Protective gloves are available for many purposes, including against mechanical and chemical risks. There is constant development and there are always new innovations that make gloves better protective, more comfortable and more economically interesting.
Protective gloves with added value
In this blog post on the Occupational Health and Safety Blog by the Occupational Safety Professionals, we will look at protective gloves that are used to ward off mechanical hazards. What innovations have been there lately? What does the modern protective glove look like? And what are the properties of gloves for longer durability?
Cost-effectiveness of protective gloves
If a protective glove is used, it is not only the temporary protective effect that is important, but also the service life, the duration of use and new areas of application. The price-conscious user always pays close attention to the cost-effectiveness of the product used. In addition to the protective effect of the article, this is a criterion that is becoming increasingly important in economically difficult times.
The design of the glove can be very important for economic efficiency under certain circumstances and can also be used for new tasks if necessary. It can happen that a glove, although more expensive, can be used more economically because of its longer durability or special properties. Some "features" of the construction of protective gloves will be examined in more detail here. Although the changes often seem small and often not really new, they often have a lot of significance for a carefully designed protective glove.
Protective gloves with reinforcement in the crook of the thumb
In many applications, the crook of the thumb is put under a lot of strain. The human hand is a "grasping hand". This means that in order to grasp and hold an object, the fingers on the one hand and the thumb on the other hand are on both sides of the object. If a greater force has to be applied, the strongest mechanical load is inevitably in the crook of the thumb (see figure, not yet available). Glove manufacturers have taken the situation into account in the design of their protective glove and strengthened the crook of the thumb.
This can be done by means of sewn-on reinforcement and is usually used for leather gloves. In the case of moulded knitted gloves, a correspondingly sized piece of material is usually vulcanised in a further step after the dipping process (e.g. in the case of latex gloves) or, in the case of other materials, firmly glued on. This mitigates wear at the point with the most mechanical load, as there is simply more material available at this point. Thumb crook reinforcement is often used for cut protection gloves. This significantly reduces the abrasion of the expensive cut protection material. One example is the Allprotec Easywork Picabo Cut B and C cut protection gloves (insert link).
Palm reinforcement for longer durability
In leather gloves and also in some sewn protective gloves made of synthetic materials, the palm of the palm is reinforced. This can be done by a sewn-on leather part in palm size (insert illustration here, still look out) or by a thicker palm part from the outset. The point of the matter is the presence of a thicker, more abrasion-resistant palm, which increases the protective effect and extends the durability of the glove. Scaffolders, for example, who have to let metal pipes slide through their hands day in and day out, appreciate this protective effect.
Knitted gloves with fingertip reinforcement
It is not for nothing that knitted gloves are particularly popular in many areas. The hand is well ventilated, sweating does not occur. With both cotton gloves and knitted gloves made of synthetic materials (e.g. nylon or polyester), the user learns that the weak point is the fingertips of the glove.
Here at the fingertips, the wear and tear is greatest, due to the exposed location compared to the environment. Glove manufacturers have long since recognized this weak point and so mainly knitted gloves with reinforced fingertips are produced (picture, still looking out). This fingertip reinforcement rounds off the nubbed of the knitted gloves with plastic nubs (usually made of PVC) on the inside of the palm and fingers. This not only increases the slip resistance and grip, but also the durability of the protective gloves. Parcel service providers appreciate this.