I was recently reading the August edition of SHP, on page 13 there is a story regarding an injury obtained whilst using a lathe. It states in the story, “New guidance was introduced nearly 6 years ago on not wearing gloves whilst using metal-working machines” Can anybody point me in the direction of such guidance please as a general web search as pulled a blank. Thanks Craig

Single use nitrile gloves (0.1mm thick) will offer reasonable protection against many metalworking fluids. The experience shows that they will usually tear rather than draw the hands into the machinery. However, all occlusive gloves are equivalent to wet work and can, in themselves, cause irritant contact dermatitis. But then most metalworking fluids will contain some form of biocide (= sensitiser) and are irritant to the skin. So it is a balancing act to decide whether gloves will be beneficial or not. And, of course, the requirement is that gloves are a last resort and should only be used if no other (technical) means of limiting exposure to an acceptable level is possible (which it often is). Without knowing more about the specific task and chemicals involved one can only generalise. Selection and use of gloves is actually more complex than many realise. (See Protective Gloves for Occupational Use, second edition, ISBN 0-8493-1558-1 is you need chapter and verse on this.) Chris