A glove for all seasons

From as far back as pre-historic times, man has recognised the need to protect his hands. Gloves, in all forms, are now used across every major industry, sport and hobby. In fact, glove wearing is one of the most effective industrial injury prevention programmes; statistically, wearing gloves reduces the risk of injury by 60%. Yet, despite the leaps forward they have made in terms of innovation – now utilising space age fabrics and enabling workers to undertake the most delicate of tasks – a single issue still remains. How do you ensure workers keep their gloves on? 

In modern times hand protection has become a valued tool in the protection of workforces and products. Statistics show that the risk of injury is substantially reduced when suitable hand protection is utilised. But getting that ‘suitability’ right is fundamental. Many injuries occur not because the worker didn’t have a glove but because they didn’t have a glove that enabled them to perform the task effectively. Therefore the glove gets removed and the risk of injury is increased. For employers, gloves are often viewed as a necessary evil; an expensive commodity that adds nothing to the value of the work done but legislation dictates they must be supplied, so often price dictates the choice. Whereas in fact the right hand protection solution can add significant productivity gain as well as the obvious safety benefits. If you consider that your hands are the only part of your body you intentionally put into contact with a hazard, it’s clear that the fit, comfort and performance of gloves can be critical to safety and productivity.

So why do workers remove their gloves even though they are aware of the risks this poses?

 

This has been a key focus for Globus and a better understanding of what people need from hand protection has enabled them to develop gloves which not only protect against the risks the task poses, but also provide the most comfortable wearing experience possible. One of their key findings is the importance of choice. Few companies would supply only two sizes of safety footwear or clothing to a workforce and expect it to fit comfortably, yet this is regularly seen when it comes to the emotive issue of hand protection.

 

Gloves that fit correctly prevent an excessive build-up of heat and moisture, afford good levels of grip and tactile control and can improve a worker’s productivity and gain widespread acceptance. For workers wearing gloves for long periods, if they are uncomfortable or have sweaty hands they will remove their gloves. Poorer quality gloves will also have an unpleasant odour once they have been worn for a while and sweat reacts with chemicals used in the manufacture of the glove. Sweat-related hand dermatitis can also develop when using gloves which cause the hands to sweat. So it can be understood how, if a worker is uncomfortable or has sweaty hands, they are going to remove their gloves. 

Developing a glove which can accommodate different conditions and overcome the ‘sweat’ factor is challenge enough. Add in the fact that the gloves also need to enable workers to complete the task at hand and protect them from the relevant risks and you have a task that has kept many an R&D department across the PPE industry awake at night. Essentially this creates the Utopian vision of a perfect glove. Coupled with the growing trend that has seen workers want more stylish and attractive gloves (taking their lead from the sports industry) the challenge to find the glove for all seasons (and all tasks) has been one many manufacturers have been keen to overcome. 

So are we lightyears away from achieving this? Not at all; leading companies are now able to provide gloves that have no seams, are very lightweight but extremely durable and breathable to promote stable hand temperature in all weather conditions. In fact breathability has been a key focus and is a vital attribute that any business should consider when looking for a glove supplier.

 

When you consider the link between comfort and safety elements such as this should be a basic requirement, not a premium one. Why? Because in the long run correctly selected gloves which match the risk and the worker requirements will prove a very cost effective solution. They will last longer meaning fewer pairs are consumed and therefore there is a reduction in the overall spend. This also further impacts productivity as fewer glove changes mean more work gets done.

So the next time you think about your hand protection policy, don’t just look at the unit price. Why? Because any old glove won’t do and a glove isn’t just a glove. The right selection can help you achieve competitive advantage and when you think of it like that…