Introduction

Gloves are worn as a tool. One function of this tool is used to protect the product while it is in process. Product protection reduces contamination when the worker is the hazard. Food processing, assembly sensitive electronic components or handling polished parts are but a few applications where protecting the product is critical.

The primary tool function is to protect the worker from specific hazards in their work environment. Selecting the proper glove ensures the employee will start and finish their work at optimum level of performance.

Determining the work hazards is the first step choosing the right glove. What are you trying to protect your employee’s hand from?  A OSHA study indicates that 70 percent of the workers hand injuries were not wearing gloves.  Hand injuries to the remaining 30 percent of the workers who were wearing gloves were caused by being either inadequate, damaged or the wrong type for the present hazard.

Determine Your Hazards
Hazard	Feature Required
Grime: dirt, grease, etc	Grime & dirt barrier (keep hand clean)
Abrasion	Barrier for abrasion resistance
Cuts	Cut resistance
Snags and Punctures	Barrier to resist snags & punctures
Contusions (Impact)	Cushion barrier
Heat or Cold	Heat barrier or cold insulation
Caustic Burns from Chemicals	Chemical barrier (inert protection)
Non-Caustic Liquids	Liquid proof barrier
Body Oil and Salts	Product protection

The next step is to determine the subjective elements of wearing a glove. What do you need for your employee’s to perform job task  for optimum performance:  sizing,  dexterity, breathability, sensitivity  or what type of grip do you require?

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