Fitting Like a Glove

That's the tagline to a series of TV commercials that ran in the 1980s for a popular line of cold-weather leather gloves. The spots encouraged the audience to purchase the gloves as gifts for friends and family members, which made that tagline all the more catchy and memorable.

It's also an appropriate mantra for facility managers like you who are tasked with choosing and purchasing disposable gloves for your facility. In a very real way, choosing the right disposable gloves is how YOU can take care of the hands that take care of your facilities.

But the wrong gloves can lead to significant consequences, including accidents and compliance issues.

Today, we'll guide you through the importance of disposable-glove selection, the risks of choosing incorrectly, and the best practices to ensure your facility remains safe and compliant.

Let's get started.

Why Choosing the Right Gloves for Your Facility is So Important

How many times have you thought, "Does my facilities staff have the right disposable gloves for all the jobs that require them?"

Whatever your answer is, the number should probably be higher than that.

Here's why: because disposable gloves are essential safety gear. They're not nice-to-have items; they're must-have personal protective equipment (PPE) that safeguard your staff from hazards, improve employee productivity, and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Or at least, they're supposed to — when you choose the right gloves for the job.

Choosing the wrong gloves for the job can lead to dire consequences for your team and your bottom line. Let's look at two of the big ones:

1. The Health and Safety Risks

   Selecting the wrong gloves can put your employees at risk for a laundry list of injuries.

   Let's look at an example: a glove that fits perfectly and provides the correct gripping capabilities can significantly enhance an employee's ability to securely utilize a tool.

   Conversely, an employee who struggles with a glove that is either poorly fitted or lacks the necessary gripping qualities might end up losing control of that tool. This could result in a range of unfortunate incidents like dropping the tool on their foot or damaging the item they were working on.

2. The Compliance Issues

   Gloves that don't meet all regulatory and performance standards put your facility at risk for non-compliance and affect productivity.

   While regulatory bodies like OSHA do not have specific guidelines on disposable gloves, they do for PPE. Failing to comply with these standards can result in hefty fines and legal action.

   From OSHA Standard: 29 CFR 1910.132:

   Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

   With few exceptions, OSHA requires employers to pay for personal protective equipment (PPE) when it is used to comply with OSHA standards. This PPE typically includes:

   • Hard hats
   • Gloves
   • Goggles
   • Safety shoes
   • Safety glasses
   • Welding helmets and goggles

   • Face shields
   • Chemical protective equipment
   • Fall protection equipment
   • Masks
   From OSHA SEC.17:

   Penalties

   Any employer who willfully or repeatedly violates the requirements of section 5 of this Act, any standard, rule, or order promulgated pursuant to section 6 of this Act, or regulations prescribed pursuant to this Act, may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $70,000 for each violation, but not less than $5,000 for each willful violation.