Today's Safety NewsPPE

Hand and arm protection

Routines can result in carelessness

There are many gloves and sleeves specially designed to protect hands and arms. Here are some examples:

Hand and Arm Protection Examples
Types of gloves	Protect Against
Neoprene, rubber or vinyl	Most chemicals
Thick leather	Welding, rough surfaces
Aluminized fabrics of nylon, rayon, asbestos, wool or glass	Heat
Rough finish	Handling slippery objects/materials
Cotton and terry cloth	Abrasions and cuts
Lead-lined	Radiation
Metal mesh	Knife blades, other sharp instruments
Insulated material often made of rubber and worn inside leather gloves	Electric shocks and burns

Note: To protect yourself properly from chemical products, it is a good idea to contact the supplier or manufacturer.

Advice for protecting your hands

Your hands must be protected against the hazards of the particular job.
Gloves should not be worn around machines with moving parts that could catch them and pull the hands into danger areas, for example, machines with pulleys or power-driven machines with rotating shafts.
Protective sleeves should be long enough to leave no gap between the gloves and the sleeves.
Do not wear gloves with metal parts when working near electrical equipment.
Some situations call for protection other than gloves. Find out if you would be better protected with barrier creams, finger guards or cots, hand protectors or leather products, arm protectors, sleeves or wristlets.

Things to consider

Too often we forget just how amazing and vulnerable hands really are. Routinely working with a tool or machine can sometimes result in carelessness. Stay alert and work safely.

Remember that an injury can happen in a split second and result in a lifetime of disablement and hardship for you and your family.

Support and work with your employer and your health and safety committee or representative to implement an effective hand protection program.

It takes: