Construction Hand Protection 101: Spotting and Mitigating Risks

In construction, hands are everything – they’re essential for every task, whether it’s operating heavy machinery, handling materials or doing precision work. Protecting them isn’t just a precaution; it’s a critical component in keeping every worker safe and productive on the jobsite.

Recognizing the potential hazards on a jobsite is just the first step towards injury prevention. Outfitting your team with the right hand protection means your team members are equipped to deal with a variety of common hazards present on the construction jobsite.

Cuts and Abrasions

When it comes to tasks that involve handling sharp or abrasive materials, the risk of cuts and abrasions are heavily present. Everyday tasks such as installing metal ductwork, fitting windows with glass panes and smoothing out splintered edges on wooden boards carry the risk of cuts and abrasions. Even a simple slip while laying down roofing tiles or running a hand along the edge of sheet metal can result in a laceration severe enough to take a worker off a jobsite and to the hospital. Wearing ANSI/ISEA-rated cut and abrasion-resistant hand protection is crucial to reducing these hand injuries.

By investing in high-quality cut resistant gloves designed with advanced materials like PolyKor® and engineered ATG® fibers, employers can ensure the safety and productivity of their workforce, while workers can confidently perform their tasks without the fear of hand injuries.

• G-Tek® PolyKor® Cut Resistant Gloves

  • Advanced Fiber Technology: custom blends of high-performance fibers deliver enhanced cut resistance, durability and comfort tailored to specific safety needs, while engineered yarns improve overall glove performance by combining multiple fiber technologies to achieve optimal protection and comfort
  • Affordable Cut Protection: high-quality cut-resistant gloves at an affordable price ensures that even budget-conscious operations can access reliable hand protection without compromising safety
  • Versatility for Every Application: gloves suitable for a wide range of applications and industries allows businesses to use a single glove type for various tasks, simplifying inventory management and reducing the need for multiple glove types

• Premium ATG® Cut Resistant Styles

  • Advanced Cut Protection: CUTtech® utilizes high-performance fibers and innovative blends to provide superior cut resistance tailored to different levels of risk, ensuring maximum protection while maintaining comfort and flexibility
  • 360° Breathability: AIRtech® patented MicroFoam nitrile coating channels moisture and heat away from the skin, maintaining an optimal hand temperature and enhancing comfort during extended wear, making it the most breathable glove on the market
  • Enhanced Durability: DURAtech® provides twice the mechanical performance for maximum hand dexterity
  • Ergonomic Design: ERGOtech® allows the form, fit and feel to mimic the “hand at rest” reducing hand fatigue, and a consistent liner penetration with smooth rounded fingertips improves sensitivity
  • Optimized Grip Performance: GRIPtech® patented micro-cup coating finish allows for a controlled and maximized grip for a variety of work environments
  • Dermatological Accreditation: Oeko-Tex™ certified as skin safe and awarded dermatological accreditation by the Skin Health Alliance; all ingredients used in production are REACH compliant and 100% silicone free

Punctures

Sharp tools and small components such as nails and screws can cause serious puncture wounds. While the immediate pain may cause a temporary delay in the workday, there is also a risk of infection and long-term tissue damage resulting in permanent total disability for a worker. Although no glove is puncture proof, PIP® gloves with ANSI/ISEA-rated puncture resistance help to significantly mitigate the risk with:

• Palm and Finger Coatings: like nitrile, polyurethane, or latex, enhance puncture resistance, providing critical protection in high-risk areas
• Strong Liner Material Technologies: like Kevlar®, PolyKor® and Dyneema®, ensure robust puncture resistance through the glove, offering comprehensive protection
• ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Rated Compliance: provides a trusted measure of the glove’s performance, ensuring workers have reliable and certified protection

Impacts

The consequences of impact injuries can range from intense pain and swelling from a crushed hand to long-term dexterity loss, requiring extensive recovery time and possible surgery. To mitigate these risks, it’s important to use gloves equipped with impact-resistant padding or reinforcement. These specialized gloves provide crucial protection, absorbing and dispersing the force of impacts to safeguard against hand injuries during intense construction activities.

Choosing the right level of ANSI-rated impact gloves tailored to specific tasks ensures workers can perform safely and effectively in diverse construction environments.

High Impact: ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 Levels 2-3

Risks: operating heavy machinery like cranes, forklifts and excavators may cause crushing or pinching hazards

Recommended Hand Protection: G-Tek® PolyKor® D3O®iP™ 16-MPT630 & 16-MPT430

D3O®iP™ combines maximum dexterity with ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 Impact Level 3 compliance through an exclusive chevron pattern 3D-printed onto a 13-gauge cut resistant seamless knit shell, delivering the highest yet thinnest impact protection in the market.

Moderate Impact: ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 Levels 1-2

Risks: manual handling of materials and tools like concrete pouring, steel framing and jackhammering may cause back of hand impacts and vibrations

Recommended Hand Protection: G-Tek® PolyKor® 16-MPH430HV

Features a seamless knit PolyKor® blended 13-gauge shell with a Double-Dipped Nitrile MicroSurface coating on the palm and fingers, and heavyweight TPR delivers back-of-hand- impact resistance to knuckles and fingers.

Low Impact: ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 Levels 1 or non-rated

Risks: light tasks that require dexterity and protection from vibrations like precision work and handling small hand tools

Recommended Hand Protection: G-Tek® PolyKor® 16-MP585 & 16-MP785

Feature a lightweight 18-gauge cut resistant shell with TPR on the back of the hand, offering excellent dexterity, tactile sensitivity, cut resistance, and added impact protection.

Chemical Exposure

Chemicals are commonly present on construction sites and pose various hazards. Workers may encounter substances like solvents, adhesives, sealants, paints, and coatings, which can be harmful if not handled properly. Skin irritation, burns, allergic reactions, and even systemic toxicity can occur if absorbed through the skin without the proper hand protection. Workers mixing or applying concrete may be exposed to wet cement, which contains alkaline compounds that can lead to chemical burns. Similarly, handling solvents and adhesives without gloves can result in dermatitis or other skin conditions.

To prevent these hazards, it is important for workers to wear appropriate chemical resistant gloves, like Grippaz® Extended-Use Disposable Gloves and follow proper safety protocols such as washing hands thoroughly after exposure and avoiding direct contact with hazardous substances.

Grippaz® are specifically designed to offer superior protection, lasting five times longer than regular disposable gloves in industrial applications due to their:

• Unique fish scale grip: excellent hold, enhancing control and reducing risk of accidents
• Nitrile composition: delivers excellent chemical resistance, protecting hands from exposure to hazardous substances
• Various mil thicknesses and lengths: offers customizable protection levels to suit different tasks and environments
• Free from powder or silicone: reduces the risk of allergic reactions
• Touchscreen Compatibility: allows the user to operate a phone or tablet without removing gloves

Thermal Dangers

Construction Sites present a wide range of thermal dangers that can significantly impact worker safety and productivity. From intense heat encountered during welding tasks to the biting cold of winter work environments, protecting workers’ hands is critical. Proper hand protection not only ensures safety but also enhances comfort and efficiency on the job. Understanding the specific thermal risks and selecting the appropriate gloves can make a substantial difference in preventing these hazards.

Extreme Heat

For welders exposed to extreme heat while using cutting torches or working near hot surfaces and materials like asphalt, gloves that offer robust protection, like premium Caiman® high-performance welding gloves, is crucial.

Caiman® gloves offer unique, patented design features that blend innovation, comfort and quality:

• Patented Kontour™ Design: offers unparalleled ergonomic fit, enhancing comfort and reducing hand fatigue during extended use
• Precision-Engineered Glove Patterns: allows for superior hand dexterity, enabling precise and efficient handling of welding tools and materials
• Premium Leather Selection: provides tailored protection for specific welding applications, ensuring durability and optimal performance
• Heat and Flame Resistance: shields hands from extreme heat, sparks, and molten metal, ensuring safety in high-temperature welding environments
• Enhanced Protection: extended cuff lengths offer additional forearm protection and reinforced seams enhance glove longevity and resistance to wear and tear, providing reliable protection over time
• Comfort and Performance: moisture-wicking linings keep hands dry during intense welding tasks and soft yet sturdy materials balance protection with flexibility, allowing for natural hand movements without compromising safety
• Versatility for Various Application: task-specific designs ensures that welders have the right glove for each specific job, enhancing safety and efficiency

Extreme Cold

Conversely, the hand strain from tasks such as concrete work, framing and roofing, masonry and bricklaying, demolition, and landscaping is exacerbated when workers are exposed to extreme temperatures. Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures without enough hand protection can cause long-term nerve and tissue damage. By using PIP® cold-resistant gloves tailored to these specific applications, construction workers can maintain safety, comfort, and productivity even in challenging cold-weather conditions:

• Superior Insulation: high-performance insulation, like 3M™ Thinsulate™ and Heatrac®, keep hands warm and dry in extremely cold conditions, enhancing comfort and preventing cold-related injuries
• Advanced Material Technologies: seamless knit gloves with water-resistant treatments keep hands dry and warm, essential for working in wet, cold environments to prevent discomfort
• Durable Leather Options: offer excellent protection against abrasions and punctures while maintaining flexibility and comfort
• Enhanced Comfort and Fit: gloves designed for natural hand movement reduce hand fatigue and increases comfort, allowing for prolonged wear without compromising performance, while elastic or adjustable cuffs ensure a secure fit, preventing cold air from entering the glove
• Versatility for Various Applications: gloves tailored for specific cold-weather tasks provide optimal protection and performance for a range of industries, while the use of lightweight and flexible materials offer ease of movement and dexterity, essential for tasks requiring precision and fine motor skills
• Enhanced Safety and Protection: added features like impact resistance protects hands from mechanical hazards, ensuring safety in physically demanding environments, and enhanced grip textures provide a secure grip in wet and icy environments, improving safety and handling of tools and materials

Prioritizing Hand Safety in Construction 

Equipping workers with the right protective gear tailored to specific construction tasks is essential for preventing hand injuries and maintaining a safe, productive job site. By understanding and addressing the various hazards—cuts, abrasions, punctures, impacts, chemical exposures, and thermal dangers—employers can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and ensure the well-being of their workforce. Investing in high-quality gloves that offer the appropriate ANSI/ISEA-rated protection not only enhances safety compliance but also promotes efficiency and confidence among workers, ultimately contributing to a more effective and resilient construction environment.

For expert advice on selecting the best hand protection solutions for your construction needs, contact us today. Your safety is our priority!