Personal Protection Equipment
10. Classification of PPE
10.6. Hand and arm protection
Hand and arm protection is basically achieved with gloves. These may be of different sizes, some even protecting the forearm or the entire arm.
As in all PPE, a prior analysis of the risk must be conducted and the appropriate PPE for said risk chosen.
Gloves may be classified as:
a. Gloves offering protection against minimum hazards:these belong to category I and are for protecting the user against:
- The mechanical action of surface effects.
- Weak cleaning products.
- The handling of hot products at a temperature T < 50º C.
b. Gloves offering protection against mechanical hazards:these belong to category II and are for protecting the user against hazards such as cuts, pricks, blows, etc. These gloves provide protection against important hazards, and so have to pass specific strength tests with respect to:
- Abrasion.
- Cutting by a blade.
- Tearing.
- Perforation.
c. Gloves offering protection against chemical products:these belong to category III and must fulfil certain requirements with respect to:
- Perforation.
- Permeability.
- Wear.
- Mechanical properties.
d. Gloves offering protection against thermal hazardsto be used in temperature ranges of 50º C < T < 100º C: these belong to category II and protect against heat or flames, which may be present in the following forms:
- Fire.
- Contact heat.
- Radiant heat.
- Spattering of molten metal.
e. Gloves made of insulating material for working with electricity:these belong to category III and protect against the hazards of electrical Contacts, being classified as follows:
| Class | Test voltage V (effective voltage) | Maximum usable voltage (V) |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | 2.500 | 500 |
| 0 | 5.000 | 1.000 |
| 1 | 10.000 | 7.500 |
| 2 | 20.000 | 17.000 |
| 3 | 30.000 | 26.500 |
| 4 | 40.000 | 36.000 |
