. Intended for incidental contact (such as disposable exam gloves) or in a thicker format where extended contact is intended. Used for materials such as: Solvents, Petroleum oils, Gasoline, Greases, Some acids and bases

Other Types of Gloves:

Kevlar Gloves are lightweight and durable gloves with remarkable resistance to cuts and abrasions.
Aluminized Gloves are high-heat-resistant, used for welding operations, and furnace and foundry work.
Impact/Vibration-Resistant Gloves are designed with extra layers of padding, primarily used in the construction and automotive industries, where jackhammers and other pneumatic tools might be used for extended periods of time.

Maintenance and Disposal:

Gloves should be inspected before each use to ensure that they are not torn, punctured or made ineffective in any way. A visual inspection will help detect cuts or tears but a more thorough inspection by filling the gloves with water and tightly rolling the cuff towards the fingers will help reveal any pinhole leaks. Gloves that are discolored or stiff may also indicate deficiencies caused by excessive use or degradation from chemical exposure.

Any gloves with impaired protective ability should be discarded and replaced. Reuse of chemical-resistant gloves should be evaluated carefully, taking into consideration the absorptive qualities of the gloves. A decision to reuse chemically-exposed gloves should take into consideration the toxicity of the chemicals involved and factors such as duration of exposure, storage and temperature.

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