| One of the most important acts of Congress | | | | thermal burns, electrical dangers, bruises, |
| ever to affect worker health and safety was the | | | | abrasions, cuts, punctures, fractures and |
| Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed into | | | | amputations. Protective equipment includes gloves, |
| law by President Nixon in 1970. It established the | | | | finger guards and arm coverings or elbow-length |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration | | | | gloves". |
| (OSHA), which is an agency of the Department | | | | The OSHA booklet goes on to say that there are |
| of Labor. | | | | many types of gloves available today to protect |
| OSHA has broad powers to set standards for | | | | against a wide variety of hazards. If you want to |
| workplace safety, and one of its areas of | | | | make sure you get the right kind of protective |
| administration is known as Personal Protective | | | | glove or safety wear for your tasks, be sure to |
| Equipment (PPE). According to their website, | | | | visit the OSHA site. It is crammed with valuable |
| OSHA requires the use of appropriate PPE in the | | | | information and further resources. As an example, |
| workplace, when engineering or administrative | | | | the OSHA site suggests you think of the following |
| solutions are not available to reduce worker | | | | criteria when selecting a safety glove or |
| exposure to various hazards. Under current OSHA | | | | protective glove: type of chemicals handled; |
| rules, it is up to an employer to decide if Personal | | | | nature of contact; duration of contact; area |
| Protective Equipment is necessary. | | | | needing protection; grip requirements; thermal |
| What kind of protective safety wear might qualify | | | | requirements; size and comfort of glove; abrasion |
| as PPE? To help answer this question, OSHA | | | | resistance of gloves. You will also find in the |
| publishes a booklet called Personal Protective | | | | OSHA booklet a discussion of the various work |
| Equipment. The booklet covers eye and face | | | | gloves that are available to meet a variety of |
| protection; head protection; foot and leg | | | | needs, including leather gloves, canvas gloves, |
| protection; hand and arm protection; body | | | | fabric and coated gloves, chemical and liquid |
| protection, and hearing protection. The kinds of | | | | resistant gloves (neoprene, nitrile, pvc gloves, |
| hazards in the workplace envisioned by OSHA | | | | etc.), insulating rubber gloves, and more. |
| include such things as sharp edges, falling objects, | | | | When it comes to workplace safety, |
| flying sparks, dangerous chemicals, fluctuating | | | | understanding the different gloves and safety |
| temperatures, dust, radiation, and so forth. Their | | | | wear that is available is a top priority. We are |
| publication offers guidance to employers in | | | | always happy to answer any questions you may |
| determining what level of PPE may be needed in | | | | have about the protective and safety gloves that |
| their workplace. | | | | we carry. For more reading on protective safety |
| In the area of hand and arm protection, the | | | | wear in the workplace, visit OSHA's Personal |
| booklet notes that: "Potential hazards include skin | | | | Protective Equipment webpage. |
| absorption of harmful substances, chemical or | | | | Always remember to work safely! |