Factors You Must Not Ignore When Choosing PPE Equipment

It's common enough knowledge that PPE equipment is all about safety, and that employers are legally obliged to provide appropriate PPE equipment to all employees, contractors and visitors where needed. The very letters, 'PP' which stand for personal protection, or protective, suggest that it's all about protecting the individual. But there are three sides to this, and it's important to be aware of the wider picture.

To begin with, not all PPE equipment, such as some work gloves, are about protecting the person wearing them. Secondly, not all work gloves help to reduce the risks involved, and thirdly, not all PPE equipment is appropriate in every case. Unfortunately many people tend to see safety equipment as a black and white subject. The theory often seems to go that if there is a risk, safety equipment will make it better. But knowing that sometimes the risk isn't to the individual, and that sometimes the equipment which seems obvious is not advisable makes the whole subject very grey.

Not only that, but often there are items of safety clothing, such as safety gloves or work gloves, which in spite of the name have nothing to do with safety. So let's dig around briefly in the murky greyness of PPE equipment, in particular work gloves, and understand just what some of the factors are that need to be considered both when purchasing new equipment or clothing and when selecting the best items or combination of items to wear for any particular task.

First of all it's important to be aware that sometimes safety gloves are about the safety of something other than the wearer. There may be cases where sensitive equipment or items might be damaged by being held without some form of barrier or glove protection. People's hands can be dirty, and no matter how hard you try they are always going to be slightly oily. Skin is a living organ, and it needs to be moist. It's impossible to prevent hands from being moist, greasy or oily, and this can easily damage equipment.

Additionally the human body is quite good at building up a static charge, and this can easily be transmitted through physical or close contact with something metallic. This could be a disaster in situations where sensitive electronic equipment is concerned. So in some cases it's important to choose gloves which offer protection from the wearer, not to the wearer, protecting sensitive equipment or materials.

It's also necessary to be aware that not all PPE equipment such as work gloves will reduce the risk. Wearing heavy leather gauntlets which restrict movement, decrease dexterity and eliminate any tactile sensitivity can result in workers becoming clumsy, and this can easily result in an increase of risk. It's always important to consider in which ways safety equipment could reduce performance, accuracy or indeed comfort, since often accidents at work occur when workers remove safety equipment for a while because they are too uncomfortable.

Finally it's important to be aware that sometimes, in spite of the name, work gloves or safety gloves are not about safety, or at least, not exclusively about safety. If workers have to wear gloves all day every day then their comfort must be considered as well as their safety. If hands are covered up all day for hours at a time then this will lead to clammy, uncomfortable hands, reduced blood flow, damage to nerves and possible damage to arteries.

It is now possible to buy work gloves which offer protection only on those parts of the hand most at risk, such as the back of the hand or the wrist, providing minimal covering elsewhere using a lightweight moisture absorbing material such as cotton which allows the hand to breathe. So when choosing PPE equipment, think about more than just the safety of the wearer, consider more than the obvious risks, and consider comfort to be as important a factor as the original risk.

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For more information about PPE equipment, visit Intersafety, one of the UK's leading independent suppliers of safety equipment, including work gloves.