- PURPOSE
1.1 This procedure defines hand protection requirements, provides information about different types available, and provides guidance for identifying hand protection requirements through work place risk assessment or job safety analysis.
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Hand Protection Policy at Work
2.1 This procedure applies to all Company employees, contractors, temporary help, or visitors at Company facilities. It applies to Company personnel and contract employees working at customer or supplier sites.
- DEFINITIONS
3.1 None.
- SUMMARY
4.1 Hand protection requirements and selection shall be determined by the workplace risk assessment/job safety analysis and associated hazards.
4.2 Gloves must be clean and oil free when potentially exposed to or when handling gas or liquid containing more than 23% oxygen.
4.3 Glove rings or taping of gloves to splash suit sleeves may be required to minimize chemical exposure due to splashing, dripping or spills.
- PROCEDURE
5.1 Workplace Risk Assessments/Job Safety Analysis will identify the need for hand protection in the following areas.
5.1.1 Manual Handling – Hands may be pierced by abrasive, sharp, or pointed objects or damaged by impact when handling goods.
5.1.2 Vibration – It is essential to keep hands warm in cold and inclement weather when operating machinery that causes vibrations, such as pneumatic drills and hammers, grinders, etc. Vibration White Finger occurs more frequently and more severely when the hands and fingers are cold as the blood supply to the fingers is reduced by the body in an attempt to conserve heat.
5.1.3 Construction and Outdoor Work – It is essential to keep the hands warm and flexible in cold weather. Manual dexterity is lost when the hands are cold, which can lead to accidents if articles are dropped. Gloves also protect against hazards in site work, such as contaminated soil which may contain disease spores that may seriously infect small cuts and abrasions.
5.1.4 Hot and Cold Materials – Insulated gloves will protect against hazards from handling hot or cold materials and work involving contact with flames or welding.
5.1.5 Electricity – Appropriate gloves will reduce the likelihood of the danger from electric shock and burns (in the event of an electrical arc flash).
5.1.6 Chemical – There are many tasks where the hands may come into contact with toxic or corrosive substances. Examples include maintenance of machinery, cleaning up chemical spillage, and mixing and dispensing chemical formulations. The gloves selected must be compatible with the chemical and as outlined in the MSDS. If correctly selected and used, gloves provide a barrier between the wearer’s skin from harmful substances, preventing burns or chemical absorption through the skin.
5.1.7 Use of Knives or Scrapers – Gloves will protect hands against cuts when using knives and scrapers. Theabove list not all inclusive.
5.2 Selection of Hand Protection
5.2.1 Gloves or other hand protection shall be capable of giving protection from the identified hazards, be comfortable, and fit the wearer. The choice should be made on the basis of suitability for protection, compatibility with the work, and the requirements of the user. The ability of the hand protection to resist abrasion and general wear and tear should also be considered. When selecting gloves for chemical protection, reference should be made to chemical permeation and resistance data provided by the glove manufacturer.
5.2.2 Penetration and abrasions: Gloves made from leather protect against penetration and abrasion. Gloves made from knitted material such as Kevlar will provide protection against cuts. Gloves manufactured from Kevlar needlefelt provide puncture resistance.
5.2.3 Thermal protection: Depending upon glove weight and construction, insulated (natural fiber) gloves will provide protection against heat and cold. Gloves made from neoprene are good for handling oils in low temperatures. Gloves manufactured from other materials such as Kevlar, glass fiber, and leather can be used to provide protection against high temperatures. For handling cryogens, insulated gloves are used.
5.2.3.1 The correct glove to wear when making or breaking bulk liquid, cryogenic, transfill connections or performing other work in the rear of a cryogenic trailer while the equipment is pressurized and operating at cryogenic temperature is:
- All leather (palm and back)
- Insulated hand lining (palm and back)
- Mid-forearm protection (~13-14-inches) afforded by gauntlet-style or cuff length glove in combination with additional clothing (that is, winter coats, sleeves, etc.) that provides equivalent protection.
5.2.4 Fire resistance: Fire retardant gloves are available in a variety of materials including: Chromed-covered leather, Nomex, Leather, and Kevlar Blends. Gloves used for firefighting operations must meet national standards.
5.2.5 Electrical protection: See 25-010520 for the proper selection and use of gloves for protection against electrical shock and arc flash burns.
5.2.6 Chemical protection: Chemical protection gloves are available in a range of materials such as natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile butyl, PVA, PVC latex, polypropylene, plastics, and viton. The degree of protection against chemical permeation depends on the glove material, its thickness, method of construction, and time duration exposed to the chemical handled. As a general rule, gloves for use in handling corrosive/toxic liquids should be chosen on the basis of breakthrough time. The duration of use must not exceed the breakthrough time quoted by the glove manufacturer for the chemical handled or exposed. When handling dry powders, most chemically-resistant gloves may be used. The durability of the gloves in the workplace should also be considered. Some glove materials may be adversely affected by abrasion.
5.2.7 General use gloves: Rubber, plastic or knit fabric gloves are flexible, resist cuts and abrasions, repel liquids, and offer good grip. Rubber gloves allow sensitive touch and give a firm grip in water or wet conditions. Leather, cotton knit, or other general purpose gloves are suitable for most other jobs. General use gloves should only be used to protect against minimal risks to health and safety.
5.2.8 Disposable, general purpose cotton or latex gloves shall be used for biohazards.
5.2.9 Thin latex gloves may be used where sensitive touch and minimal chemical protection is required.
5.3 Use
5.3.1 Proper hand size must be determined before ordering gloves. Tight-fitting gloves can cause fatigue while loose fitting gloves can be hazardous. Gloves are to be inspected prior to each use for holes and tears and must be replaced if defects are found. Contaminated gloves must be removed to prevent contact with wearer’s skin. Gloves that are exposed to a chemical must be decontaminated per the chemical’s MSDS.
5.3.2 Consider the risk of rotating and moving equipment with exposed parts that might catch the glove and pull it into the equipment.
5.4 Disposal
5.4.1 Gloves must be properly disposed of according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, MSDS, and local environmental regulations. Gloves which become contaminated with lubricants or chemicals may have to be disposed of as a hazardous waste, depending on the type of contamination. Environmental requirements must be reviewed prior to disposal.
5.5 Specification and Purchase
5.5.1 All hand protective clothing shall conform to the relevant standard (see Appendix A for US and Europe).
- RELATED INFORMATION
| Job Safety Analysis (JSA)/Workplace Risk Assessment |
| Personal Protective Equipment Overview |
| Electrical Safe Work Practices |
Hand Protection, Standards And Regulations
EUROPEAN STANDARDS
EN 421 Protective gloves against ionizing radiation to include irradiation and contamination
EN 374 Protective gloves against chemicals and micro organisms
EN 407 Protective gloves against thermal hazards
EN 420 General requirement for gloves
EN 511 Protective gloves against cold
Gloves must display “CE” marking to show compliance with the standard.
USA REGULATION
29 CFR 1910.138 Hand Protection