Thursday, August 7, 2014

Why People Use Work Gloves

By Miranda Sweeney


The protective gear that people use in many different occupations is an essential part of their professional equipment. The human body is susceptible to harm from various sources, and in some jobs protective clothing is not merely an optional item. Modern industry is rife with hazards and potential injuries, so taking safety seriously is not negotiable. Choosing the right work gloves is part of that attitude.

Gloves have various professional applications. Often, they are worn to prevent injuries, such as contusions, lacerations or sprains. Prolonged use of even the most primitive implements, such as gardening or farm tools, can damage the skin or injure the muscles of the hand. Even those who claim that they do not need gloves because their hands are used to such work occasionally suffer a deep cut or twisted finger which could have been avoided by slipping on a pair of gloves before starting work.

Resistance to temperature is another application. Very high temperatures occur in many manufacturing and processing environments. Human hands have a feeble resistance to temperature, lasting no more than a few seconds and not even beyond a comparatively mild heat. Turning up the geyser too high is an example of that. Burn wounds are serious because they have the associated possibility of infection and they sometimes mean a long period without wages.

At the other extreme, exceptionally low temperatures also necessitate protection. Sub zero environments require gloves that shield the hands but allow satisfactory movement at the same time. There have been reports of mountain climbers who took off their gloves in an emergency situation and then contracted frostbite.

Another issue is exposure to hazardous chemicals. This may involve corrosive substances or those which are biologically dangerous, such as medical waste. This is extremely important because some of these chemicals are lethally toxic (such as methyl mercury) or contain fatal diseases.

Corrosion is a notorious characteristic of some common industrial substances. Acids are the most popular among these, but there are others, such as benzene. Another example is caustic soda, which requires the worker to use PVC clothing, which in turn only lasts a few hours. The right material to use is determined by the chemical involved and how concentrated it is.

In medicine, laboratory and other personnel sometimes have to transport or analyse samples of contagious germs. This can be stressful, given that some of these pathogens cause terminal illnesses, so protective gear is a source of reassurance and supports the professional disposition that medical workers are supposed to maintain at all times. For example, workers treating AIDS patients sometimes become infected by needle-stick accidents. Staff also avoid coming into contact with blood or other fluids during surgery. They may use nitrile gloves or the thinner latex option. The latter allows better manual dexterity during operations.

Some occupations would be impossible without the use of safety gear. A hand injury, if permanent, has the potential to lead to unemployment. Taking hold of your safety is an important part of staying professional and staying safe.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment