Anyone working in construction, mining or engineering knows the problem: workers have to wear safety gloves but they can be hot and uncomfortable, reduce dexterity and make hands clumsy.
Think workers doing an oil change with greasy slippery gloves, sweaty hands from using a grinder in very hot conditions, or doing fine assembly work on a production line and constantly stripping off gloves to enter data on a touchscreen.
Would it surprise you to know that there is an Ansell safety glove suited to every one of these scenarios, that are so comfortable workers will forget they are wearing them?
“Two gloves might have the same performance rating on paper,” says Ansell product manager Theo Oostveen, “but when you put them on the hand, they’re very different to wear. It’s very application-based.”
The great all-rounder
When it comes to high-performance cut protection gloves, he says, the Ansell Hyflex 11-571 is the great all-rounder.
“It’s a glove that will suit 90-95% of the jobs in the construction, mining, energy and engineering industries.”
An ISO D-rated cut resistant glove, it’s abrasive resistant, very thin, ultra-lightweight, comfortable to wear, touchscreen compatible and ATEX (Atmospherics Explosives) certified. This means it safely dissipates static electricity in areas of chemical distilling and petroleum refining, where explosive gases and liquids can be present.
Construction of the glove is a feat of engineering. The core of the thread is a mixture of carbon and a high-performance polyethylene. These materials give the thread its strength. They are then wound in yarns like nylon and spandex for wearer comfort.
The finished yarn goes into a knitting machine which produces a seamless knit from the fingers to the wrist, so the glove fits uniformly.
Finally, a thin, resilient and breathable proprietary nitrile foam coating is applied to the palm of the knitted glove, extending its durability and gripping ability. The micro-pores in the nitrile coating act like tread on a tyre, so if the wearer grabs something slightly wet or oily, the oil or water goes into the pores and the glove still grips.
“It’s perfect for people in various industries,” says Theo, “whether it be infrastructure, metal fabrication, aerospace, commercial or residential building, right through to mining, oil and gas.”
Gloves ain’t gloves
Good as the Ansell Hyflex 11-571 is, no glove will fit every situation, so there are variations to suit wearer preferences and the particular challenges of a job.
Depending on the level of cut protection needed, users can opt for the Hyflex 11-561, which uses basalt rock to achieve a C cut rating, or the Hyflex 11-531, which has a B cut rating.
Another Hyflex series – the 11-754, the 11-755 and the 11-757 – provides superior grip in very wet or oily situations, such as a heavy engineering workshops where the operator is doing oil changes and greasing nipples. The palm of these gloves is coated with a very thin layer of polyurethane, which has a hydrophobic, oil-repellent property.
On-the-job safety assessment
The Ansell GUARDIAN program enables companies to determine the best glove for their situation and their workers.
“We can do a walk through at your site,” says Theo. “We will watch the work, assess the safety requirements and talk to staff. ‘What is it you like about what you’re wearing? What don’t you like? How could you get more out of your PPE at this station?’”
Users are asked to rate qualities such as flexibility, abrasion and cut protection, heat resistance and touchscreen ability in order of importance. Ansell then produces a tailor-made safety solution, indicating the best gloves for individual applications and users.
You can find a wide range of Ansell safety gloves at Blackwoods, Australia’s largest provider of industrial and safety equipment. Shop the Ansell range online, or visit your local branch.
