Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as work gloves doesn’t immediately spring to mind as a “business enabler” – allowing workers to be more motivated and productive. PPE spend is only one element of investment in health and safety – but it’s an important one. In the U.S., NIOSH estimates 20 million workers use PPE on a regular basis to protect themselves from workplace chemical, mechanical and physical hazards. At a minimum, PPE such as hand protection should provide fail-safe protection and meet the highest industry standards, where applicable.
If employers want to maximize these business benefits, as well as ensure workers actually wear PPE provided, they need to pay greater attention to factors such as glove ergonomic design, how gloves interact with job requirements, and glove comfort, fitness for use and aesthetic appeal.