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 are used to protect their wearer against several kinds of hazard. The most common one is physical injury through strain, friction or incision. Even the handles of basic tools like pliers or axes can lead to grazes and calluses, or muscular trouble. Some workers don't wear hand protection when using these tools, since their hands are accustomed to them. But even they sometimes cut themselves or lose fingers, injuries which would not have happened if they had invested more in their safety clothing.
Temperature is another issue. Some industries make use of high-heat machinery and processes. The human hand cannot take a very high temperature or tolerate even mild heat for more than a matter of seconds. A standard, everyday item like a home geyser can cause discomfort or pain to its users. Burns are extremely serious because they can mean a lengthy layoff from work and they can also turn septic.
Low temperatures also require protective gear. The skin needs protection against the cold, but workers also need to have enough hand motion to do their jobs. Their gear should accommodate both these requirements. The cold is easily able to damage the skin, as shown by mountain hikers who reportedly discarded their gloves in trying to deal with an emergency and then had frostbite afterwards.
Many workers are required to handle hazardous substances or waste in the course of their duties. The human body has little or no resistance to these. Some of them are fatal or possibly carcinogenic on exposure or, in the case of medical waste, may transmit terminal diseases.
Some substances are so corrosive that they destroy human tissue on contact. Acids are typical examples, but there are others, such as benzene. Caustic soda is another, and is so strong that only PVC material offers significant protection against it and only for a matter of hours. Deciding on the appropriate material to wear depends on the substance in question and the concentration in which it is present.
Modern medical practice involves research and invasive treatment procedures. Scientists and their assistants sometimes handle deadly samples or terminal patients, so the use of protective clothing is one measure that they can use to increase their confidence and associate with the patient in the professional manner that is appropriate to their occupation. One publicized risk in present times is infection by HIV through needle-stick injuries. It is also standard practice during surgery to eliminate contact with the internal fluids and tissue of the patient. Medical staff use nitrile gloves, or sometimes the latex option, which allows the practitioner more hand motion.
Some work would be physically impossible without using safety equipment. If a worker loses the use of their hand(s), even partially, they may become useless in their industry. Taking your income in your hands might be more expensive than taking ordinary safety measures.
Gloves are used to protect their wearer against several kinds of hazard. The most common one is physical injury through strain, friction or incision. Even the handles of basic tools like pliers or axes can lead to grazes and calluses, or muscular trouble. Some workers don't wear hand protection when using these tools, since their hands are accustomed to them. But even they sometimes cut themselves or lose fingers, injuries which would not have happened if they had invested more in their safety clothing.
Temperature is another issue. Some industries make use of high-heat machinery and processes. The human hand cannot take a very high temperature or tolerate even mild heat for more than a matter of seconds. A standard, everyday item like a home geyser can cause discomfort or pain to its users. Burns are extremely serious because they can mean a lengthy layoff from work and they can also turn septic.
Low temperatures also require protective gear. The skin needs protection against the cold, but workers also need to have enough hand motion to do their jobs. Their gear should accommodate both these requirements. The cold is easily able to damage the skin, as shown by mountain hikers who reportedly discarded their gloves in trying to deal with an emergency and then had frostbite afterwards.
Many workers are required to handle hazardous substances or waste in the course of their duties. The human body has little or no resistance to these. Some of them are fatal or possibly carcinogenic on exposure or, in the case of medical waste, may transmit terminal diseases.
Some substances are so corrosive that they destroy human tissue on contact. Acids are typical examples, but there are others, such as benzene. Caustic soda is another, and is so strong that only PVC material offers significant protection against it and only for a matter of hours. Deciding on the appropriate material to wear depends on the substance in question and the concentration in which it is present.
Modern medical practice involves research and invasive treatment procedures. Scientists and their assistants sometimes handle deadly samples or terminal patients, so the use of protective clothing is one measure that they can use to increase their confidence and associate with the patient in the professional manner that is appropriate to their occupation. One publicized risk in present times is infection by HIV through needle-stick injuries. It is also standard practice during surgery to eliminate contact with the internal fluids and tissue of the patient. Medical staff use nitrile gloves, or sometimes the latex option, which allows the practitioner more hand motion.
Some work would be physically impossible without using safety equipment. If a worker loses the use of their hand(s), even partially, they may become useless in their industry. Taking your income in your hands might be more expensive than taking ordinary safety measures.
About the Author:
Customers can now buy cheap work gloves online. Order directly from us by using this page at http://www.tasco-safety.com and see how much you will save today!