The glove manufacturing industry has evolved from the days when having cotton or leather gloves were the only choices for employees. By striving the make that “perfect glove”, major improvements have changed the glove manufacturing industry in just the last several years.
Craig Wagner
According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, injuries to the wrist, fingers and hands account for almost 25 percent of total workplace injuries. OSHA hand protection standard 29CFR 1910.138 mandates employers to select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection. It also states that employers shall base the selection of the appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of the use, the hazards and the potential hazards identified. Bottom line is employers are responsible for making sure that employees wear the right hand protection.
Creating the “Perfect Glove”
The glove manufacturing industry has evolved from the days when having cotton or leather gloves were the only choices for employees. By striving the make that “perfect glove”, two major improvements have changed the glove manufacturing industry in just the last several years. The first is the high performance yarns. Today, yarns are lighter, stronger and thinner than in the past. Aramid yarns commonly known by brand names of Kevlar® or Twaron® are commonly enhanced with other fibers. The same with HDPE (High density poly ethylene) commonly known as the brand names, Spectra®, Dyneema® or Tuffalene® is also combined or enhanced. This has afforded glove manufacturing the ability to make the shells lighter and more dexterous.
The second is the dipping process. Costs have come down as technology has improved through automation, better efficiency and more competition. New polymers and chemical processes have also greatly improved the dipped product. Different polymers have been developed and improved for positive grip in almost any environment today.
One of the challenges facing employers is getting employees to wear hand protection at all times. Too many times employees have taken off gloves because the dexterity is poor or the glove is uncomfortable. The challenge is finding the perfect glove.
The Best Fit Glove for Your Application
Today, gloves offer better wear ability/dexterity, cut, impact, puncture protection and grip. Costs have come down drastically making the high performance gloves of yesterday now affordable in general applications. In order to determine which type of glove is the best fit for your application, consider the following:
1. Are the gloves being used in a wet or dry application? Wet (chemicals, oils, water and extreme dirt or dust) spec in a rough finish glove. Foam nitrile also affords a good wet grip. There are several different types of “oil grip” nitriles on the market today. Dry (totally free of water, oils and chemicals but with some dirt and rough edges present) spec in a smooth finish glove.
2. Are the gloves being used in any chemicals? Check the chemical guide which can be found on every manufacturer’s Web site for assistance of polymer best used with the chemical
3. Are the gloves being used to handle sharp or abrasive items? Natural rubber provides the best overall cut, puncture and dry grip protection but very little chemical resistance, while nitrile provides good cut, puncture and normally the greatest abrasion protection. It has good chemical resistance and can be made to have good wet/oil grip. Neoprene provides good chemical and cut protection with little resistance to puncture and abrasion protection. PVC is economical and provides good chemical resistance with lower cut, puncture and abrasion protection compared to nitrile and leather gives good abrasion and some cut protection depending on the grade of leather but are very inconsistent. The majority of leather sold in the glove manufacturing industry is lower grades.
4. Do your workers need protection over the wrist? Gloves are available in knit wrist, safety cuff, 10, 12, 14, and 18 inch gauntlet. Knit wrist is warmer and stops debris from getting inside the glove. They are also the most common. Add 1 inch to the cuff if the workers need to create a gauntlet cuff.
5. Do your workers take their gloves on and off frequently throughout the day?If this is the case, safety cuffs, band tops and gauntlets slide on and off the hand quicker, easier and are cooler on the hand, while knit wrists are better and most common if the workers keep their gloves on all day. Remember that a knit wrist glove will be warmer on the hand than a safety cuff.
6. How much dexterity do your workers need?The more dexterity wanted, the thinner the glove material needed. You will get more dexterity out of a glove that is seam-free and tighter knit—15 and 13 gauge knits offer the best dexterity and in general have thinner coatings than 10 or 7 gauge dipped/coated gloves.
Striving for Perfection
Will the perfect glove every happen for every application? The waste industry is starting to take advantage of the improvements. Hand protection will continue to improve in the industry as we get closer to the “perfect glove”.
Craig Wagner is part owner, CEO and President of Global Glove and Safety Mfg Inc. (Ramsey, MN). He has more than 30 years of industrial sales, marketing and operational leadership positions, including marketing director, sales director, training director, sales manager, operations and procurement director. Craig has spoken and written extensively about the hand protection market. He is a past President of the International Glove Associational and has served on the board of directors for over 10 years. He was a frequent lecturer at onsite safety and quality assurance seminars for industrial workers across the country and around the world and has lectured at several Universities. Craig can be reached at (763) 450-0110.