Hand protection, like that provided by concrete work gloves, plays a key role in construction safety. After all, concrete and construction crews do a lot of work with their hands. At General Chipping, for instance, gloves are a regular part of our chipping experts’ personal protective equipment (PPE). As important as those gloves are, however, choosing the right ones for a particular job can be easier said than done. Let’s take a moment to review the different types of work gloves out there, and how to select the right ones for your work.
Understand What You’re Working with
As Occupational Health & Safety Magazine notes, selecting the wrong glove for a task leaves the worker at risk of injury, and the crew at risk of lost productivity. In order to choose the right type of hand protection, a person must first understand the tools and materials they will be working with. For instance, did you know that the pH of wet concrete is 13? Such levels can cause the material to eat through clothing — and even flesh — and result in serious injury. The best concrete work gloves to don during such work aren’t just waterproof, but alkaline-resistant, too.
Look for Something Strong, Yet Flexible
A puncture in a crew member’s work glove has the potential to lead to cuts and burns, since the full hand is no longer protected. And, whether you’re chipping out concrete from a company’s ready mix truck drums or carrying out other concrete or construction work, the threat of punctures is always present. The key is to find a glove that is strong on the outside, but which still allows for the movements needed on the job site. Nitrile, which is three to four times stronger than natural rubber, is an ideal choice for this type of glove.
Prepare for the Unexpected
People often think of gloves as a way to protect against moisture and other elements they know they’ll be exposed to — but what about the unexpected? Impacts on the job site, be they from flying concrete during the chipping process, hammer blows during construction — or something else entirely — can lead to real damage. Impact-absorbing gloves could be the difference between managing temporary pain or a life-long injury.
No matter what area of concrete or construction work you specialize in, your hands are among the main tools you use to get the job done. Keep them protected by analyzing your exposure risks and determining the gloves that are best for your work. Of course, people who work in concrete and construction are no strangers to PPE. Other safeguards, such as eye protection, head protection and foot protection, matter, too.
Remember, the need for safe practices doesn’t end when you clock out. Safety should be at the forefront of every project at work and home, as well! Want more safety tips? Or are you looking to learn more about how General Chipping encourages safe practices on our sites? Contact us. We’d love to talk safety with you!
