In construction, safety equipment is essential. There is plenty of construction personal protective equipment (PPE) that workers wear on-site, like hard hats, eye protection and safety gloves. Construction safety gloves are a key component in preventing hand injuries. More than 1 million workers go to the hospital with hand injuries annually, and 70% of those injured weren’t wearing gloves.
It’s important to know the ins and outs of the gloves your construction employees use every day. We’re here to help you determine what type to choose, how to take care of them and when to get new ones.
What type of construction safety gloves should you choose for your workers?
Choosing a pair of construction safety gloves is all about finding a pair that will protect the hands and forearms. Construction workers handle different types of materials, from concrete to chemicals. The key to choosing the most protective gloves is considering glove features that will protect workers best as they do their specific job. Some of the glove features you should keep in mind include:
- Corrosion resistance.
- Cut-resistant coverings.
- Impact absorption.
- Weather resistance.
Proper size is also essential when shopping for safety gloves. Construction workers need well-fitting, comfortable gloves that are tight around the fingers to avoid extra glove material getting in the way. But they should also have a full range of motion in their fingers and wrists to handle the manual tasks.
Another thing to keep in mind is grip. Safety gloves must be able to handle the variety of tools and rough materials that your employees work with to avoid accidentally dropping them and causing a possibly dangerous situation. Having a good grip on the palm of the gloves is especially essential if your workers often climb ladders.
How to care for construction safety gloves
While there are a few different types of safety glove materials to choose from, synthetic is commonly used in construction. Properly taking care of gloves is essential for making them last as long as possible while keeping your workers’ hands and forearms safe while they work.
Hand-washing safety gloves is probably the most straightforward way to take care of them. This simply means scrubbing them inside and out with soap before hanging them to dry. Washing safety gloves in the washing machine can make a difference in getting out any stubborn dirt or debris; however, they should never be put in the dryer, as they may shrink.
While all construction safety gloves will get scuffed up over time, it’s important to know when it’s time to replace them. Your workers should inspect their gloves on a regular basis to look for any tears. If there are any places in the material that leave the skin vulnerable, it’s time to replace them.
Work-Fit can help you keep your construction workers safe
Construction safety gloves are just one way to keep your work site safe. Our team at Work-Fit offers safety training programs with your workers’ well-being in mind. Contact our team today for more information about our services and the many ways we can help.
