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Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management

Gloves/Skin

Skin:

Skin injuries resulting from instantaneous trauma or brief exposure to toxic agents involving a single incident in the work environment may constitute 23%-35% of all injuries. Of these injuries in 1986:

  • 82% are due to lacerations/punctures
  • 14% are due to burns, both chemical and other 1

When working outdoors care should be taken to ensure your exposure to the sun is limited and:

  • Seek shade whenever possible.
  • Wear additional clothing when practical, such as a hat.
  • Use sunscreen on areas of the skin that will be exposed.

Hands:

"Our hands also enable us to perform heavy labor, such as digging with a shovel, swinging an axe, using a jackhammer to drill through concrete, or pounding a railroad spike with a sledgehammer.... Even when we're talking, our hands are a key part of who we are and what we say." - http://www.amputee-coalition.org

The use of gloves is important to help:

  • Improve grip on slippery surfaces
  • Prevent exposure to corrosives, or toxic materials
  • Prevent cuts and abrasion
  • Prevent electrocution
  • Prevent burns from heat sources

For more information regarding protecting your hands from harm, and selecting the right gloves for the job or specific hazard please review the following:

References:

Skin Resources

Save Your Skin!

Sunscreen: How to...

Glove Resources

Hand Protection

Hand Safety with Machines

Glove selection for chemical exposures