Product category:
Personnel: Safety, Hygiene + Development
News Release from: Mapa Spontex UK | Subject: Glove use report
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 28 January 2008
The gloves should not be off in
manufacturing
Mapa Spontex - leading global manufacturer and supplier of industrial and critical environment gloves - says nearly a fifth of UK manufacturers struggle to convince workers to wear protective gloves
Nearly a fifth of UK manufacturers say workers do not wear protective gloves to do hazardous work, and many managers are not even trying to convince them otherwise, or display an alarming level of ignorance concerning the proper use of safety gloves The survey was conducted amongst 100 production managers in companies with a minimum turnover of GBP3m: but while, overall, 11% of companies reported reluctance to wear gloves amongst their workers, the problem is even more pronounced in general manufacturing where the figure rises to 17%
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 18 Apr 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Two new Ultrane gloves from Mapa Spontex
Mapa Spontex UK has introduced two new gloves to its popular Ultrane range, designed to combine optimum protection against mechanical risks with optimum dexterity and grip
New wallchart simplifies IEC61508
August 2004 was the deadline for IEC 61508, the standard focusing on safety-related systems that incorporate electrical, electronic or programmable instruments: this step by step wallchart will help
When asked to identify the major barriers to wearing gloves, loss of dexterity is cited most often the manufacturing sector.
In average ratings, where 10 is the main reason used for not wearing gloves and 1 is not a reason used at all, loss of dexterity scores 7.3.
Loss of sensitivity also scores high (7.0), as well as inconvenience/nuisance (5.9).
Further reading
CD based 'Hazardous Area' training course released
Abhisam Software has just released a new CD based training course on Hazardous Area Instrumentation: this is available as either a stand alone single user license or as a multi-user license
Hazardous Area Instrumentation e-learning course
The Abhisam Software e-learning course on 'Hazardous Area Instrumentation' is now also available as a direct download from the website through the 'Share-It!' network
ACHEMA 2003: number one for the Process Industries
At ACHEMA, demand on the part of exhibitors remains stable: exhibitors will only just fall short of the record numbers at ACHEMA 2000, thus making it the second best result in its history
Chris Gordon, Sales Director of Mapa Spontex comments: 'As glove designers and manufacturers, we are well aware that dexterity is one of the most important features of a glove and we have made it a priority to research and develop new gloves, such as our Ultrane range, which offers enhanced dexterity and is ideal for use in the manufacturing sector.
The research proves that enhanced dexterity is not only beneficial in terms of making the gloves and their wearers more efficient, but it is absolutely essential from a safety perspective.
The research demonstrates that if gloves do not give good enough dexterity, they will simply not be worn and workers will be put at risk'.
And the reluctance of workers to wear gloves is compounded by a real and widespread ignorance about PPE gloves amongst production managers.
There is a comprehensive array of gloves on offer - gloves to protect against specific chemicals, gloves that cater to extremes of heat, gloves that offer bio-protection, gloves that are impervious to liquids or offer extra protection against cuts and abrasions.
But a glove that protects in the wet may give hardly any protection against sharp and jagged objects and one that protects against these may not give any protection against chemicals or toxins.
Yet astonishingly, 12% of production managers in general manufacturing are of the opinion that protective gloves are 'all pretty much the same' and believe that 'so long as they give some protection and leave hands flexible to do the job,' they are adequate.
As such there is an astonishingly lackadaisical approach to glove wearing in the manufacturing sector, with many production managers taking a decidedly 'hands off' approach to enforcement.
Remarkably, 12% of managers taking part in the survey believe that, 'It is in the hands of the workers - once I tell them to wear gloves it is up to them whether they do it or not'.
The not wearing of gloves is hardly ever treated as a serious breach of health and safety - 79% of those interviewed said that the first time a worker is caught not wearing gloves they are only given a verbal warning and in 10% of cases no action is taken at all.
In addition, checks are not being done regularly enough to ensure that workers are wearing their gloves and using them properly.
Over a quarter (26%) of production managers in general manufacturing say they are doing it on an ad hoc basis or not at all.
The easiest, most basic precaution employers can take to ensure that gloves are worn when they should be, is to display a sign reminding workers to do so.
Yet, amazingly, while 79% of general manufacturers questioned do display signs to remind workers to wear gloves, a staggering 21% do not.
Training is also crucial.
Yet when when manufacturing companies were asked how regularly they give training on the hazards to workers hands and the need to wear protective gloves, a staggering two thirds (62%) said it was only ever done at induction.
It comes as no great surprise then, that 45% of manufacturing production managers report incidences of cuts and abrasions to their workers as a direct result of not wearing gloves, or wearing the wrong gloves.
7% in this sector also report incidences of contact dermatitis.
'Such injuries and health problems are avoidable with the correct use of gloves,' concludes Chris Gordon.
'Gloves are arguably one of the most crucial elements of PPE, since practically any job involves the use of the hands.
Workers will continue to be opposed or ambivalent to glove wearing if their managers continue to treat it with such disregard.
The culture needs to change from the top and literally be handed down'.
Copies of the Mapa Research Report, 'When the Gloves Come Off' can be obtained from Mapa Spontex via the website, or use the Processingtalk Reader Response Service. Request a free brochure from Mapa Spontex UK ...
• Mapa Spontex UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
