I may not be a 30-year “glover” but I’ve spent most of my career in the industrial world selling or marketing safety products. I’ve been on many job sites and in factories offering workers solutions for improving efficiency and safety. During the years, it has been interesting to see how technology has aided in improving worker efficiency and comfort, while at the same time watching workers use more and more PPE. It used to be that workers would refuse to wear gloves because they were so uncomfortable that gloves would actually impede people from doing their job. I can also remember old-timers bragging about their callused and battered hands as if they were a badge of honor. This is no longer the case.
Glove technology has advanced so quickly in the past 20 years that gloves not only protect hands, but also help increase efficiency. Coated knits offer workers snag-free protection and high tactility grip. Objects like sharp sheet metal and glass can be handled quickly and without hesitation. Disposable and chemical gloves are used by nearly everyone to ensure that hands remain clean and free of harmful liquids or contaminants. There are even impressive, task-specific gloves that offer multiple types of protection including anti-vibration palms and impact protecting TPR on the back of hand.