Focus on hand protection

The chemical industry, including oil and gas companies, has very high level of exposure to overall occupational risk factors. Many employers in the industry understand that protecting their workers is essential to productivity and well-being. In Russia, major players have understood this need and have introduced intensive training and quality products. As upper extremities’ are the parts of the body which are most injured, hand protection is an important element of personal protection that can help avoid a great number of accidents. When it comes to protecting hands, the oil and gas industry, sharing many needs with the chemical industry as a whole, has its own specific challenges and requirements.

The gas and oil industry in Russia employs thousands of people every day, encompassing a wide range of processes, and involving a variety of chemicals. It is clear that the needs regarding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the industry are high. "Specifically in the area of hand protection, it took until the nineties before Russian companies gradually introduced highly-protective, comfortable gloves. Today, many Health and Safety managers in Russia have realized the importance of adequate hand protection and are making great efforts to introduce high-quality gloves in working environments," explains Anna Lobanova, Business Development Manager Russia for Ansell Healthcare (www.ansell.eu), a global leader in barrier protective solutions.

Hand protection meeting specific industry requirements

Effective hand protection in the form of safety gloves is a key component of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the chemical industry. Not only does it involve wearing safety gloves, it requires wearing the right type of glove for the job and its occupational risks. In order to meet particular needs of workers in the oil and gas industry, protective gloves should meet two main criteria. First of all, they should offer exceptional protection against workplace hazards, including chemicals. Secondly, they should promote the tactility and dexterity required for workers to properly handle their tools.

For instance, in an environment where drilling operations take place or drilling fluids and muds are handled, there is a clear need for high chemical resistance, next to grip and mechanical performance. Environmental conditions also increase the need for workers to keep their hands warm and dry. People performing platform maintenance, repairs and routine inspections strongly rely on mechanical performance, grip and tactility when it comes to hand protection, as well as being protected from cold and humid conditions.

Exposure and grip are key challenges

Next to aspects including the need for comfort, dexterity and tactility, hand protection in the chemical industry has to address some very specific and important challenges affecting workplace safety and productivity.

Exposure to chemicals and other substances, for one. Some chemicals, including solvents, mastics, oils and others, can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Unsafe exposure to hazardous toxic chemicals can even result in medical conditions and diseases such as cancer, brain damage, harm to the nervous system, asthma and skin problems.

Next to other measures, adequate skin protection against liquid chemicals and other substances can help to avoid the effects of exposure. Employers should consider carefully their choice of gloves. At the very minimum, they should insist on gloves manufactured to a high standard.

Anna Lobanova of Ansell Healthcare: "The choice of the right glove for the right application is key. At Ansell Healthcare, we help companies to make a precise choice thanks to chemical permeation charts and glove recommendations, which are freely and easily available on our websites."

Grip is another key challenge for hand protection in the chemical industry. Safety concerns when lifting with a poor grip are frequently cited as a serious safety hazard, as objects might be dropped, resulting in foot injuries or cuts. For workers, exerting less grip force can also positively contribute to preventing the onset of musculoskeletal disorders, including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Glove manufacturer Ansell Healthcare, for example, is addressing the grip issue through innovation. Its Ansell Grip Technology^TM, a revolutionary new glove coating enhances grip performance when grasping wet or oily objects.

Continuous focus on safety

Thanks to continued development, testing and industry experience, dedicated hand protection solutions have become available to the chemical industry. Moreover, in order to help them choose the right glove for their applications, companies in the Russian oil and gas industry can turn to an external partner for technical advice, expertise and field trials.

Ultimately, the single most important issue for the chemical industry is avoiding workforce accidents and the costly official investigations which these imply. Even if many leading oil and gas companies have already taken measures to address safety and hand protection, the industry can benefit from a continuous assessment and management of workplace safety challenges.

Ansell's dedicated chemical protection gloves 

Ansell gloves offer new options in high-performance work gloves engineered to fit the specific needs of chemical industry professional. Based on many years' experience in the sector and extensive interviews with industry experts, Ansell has put together a dedicated range of solutions that protect hands from hazards specific to this sector. AlphaTec® gloves offer advanced chemical protection and are recommended for handling and light and medium assembly applications in environments with potential chemical hazards. The glove's unique combination of grip and chemical resistance together with the glove's flexibility and dexterity make it the logical choice when dealing with chemicals. The Sol-Vex® is a chemical-resistant, reusable nitrile glove. It offers high abrasion resistance and mechanical protection. Ansell's single-use, nitrile Touch N Tuff® glove is the best choice to protect against chemical splashes, as proven in several official trials were carried out. No other single-use nitrile glove resists a greater variety of industrial chemicals for a longer period than Ansell's Touch N Tuff®.