Hand and arm protection
The hands and arms are, like any body part vital to most general day to day activities. And as with the rest
of the body they can come into harm’s way in many different forms while in the workplace. This harm can
be in the form of exposure to hazards such as vibration, repetitive strain injuries, carpel tunnel syndrome,
over exposure to harmful chemicals, extreme temperatures, cuts, entanglement and even amputation. Harm
to these limbs can leave us with decreased functionality both in the workplace and in our everyday life.
While the physical effects are usually clear to see, there is also a huge financial, emotional and
psychological burden that is caused by any workplace accident or incident.
Almost all work place illness and injuries are preventable and as with any illness, prevention is better than
cure. We need to address these hazards, where possible before work commences to ensure the most
effective control is reached.
Risk Assessment
The most effective and reliable way to prevent problems in the workplace is to design and operate processes
to avoid contact with hazardous materials. So take all the steps you can to achieve this before resorting to
the use of protective gloves.
A task specific risk assessment needs to be carried out to determine the need for protective measures and
to determine what measures are the most reasonably practicable for your organisation.
Effective control measures usually consist of a mixture of process and/or workplace modifications, applied
controls and methods of working that minimises exposure and makes the best use of controls. Very often
this mix includes the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
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The first Step in any Risk Assessment is identifying the potential hazards and the potential consequences
of exposure to these hazards.
Potential Hazards to Hands and Arms
As stated earlier, there are a number of different hazards that can cause harm to the hands and arms in
the workplace:
Vibrating Equipment - Hand and Arm Vibration (HAV)
In light of a recently completed, comprehensive study, conducted by the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Institute concludes that vibrating hand tools can cause vibration syndrome.
HAV is vibration transmitted from work processes into workers’ hands and arms. It can be caused by
operating hand-held power tools such as road breakers, hand-guided equipment such as lawn mowers,
or by holding materials being processed by machines such as pedestal grinders. Prolonged and regular
exposure to this vibration can affect the operator’s health, resulting in painful and disabling disorders of
the nerves, blood supply, joints and muscles of the hands and arms. These disorders are collectively known
as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)
Repetitive Actions – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
Continuous repetitive actions on the hands, wrists and arms can lead to reduced functionality of the hands
and arms. Many office workers experience this while at work. In many cases, the symptoms can continue
out of the workplace and lead to daily discomfort and often long term effects. In the Netherlands alone
there is concern about the proportion of RSI related complaints among workers who are classified as users
of Visual Display Units (VDUs). According to some indications, this could affect in some sectors more than
50% of workers. (https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/reports/303)
Chemical Exposure – Dermatitis, Skin Absorption, Sensitisation etc
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Dermal exposure is a major route of occupational exposure to hazardous substances. Different chemicals
have different adverse effects on the hands and arms from mild irritation to contact dermatitis or
corrosive burns. A large proportion of the workforce may be exposed to both naturally occurring and
man-made chemicals while at work. Without adequate risk assessment and controls the results of this
exposure can be detrimental. In EU Member States, skin diseases are the second most common
occupational diseases; contact dermatitis being the most common. Other work-related skin diseases
include chemical burns, contact urticarial (skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps, they may also
cause a burning or stinging sensation) and skin cancer2.
Extreme Temperatures – Thermal burns
Thermal burns are caused by working with hot surfaces, hot liquids, vapours, gases or heating systems.
Exposure to extreme heat or extreme cold can both cause harm to hands and arms in the form of burns.
Mechanical Equipment - Lacerations, Cuts and Entanglement
Using mechanical equipment in the workplace can easily lead to cuts and abrasions if the correct
precautions are not taken. In more severe cases fingers or even limbs can get caught in equipment
leading to entanglement and even amputation. Industries most affected by this are agriculture,
construction and engineering.
Protecting the Hands and Arms at Work
Many of the above hazards can be controlled by the use of engineering methods or improved
ergonomical design. However, even after applying these options there is sometimes still a requirement for
PPE to ensure complete protection e.g. for the use of chemicals or vibration tools.
Hierarchy of Control
The “Hierarchy of Control” should be used at all times when implementing controls to eliminate the
hazard or reduce the risk of a hazard causing loss / damage / injuries.
The hierarchy of hazard control is a list which emphasises controlling a hazard at the source. This is done
by giving preference to the use of the ‘engineering controls’.
These types of strategies should be used, where possible, because they are less subject to human failure
and are less disruptive and uncomfortable for people carrying out the work.
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Back-up controls (such as PPE and administrative controls) should only be used as a last resort or as a
support to other control measures. In many cases, it will be necessary to use more than one control
method.
Whichever methods you use, regular monitoring is important to make sure that the control is working
effectively and that exposure to the hazard is eliminated or reduced to a safe level.
As pictured, the first line of defence should always be
the elimination of the hazard. So whether the injury to
hand and arm is through chemical contact or
exposure to vibration through power tools, we need
to look at where the hazard can be removed. Does this
task need to take place? If not, eliminate it.
Elimination means there cannot be any exposure. The
ideal solution! For example, jobs could be redesigned
to minimise the use of vibrating hand tools and that
powered hand tools be redesigned to minimise
vibration. Where jobs cannot be redesigned to
eliminate vibrating tools such as pneumatic hammers,
gasoline chain saws, and other powered hand tools,
engineering controls, work practices, and
administrative controls should be employed to
minimise exposure.
If it cannot be eliminated completely we need to look at how we can make this safer for those exposed.
We need to decide if we can substitute the activity or the materials we are using for safer alternatives. For
example to prevent HAVS we could use welding, or to reduce chemical burns we could look for a less
corrosive material that will be as effective. However, while looking at substituting these activities and
materials we also need to understand that we could be just relaying the harm to another body part, for
example, inhalation. We need to decide what is most reasonably practicable for our organisation.
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Engineering and Administrative controls follow closely; however these can be quite expensive to
implement so many companies do without. If they can be implemented at the design stages with good
planning, engineering controls can be the most effective way of protecting those in the workplace.
As discussed in the first section of this article, there are many ways hands and arms can become harmed
in the workplace, simply typing this article and working for long periods of time at DSE can lead to
repetitive strain injury. Administrative and behavioural changes such as taking frequent breaks, carrying
out a Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessment or implementing good ergonomic design can all help
to reduce this occurring. Applying guards to mechanical equipment can protect from cuts and
entanglement. When implementing engineering controls to prevent HAV, the use of low vibration tools
and damping can be very effective to protect users.
Protection against Hand and Arm Vibration
When looking at Hand and Arm protection the two main points that come to mind are Hand and Arm
Vibration and Chemical Exposure. As chemical exposure, if not combated at the early stage or through
engineering controls has many options of protection through various gloves or barrier creams, this is not
necessarily the case for protection from Vibration. Yes, there is a type of glove available but HAVS should
be tackled before PPE needs to be considered.
Gloves will generally perform best at the higher frequencies,
with little effect at low and medium frequencies. This means
they can pass the standard test and still produce only
negligible or moderate reductions in the frequency-weighted
vibration magnitude at the hand.
As well as the actions that can be taken to reduce workers’
exposure to vibration, there are other measures which, while
not reducing the daily vibration exposure, are thought to
reduce the risk.
For example:
1. Avoid over exposure – reduce a workers time at a particular job so they get regular breaks and the blood
circulation can recover. Encourage them to take breaks during long tasks, as several shorter exposures
with recovery periods are believed to better.
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2. Stay warm – try to carry out as much of the task indoors as is possible. Keep the worker warm to
increase blood flow and circulation.
3. If work needs to be carried out outdoors or in cold environments, supply staff with regular warm meals
and drinks to keep body temperature regulated.
4. Encourage employees to stop or cut down smoking, which can lead to impaired circulation
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Following these steps and the suitable engineering controls, anti-vibration gloves can also be worn to
provide additional protection. It is also important to carry out regular monitoring and health surveillance
on the workers to ensure that any adverse effects are recognised early on and dealt with accordingly
before it is too late.
The Final Line of Defence: Personal Protective Equipment
Considerations for Employers
When selecting PPE the employer must adhere to The Use of Personal Protective Equipment Directive
89/656/EEC. There are three articles of the Directive that merit particular attention, as they place
substantial responsibilities on employers:
Article 3 states that before selecting any PPE a basic assessment must be made to identify and evaluate
the risk. Where possible, the risk must be reduced or eliminated by a modification of workplace practice.
This option is always to be preferred to the use of PPE.
Under Article 4, the employer must inform his workers of the risks in the workplace, supply appropriate
and correctly fitting PPE which complies with EU standards, and give adequate instruction in its use. He
should further ensure that the PPE is used only for the purpose intended by the manufacturer, and in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
Article 5 then requires the employer to:
1. Audit workplace hazards and assess the level of risk to employees.
2. Define the properties necessary in the gloves to protect the employees.
3. Ensure that all gloves used in the workplace conform to the PPE Directive and relevant EN standards.
4. Compare the merits of the various types of protection available.
5. Keep full records of assessments and reasons for selecting a particular type of glove.
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If the risk should alter in any way, for instance by the introduction of a new chemical or industrial process,
the assessment must be reviewed and changed accordingly.
After we have exhausted all other ways of controlling the risks we need to look at implementing PPE to
protect the hands and arms. The most effective way of doing this is through the use of protective
clothing such as gloves, sleeves or gauntlets.
PPE tends to be less effective and less reliable than other control options because it:
a. Needs to be selected for the individual
b. Needs to fit the wearer and not interfere with their work or other PPE
c. Needs to be worn correctly every time and has to remain properly fitted all the time the
individual is exposed
d. Needs to be properly stored, regularly checked and maintained to ensure it is fit for purpose
and not damaged
e. Gloves, sleeves and overalls tend to be delicate and relatively easily damaged and
f. Can fail, causing danger, sometimes without warning
However, given all these potential downsides to PPE, if they are used correctly and in conjunction with
other controls measures they can prove very valuable.
European standards for PPE have been developed as the preferred means of displaying equipment
conformity with the Basic Health and Safety Requirements of the EC Personal Protective Equipment
Directive (89/686/EEC). Only equipment which meets this criteria is allowed to carry the CE Mark and be
sold for use in the EC. The EN or ISO standards contain design, performance and marking requirements
for different types of equipment3.
It is never a case of any glove will do! The type of glove, sleeve or gauntlet selected will depend on the
activity, material being used and the Risk Assessment. A glove that will protect against a corrosive liquid
may provide zero protection against extreme temperatures or vibration and vice versa.
Choosing the correct protection for your needs
Where avoiding contact is impossible or impracticable, protective equipment will be needed. Selecting
the correct protection, whether it be gloves, gauntlets or sleeves will depend on the required protection.
When selecting the protection, base your choice on the work, the wearer and the environment they work
in. You need to consider the following factors:
•
•
•
•
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Identify the substances handled and all other hazards
Consider the type and duration of contact
Consider the user - size and comfort
Consider the task
While cost effectiveness is important it is not always advisable to select your protection based solely on
price.
The material of glove should be fit for purpose. That is if you are using the glove to protect against the
harmful effects of hand and arm vibrations you will need to use shock absorbent gloves suitable for this.
Just like if you are selecting a glove for the protection from corrosive materials you will need to select the
glove most reasonably practicable for this.
Gloves - European Standards
When selecting gloves you need to ensure you are adhering to the EEC Directive mentioned earlier and
ensure the equipment you supply your workers with reaches the standard outlined in the Directive. The
type of exposure will decide which standard to meet. However they all have many of the same
requirements in common.
There are a number of European Standards that governing the production of gloves, such as EN 420:2003,
which outlines the general requirements for protective gloves, and EN ISO 10819:1997, which covers
gloves marketed in Europe as ‘anti-vibration’. The latter must carry the CE mark, indicating that the gloves
have been tested and found to meet the requirements of the current standard.
The standards also include gloves that
give protection from:
• Chemicals and microorganisms
- EN374:2003
• Mechanical risks - EN388:2003
• Thermal hazards - EN407:2004
• Cold - EN511:2006
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• Radioactive contamination and
ionising radiation - EN421:2010
Protection against Chemical Exposure
Some products contain substances that can harm the skin or enter the body through skin contact. The
product label or material safety data sheet should tell you if this is the case. These may also give
information on what protective gloves to use.
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To protect hands from substances/chemicals, choose a glove that meets the European Standard
EN374-3. But make sure the glove material you choose protects against the substances being handled.
When dealing with chemical exposure there are a number of gloves and sleeve materials that may be
suitable, for this reason you will need to look at the chemical breakthrough time of the gloves and select
the material that will best protect against your particular hazardous material.
Whether you are working in a laboratory or on a construction site you are sure to come into contact with
harmful chemicals. The sector you are in also needs to be considered. A nitrile glove may protect against
the material in the lab, but using the same material on a construction site may require a heavy duty glove
to protect against cuts and abrasions too.
Helpful Hints
• Avoid the use of latex – latex is a sensitiser and can lead to skin sensitisation in many individuals. Try
to find a more suitable glove that provides the same protection
• Barrier creams – can be useful as you have full use of your hands and fingers without any restrictions.
However, be sure to regularly apply this and moisturise the area after use as it can strip the skin of its
natural lipids
• Train and inform – you must inform any affected employees of the results of the Risk Assessment and
train them on the correct use of any supplied PPE. Employees must be informed on when PPE should
be checked and maintained and must know who to report any defects to
• Also consider the complete task – protecting against a chemical but leaving room for cuts, abrasions
or entanglement is insufficient
• If anything changes – review your Risk Assessment and apply any additional changes that are required
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• Safety is the responsibility of everybody in the workplace - the employer must provide controls, inform
and instruct employees, but employees have a legal duty to utilise this, report any defects and store
correctly
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