An invisible hazard lurks in many Australian workplaces - electrostatic discharge (ESD). Even a tiny static spark can ignite dust clouds, fluids or vapour, damage delicate electronics and potentially put workers at risk.
ESD is an issue across many industries – from aerospace, automotive, metal fabrication and logistics to food manufacturing, cosmetic production and defence. Wearing appropriate PPE with electrostatic dissipative technology can help reduce the risk of static becoming an ignition point in hazardous environments.
Ansell brand manager Jihee Noh says explosions have occurred in flour mills and chemical plants, while microchips and semiconductors can be ruined by an invisible discharge too small for humans to detect.
“Basically, ESD is everywhere and anywhere, and employers have a duty of care to ensure their workers are protected,” Jihee says. “Even a very small static discharge can permanently damage microchips or disrupt their function. The damage isn’t always visible, but it can cause reliability issues later on. ESD gloves are a frontline defence.”
Ansell has expanded the HyFlex™ range with new electrostatic-dissipative gloves. Unlike conventional gloves, they are engineered to safely dissipate static electricity through the glove and body to a grounded surface, neutralising the danger before it becomes a spark.
Carbon fibres woven into the gloves create a controlled pathway for static charges to dissipate safely, usually via a grounded workstation. The electrostatic dissipative gloves are certified to EN 16350, which verifies the conductive yarns actively dissipate any static build up on the wearer.
The range includes:
Ansell also offers single-use ESD gloves for the food industry, to eliminate the risk of static ignition during handling and processing of powders and flours.
As with all HyFlex™ products, Ansell has designed its ESD gloves with the worker in mind. Lightweight, breathable and skin-friendly (dermatologically approved by Dermatest® and certified by OEKO-TEX®), they don’t sacrifice comfort for safety.
Workers can stay protected while the ultra-thin nitrile foam FORTIX™ coating maintains the ‘bare hand’ dexterity needed for intricate tasks, from assembling circuit boards to scanning items on a touchscreen.
Jihee Noh, Brand Manager of Ansell, puts it simply:
“With static discharge still widely underestimated in workplaces, Ansell’s glove solutions provide employers with an essential, simple measure to reduce risk and protect both people and products,” Jihee says.
Blackwoods is proud to offer Ansell gloves as part of our commitment to keeping Australian workers safe. As the country’s largest provider of industrial and safety equipment, we’ve got everything you need to protect your team. Shop for Ansell HyFlex™ gloves on site.