Canadian Occupational Safety

April/May 2015 21 to protecting against hazards, gloves must be comfortable and provide the qualities — dexterity, tactility and grip — required to perform the task effi ciently. If gloves are uncomfortable to wear or hinder task performance, workers are less likely to wear them and become more vulnerable to injury. Permeability is another factor to consider in selecting gloves that will both protect and last. Along with spec- ifi cations such as type of material and thickness, the manufacturer's product information indicates "breakthrough time" — the length of time it takes for a substance to pass through the glove. "A good glove will give you a breakthrough time in terms of hours. An inferior material may have a breakthrough time of just a matter of minutes," Wood says. Don't assume you can fi nd one glove that will do everything, he adds. It's likely to be the wrong glove for some workers and will cost you more money if someone gets injured or sick. Gloves that are not designed to resist the hazard will degrade faster. Thus, it pays off to choose gloves that are durable and able to withstand the rigours of daily use, says McFater. "Also, have a good look at the construction," she adds. "Is the stitching straight? Are the fi ngers properly shaped and fi tted?" Standardizing PPE and reducing the number of SKUs can also decrease the cost of a glove program, says McFater. Technological advances in glove manufacturing have made it possible to standardize product use across similar job tasks and sites. "You'll sometimes fi nd you can replace two different gloves with a single style that has multiple functions. More innovative gloves with smarter designs often means keeping less inventory," she says. Safety gloves range a great deal in price. While some are not much more expensive than everyday work gloves, others can be costly. In general, says George Astrakianakis, associate professor of occupational and envi- ronmental health at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, the more "exotic" the material or hazard being addressed, the more expensive the gloves. "Also, thicker gloves, ones that have a lining and gloves that serve dual purposes are all more expensive than the standard, simple glove we might use to keep our hands from getting soiled," he adds. However, it's important to see the initial cost as an investment, says Michael Loiacano, senior manager for Guardian services for the Americas at Iselin, N.J.-based Ansell Healthcare. "Up front, safety gloves are going to cost you more in the piece price, but your overall cost performance with worker satisfaction, injury reduction, overall wear and substantial launderability will actually reduce your cost," he says. Maintaining gloves properly will help preserve effectiveness, preventing injuries and reducing replacement costs. In addition to knowing how to select gloves, employees need to be trained on the importance of keeping gloves clean and on identifying gloves that need to be replaced, Wood says. Regular and correct laundering of gloves can reduce costs signifi cantly by removing contaminants that decrease effectiveness and shorten the life of the PPE, he adds. Replac- ing low-grade or disposable gloves with high-quality gloves that can be cleaned will lower costs. Gloves are tested for launderability, and laundering instructions generally come with the product. "A lot of the time, you can get two to three washes out of our gloves. Just because they're dirty doesn't mean you have to throw them out. That can certainly reduce customers' costs," says Loiacano. INJURIES COST More tHan gloves A lot of evidence supports the notion that providing effective PPE is cheaper than having injuries, says Jamie Hall, chief operating offi cer of SAFE Work Manitoba in Winnipeg. In 2013, for example, there were 2,370 (1,015 hands; 1,355 fi ngers) lost-time injuries in Manitoba and 5,113 (1,564 hands; 3,549 fi ngers) in Ontario. The costs of injuries include productivity, possible increase in workers' compensation board premiums and replacement of damaged equipment. In addition to the cost of the injured employee's time away, the employer must spend time managing the claim. And, if there's an investigation, the productive time of other employees is also lost. "What's the loss of productivity for a day versus a pair of the proper gloves that would have prevented the injuries? And, one day's lost productivity, even at minimum wage, can buy you a few pairs of gloves," Hall says. Other costs are indirect, he adds. If the injured person is off for a period of time, the employer may have to fi nd replacement workers and train them at a signifi cant cost. "That becomes a cost to the organization that really isn't measured in many ways," he says. While every business needs to reduce costs, Wood says, it's essential not to emphasize it too much. "You don't want a culture in which workers actually remove their gloves to prevent them being damaged," he says. "That's defi nitely a poor way to try to save money." Linda Johnson is a freelance writer based in Toronto. She can be reached at lindajohnson@sympatico.ca. to protecting against hazards, gloves must be comfortable and provide the qualities — dexterity, tactility and grip — required to perform the task effi ciently. If gloves are uncomfortable to wear or hinder task performance, workers are less likely to wear them and become more vulnerable to injury. consider in selecting gloves that will both protect and last. Along with spec- ifi cations such as type of material and thickness, the manufacturer's product information indicates "breakthrough time" — the length of time it takes for a substance to pass through the glove. breakthrough time in terms of hours. An inferior material may have a breakthrough time of just a matter of minutes," Wood says. that will do everything, he adds. It's likely to be the wrong glove for some workers and will cost you more money if someone gets injured or sick. resist the hazard will degrade faster. Thus, it pays off to choose gloves that are durable and able to withstand the rigours of daily use, says McFater. construction," she adds. "Is the stitching straight? Are the fi ngers properly shaped and fi tted?" number of SKUs can also decrease the cost of a glove program, says McFater. Technological advances in glove manufacturing have made it possible to standardize product use across similar job tasks and sites. replace two different gloves with a single style that has multiple LEATHER GLOVES It is generally recommended that leather gloves be dry cleaned. Soap and water removes the natural oils present in the leather, causing them to stiffen and become brittle. NYLON GLOVES Use warm water: 40 C. Wash with a regular detergent on tumble dry at low or no heat. WOOL GLOVES Use cold water only: 20 C or less. Use a mild detergent and gently wash. Tumble dry at low or no heat. COTTON/POLYESTER GLOVES Use warm water: 40 C. Wash with a regular detergent on tumble dry, medium heat. COATED GLOVES Use cold water: 30 C or less. Use a mild detergent. Tumble dry on low or no heat. Bleach is not recommended. Source: Superior Glove Works KEEPING GLOVES CLEAN Washing gloves often results in signifi cant savings. Here are guidelines on laundering that will help prolong the effectiveness of your PPE. COTTON/POLYESTER GLOVES COTTON/POLYESTER GLOVES Use warm water: 40 C. Wash with a regular and laundering instructions generally A lot of evidence supports the notion that providing effective PPE is cheaper than having injuries, says with high-quality gloves that can be Gloves are tested for launderability, and laundering instructions generally WOOL GLOVES WOOL GLOVES Use cold water only: 20 C or less. Use a mild detergent and Use cold water only: 20 C or less. Use a mild detergent and Use cold water only: 20 C or less. Use a mild detergent and Use cold water only: 20 C or less. Use a mild detergent and gently wash. Tumble dry at low or no heat. gently wash. Tumble dry at low or no heat. gently wash. Tumble dry at low or no heat. gently wash. Tumble dry at low or no heat. gently wash. Tumble dry at low or no heat. "A lot of the time, you can get two to three washes out of our gloves. Just because they're dirty doesn't mean you have to throw them out. That can certainly reduce customers' Use warm water: 40 C. Wash with a regular Use warm water: 40 C. Wash with a regular detergent on tumble dry, medium heat. detergent on tumble dry, medium heat. detergent on tumble dry, medium heat. detergent on tumble dry, medium heat. COATED GLOVES COATED GLOVES COATED GLOVES COATED GLOVES COATED GLOVES Use cold water: 30 C or less. Use a mild Use cold water: 30 C or less. Use a mild Use cold water: 30 C or less. Use a mild Use cold water: 30 C or less. Use a mild Use cold water: 30 C or less. Use a mild detergent. Tumble dry on low or no detergent. Tumble dry on low or no detergent. Tumble dry on low or no detergent. Tumble dry on low or no investigation, the productive time of other employees is also lost. heat. Bleach is not recommended. heat. Bleach is not recommended. heat. Bleach is not recommended. heat. Bleach is not recommended. and laundering instructions generally "A lot of the time, you can get two to three washes out of our gloves. Just because they're dirty doesn't mean you have to throw them out. That Use warm water: 40 C. Wash with a regular Use warm water: 40 C. Wash with a regular detergent on tumble dry, medium heat. detergent on tumble dry, medium heat.

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