Hand and Arm Protection

Protective equipment includes gloves, finger guards, and arm coverings or elbow-length gloves. This gear protects hands and arms from many potential hazards in the workplace, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Skin absorption of harmful substances
• Chemical or thermal burns
• Electrical dangers
• Bruises
• Abrasions
• Cuts
• Punctures
• Fractures
• Amputations

OSHA urges employers to implement thorough engineering and work practice controls before requiring hand and arm PPE. In its document "Personal Protective Equipment," OSHA provides the example of "installing a barrier to prevent employees from placing their hands at the point of contact between a table saw blade and the item being cut."

If these methods are not enough to eliminate the risk of injury to employees' hands or arms, then protective gloves become the primary means of protecting their hands; employers must ensure employees wear appropriate protection.

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