Wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is a simple and effective way you can protect your hands and prevent injury. Gloves are designed to protect against specific hand hazards. Selecting the right glove is critical to hand safety.
Identify Risks
Different gloves are designed to protect against specific hazards. Before starting any task, identify what tools, equipment and materials you’ll be working with. Here are some general guidelines:
• Leather gloves – for moderate heat or when sparks or fragments may be generated.
• Cut-resistant gloves – for handling sharp material, cutting materials or using tools with sharp edges.
• Gloves with voltage-rated material – for working with high-voltage or near electrical equipment.
• Impervious gloves – for protection against contact with corrosives such as organic acids and petroleum products. When using this type of glove, make sure it is appropriate for the hazard by checking the SDS sheet or with site safety.
• Vibration-absorbing padding – for lessening the adverse effects of tools that cause vibration.
Eliminate Hazards and Prevent Injury
Never wear gloves when working around rotating equipment.
• Rotating equipment like bench grinders, table saws and floor mounted threading machines can create an entanglement hazard.
• Rotating equipment does NOT apply to portable power tools such as grinders, sawzalls, drill motors, portabands and other similar power tools.
Take care of your gloves.
• Keep gloves as clean as possible.
• Store them in your locker or toolbox.
• Worn-out gloves should not be used – discard them so that others don’t use them.
Additional Resources
Electrical Safety | Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment | Freeport-McMoRan
Hand Injury Safety Alert | MSHA
• To minimize the spread of contaminants, periodically rinse impervious