Whoever told you that "a glove is a glove is a glove" is not exactly seeing the complete picture. With safety a growing focal point, glove companies continue to improve and expand product lines for specialized hand protection.

Decades ago, when safety first became a focus, tradesman and plant personnel began wearing protective gear to help prevent injuries and accidents from occurring on the job. Throughout the years, these safety products have evolved, providing increased protection for those who work near or with potentially dangerous equipment.

Stop for a minute and think about your hands. Throughout a day's activities, how often do you consider the importance of your hands? Probably not very often. Yet, on the job, surrounded by dangerous machinery, tools and equipment, your hands are constantly at risk and demand safety consideration.

In most work environments, hands perform essential jobs working with tools, operating machinery and equipment and, therefore, maintain the smooth, daily procedures of the plant or workplace. After an injury, a hand may not function as well, or may even be anatomically altered, causing slight or severe handicap and potential loss of grip, dexterity and motion. A valuable, well-trained employee can lose his ability to earn a living after even the smallest hand injury.

Hand protection has been a part of standard uniform policy in the manufacturing field for many years. But long gone are the big, bulky, one-size-fits-all, leather or cotton gloves that once dominated industry. Innovative materials and modern manufacturing have created high performance, specialized work gloves that not only meet the needs of the individual, but the requirements of the specific job being performed as well.

New materials have revolutionized the glove market, creating comfortable and effective hand safety equipment. A specialized manmade leather called Dura-Fit, co-developed by Clarino Japan and Mechanix Wear, is the latest addition to glove technology. Often located in the palm of the glove, Dura-Fit provides a breathable, solid grip on tools or machinery. In addition, Nomex, a lightweight fiber developed by scientists at DuPont, offers protection for hands against heat and flame in high-temperature environments and when working with high-temperature products. In contrast, Thinsulate, a lightweight material by 3M, shields hands from extreme cold. Other materials such as Lycra or Spandex provide stretch, giving hands mobility and comfort.

With such a variety of materials available to handle different extremes, glove companies went back to the drawing board to redesign industry-standard hand protection. Glove fingertips have been redesigned for increased sensitivity while still maintaining effective protection. Heavy duty, yet lightweight, materials allow the fingertips to last longer without compromising dexterity. Innovations such as Lycra panels between the fingers and ultra-thin thermal plastic rubber pull-tabs with hook and loop closures, provide comfort, mobility and adjustability.

As manufacturers listen to the needs of their consumers, gloves continue to evolve. Even the small advancement of a concealed seam stitch on the interior of gloves to prevent snagging is some-thing that was rarely utilized in glove construction a few years ago, and is now the standard for any high-quality glove. Some glove companies now make their entire line of gloves machine washable to encourage longevity of the product as well as make it an economical and usable choice. Manufacturers might also provide reference charts to compare and contrast the different gloves available in their line. Mechanix Wear provides a Mechanical Function Chart to compare the dexterity, durability, sensitivity and tactility of individual Mechanix Glove models and their features. Other companies outline the special characteristics/features of each glove that would be applicable to specific tasks.

Although accidents often occur due to carelessness, distraction or disregard for safety procedures rather than lack of protective attire, management must still make certain that employees are outfitted for maximum success. Worker safety continues to be an increasing concern in construction, manufacturing and industrial jobs, so safety managers must be aware of the latest developments in protective clothing and equipment. Proper glove selection is critical in the formula for safety.

Since hands differ in size, strength and ability, each worker may require a different glove design. With a wide selection of gloves available, employees should be encouragd to choose a glove that best fits their particular hands and jobs. Employees can work better and more efficiently with less chance for mishap when provided with specialized hand protection. A specialized glove may cost a few more dollars, but a potential injury could cost thousands more.

For more information, contact Mechanix Wear at (800) 222-4296 or visit www.mechanix.com.