Assessing Hand Protection

Gerard Hand
Director – GPH Safety

Assessing Hand Protection

 PPE Directive
and EN Standards

Assessing Hand Protection

 The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
“ Where risks cannot be controlled at source, appropriate
personal protective clothing and/or equipment should be
provided free of charge.”

Directive 89/391/EEC Framework

Directive

“To ensure the safety and health of

employees in their workplace”

Assessing Hand Protection

 PPE at work directive 89/656/EEC
Use of personal protective equipment
The best practice process to adopt when considering the selection
of hand protection is to:
• Identify the hazard and assess the level of risk
• Determine the properties of the hand protection required
• Compare the available product options
• Check product conformity to directives and standards
• Document the assessment process and rationale for selection

Assessing Hand Protection

 PPE at work directive 89/656/EEC
All personal protective equipment must:
• Be appropriate for the risks involved, without itself
leading to any increased risk
• Correspond to existing conditions in the workplace
• Fit the wearer correctly after any necessary adjustment
• Take account of ergonomic requirements and the
worker’s state of health

Assessing Hand Protection

 Category 1: simple design
Minimal risk
Gloves may be used in situations where the end user can
identify the hazards and level of protection required – where
the effects of the hazard are gradual and can be identified in
good time.

Assessing Hand Protection

 Category 3: complex design
Irreversible or mortal risk

Gloves protect against dangers that may seriously or

irreversibly damage health, the effects of which the end user
cannot identify in sufficient time.

Assessing Hand Protection

 Category 2: intermediate design
Intermediate risk

Gloves are those products which do not fall into either the
simple design or complex design categories; they make up the
majority of hand protection issued to employees.

Assessing Hand Protection

 EN Glove Standards

Assessing Hand Protection

 EN 420: 2003 General Requirements for
Protective Gloves
• Sizing
• Dexterity
• pH neutral against skin
• Leather gloves need undetectable levels of chromium content
• Natural rubber latex protein content
• General requirements for information to be supplied with and
marked on the glove

Assessing Hand Protection

 EN 388: 2003 Mechanical Protection

Performance Levels 0 1 2 3 4 5

A Abrasion Resistance (cycles) <100 100 500 2,000 8,000 -

B Blade Cut Resistance (index) <1.2 1.2 2.5 5.0 10.0 20

C Tear Resistance (newton) <10 10 25 50 75 -

D Puncture Resistance (newton) <20 20 60 100 150 -

Assessing Hand Protection

 Puncture test probe
28g insulin needle

1.27mm (.05”) solid steel

needle

4.5mm EN388 puncture

probe

Ordinary pencil

Assessing Hand Protection

Session 3

Understanding glove markings

The CE mark Safety symbol
Glove fulfils the E.g. EN 388
general requirements Mechanical Hazards
as laid down by the
directive Information
Denotes there is complementary
Identification of information and user instructions
manufacturer which should be read

Product name Safety score

Product code
E.g. EN 388 Mechanical Hazards
Size identification a) Resistance to abrasion - 4
b) Blade cut resistance -5
c) Tear resistance -4
d) Puncture resistance -2

Assessing Hand Protection

 Common materials used in glove
manufacturing
Glove and dip materials:
• TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) • Butyl (synthetic rubber, a copolymer
of isobutylene with isoprene; the
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride – vinyl) abbreviation IIR stands for Isobutylene
Isoprene Rubber)
• PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)
• Neoprene (synthetic rubber,
• Latex (natural rubber) polychloroprene)
• Nitrile (synthetic latex compound • PU (polyurethane)
made from a blend of butadiene and
acrylonitrile)

Assessing Hand Protection

 Hand protection assessment

Assessing Hand Protection

 Five considerations when assessing
the correct hand protection
• Users
• Environment
• Tasks
• Hazards
• Risk

Assessing Hand Protection

Assessing Hand Protection
 Trial feedback form

Assessing Hand Protection

 Hand protection policy as part of a
Health and Safety policy

1. Aims, goals and rationale for introducing a glove

policy as part of a broader Health and Safety policy.
2. Stipulate work areas/stations/locations where glove
wearing is mandatory.
3. Stipulate exemptions (visitors, for example).

Assessing Hand Protection

 Hand protection policy as part of a
Health and Safety policy (continued)

4. State the disciplinary action for non-compliance and

notify all employees affected.
5. Summarise details of the selection process and user
trial results for each work area/station/location.
6. Decide and define the specification of hand
protection required for each work
area/station/location.

Assessing Hand Protection

 Hand protection policy as part of a
Health and Safety policy (continued)

7. List the selection of products (preferred and

alternatives) that meet the required specifications.
8. Document a procedure for stock control, preferred
suppliers, issue, disposal and/or laundry.
9. Document user training (issue, use, care of gloves
and when to replace/launder).

Assessing Hand Protection

 Hand protection policy as part of a
Health and Safety policy (continued)

10. Include hand protection requirements in task/job

procedure or process documentation.
11. Set a review date (that is, annual), new machinery
or process.

Assessing Hand Protection

 Thankyou

Assessing Hand Protection