Translate this page to any language by choosing a language in the box below.
Back to the Table of Contents page for information on many other subjects!
Back to the main Safety / OSHA page
When must I provide hand and arm protection?
If your workplace hazard assessment reveals that your employees risk injury to their hands and arms, and engineering and work practice controls do not eliminate the hazards, you must provide your employees with appropriate protection. The injuries you may need to guard against in your workplace include the following:
What kind of equipment is necessary to protect the hands and arms?
For many workplace operations, machine guards such as point-of-operation guards will be sufficient. For example, install a barrier that makes it impossible for employees to put their hands at the point where a table saw blade makes contact with the wood it cuts. For other hazardous operations, you may be able to institute work procedures that eliminate the risk of injury to your employees' hands or arms. When such measures fail to eliminate the hazard, however, protective gloves will be the primary means of protecting employees' hands. When the risk of injury includes the arm, protective sleeves, often attached to the gloves, may be appropriate.
Is there one kind of glove that will protect against all workplace hazards?
No. The nature of the hazard(s) and the operation to be performed will determine your selection of gloves. The variety of potential occupational hand injuries may make selecting the appropriate pair of gloves more difficult than choosing other protective equipment. Take care to choose gloves designed for the particular circumstances of your workplace.
What kinds of protective gloves are available?
Gloves made from a wide variety of materials are designed for virtually every workplace hazard. In general, however, they may be divided into four groups:
Metal Mesh, Leather, or Canvas Gloves
Sturdy gloves made from metal mesh, leather, or canvas provide protection against cuts, burns, and sustained heat.
Fabric and Coated Fabric Gloves
These gloves are made of cotton or other fabric to provide varying degrees of protection.
Adding a plastic coating to some fabric gloves strengthens them and makes them effective protection for a variety of tasks.
Chemical- and Liquid-Resistant Gloves
Gloves made of rubber (latex, nitrile, or butyl), plastic, or synthetic rubber-like material such as neoprene protect workers from burns, irritation, and dermatitis caused by contact with oils, greases, solvents, and other chemicals. The use of rubber gloves also reduces the risk of exposure to blood and other potentially infectious substances. Some common gloves used for chemical protection are described below. In addition, Table 4 rates various gloves as protectors against specific chemicals and will help you select the most appropriate gloves to protect your employees.
How do I make sure my employees properly use the equipment I have selected?
Train your employees to use the protective gloves and sleeves. Checklist F will help you teach your employees how to use and care for the equipment.
Ways to save money AND help the environment:
Eat healthier AND save money: Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer and Electric Pressure Cooker Combo with Multicooker Lids that Fries, Steams, Slow Cooks, Sautés, Dehydrates
Save water AND money with this showerhead adapter, it lets the water flow until the water is hot, then shuts off water flow until you restart it, ShowerStart TSV Hot Water Standby Adapter
Protect your health with these:
Mattress Dust mite-Bedbug protector, 100% Waterproof, Hypoallergenic, Zippered
Handheld Allergen Vacuum Cleaner with UV Sanitizing and Heating for Allergies and Pet, Kills Mite, Virus, Molds, True HEPA with Powerful Suction removes Hair, Dander, Pollen, Dust,
Immune Support Supplement with Quercetin, Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3
GermGuardian Air Purifier with UV-C Light and HEPA 13 Filter, Removes 99.97% of Pollutants
5 Stage Air Purifier, Features Ultraviolet Light (UVC), H13 True Hepa, Carbon, PCO, Smart Wifi, Auto Mode, Quiet, Removes 99.97% of Particles, Smoke, Mold, Pet Dander, Dust, Odors
Interesting Reads:
THE PREPPER'S CANNING & PRESERVING BIBLE: [13 in 1] Your Path to Food Self-Sufficiency. Canning, Dehydrating, Fermenting, Pickling & More, Plus The Food Preservation Calendar for a Sustainable Pantry
The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre! Paperback
The Citizens' Guide to Geologic Hazards: A Guide to Understanding Geologic Hazards Including Asbestos, Radon, Swelling Soils, Earthquakes, Volcanoes
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming
Book: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History Paperback