How to measure your hand for Safety Gloves
The number one tool you use at work is your hands, they do a lot through-out the day and a job would get a lot harder - even impossible without them. Your number one tool is complex and not easy to fix. If a severe hand injury occurs, you may have to deal with effects like loss of motion, dexterity, and grip for the rest of your life.
Safety gloves is a very important part of your PPE. Many of the above injuries can be prevented by wearing the right safety gloves.
Hand injuries are some of the most common workplace injuries. Finger and hand protection is paramount to preventing injuries on the job, from cuts, abrasions and impact to chemical exposure and electrical shock - making safety gloves not optional, but essential PPE.
Safety glove technology has advanced to include features like being cut-resistant, heat-resistant, anti-impact, anti-vibration, and many others.
There is one cause of hand injuries that stands out above all the others, noncompliance. In most cases hand injuries occur because workers choose not to wear gloves. Workers will not wear gloves if they don’t have the appropriate type of gloves, if their gloves do not fit well or if they don’t allow for a full range of motion.
A well-fitting glove should be snug, but still allow a full range of hand motion. When worn over the length of a full workday, an ill-fitting glove can cause hand cramps and blisters, increasing the chances that an employee will simply remove the gloves.
A proper fit can also improve safety as approximately 30% of hand injuries caused by gloves result from improperly fitted gloves. Gloves that are too small can be uncomfortable, cause hand fatigue and compromise dexterity. If the hand protection is too large, it may literally get pulled off.
Gloves will only fit well and feel comfortable if you have the right size. When determining glove size you want to find a specific inch number. Follow the below steps to measure your glove size accurately and to find your glove sizing inch number:
First, measure around. Wrap a fabric tape measure around the widest part of your dominant hand as it is your largest hand. At its widest point, the tape measure should wrap around your hand and over your palm. Record the size of your hand in inches.
Next, measure lengthwise. Place the tape measure at the tip of your middle finger while spreading your fingers. When the tape measure reaches the base of your hand, hold it taut at the point where your wrist begins. Record the length of your hand in inches.
Choose the larger number of the two and round up. As an example the circumference of your hand may be 6½ inches while the length of your hand may measure 7¼ inches. Take the 7¼ inch and round up to 8, which means your glove size is a 8. Always order the next larger size to avoid hand fatigue.
Many manufacturers size gloves by from extra-small to extra-large instead of numbers. In this case you’ll need to convert your measurement using a glove size chart.
XS -- 6.5 - 7.5 Inches
S -- 7.5 - 8.5 Inches
M -- 8.5 - 9.5 Inches
L -- 9.5 - 10.5 Inches
XXL -- 11.5 -12.5 Inches
Construction gloves need to be used properly, just like any other safety equipment. Investing in safety gloves will reduce expenses, time off work, and productivity losses, so don’t skimp on gloves – your employees need their hands.
We offer a wide selection of Dromex gloves for every industry and need. Please feel free to contact us if your company's employees need work gloves.