A thin surgical type latex or nitrile glove could help but would probably rip constantly just from the burrs themselves. If ppe is definately required try using a glove that fits as close as possible to minimise the risk of it being caught and dragged in. Is the guarding sufficient for the operation? Surely there shouldnt be any chance of it being drawn into the drill if the procedure is to handle the tube only when the drill has stopped?

Interlock the guard? Microswitch?

Andy, you have struck at the heart of the matter... under normal circumstances, the glove is suitable and sufficient, as is the guarding. It's one of those jobs where humans interfere and in this instance the process has not been correctly followed. I am looking into whether there is a more appropriate glove on the market which will protect the operative if for some reason the process is not followed. If there is something out there that means that if the operative will not be injured if something goes wrong. I'm looking for is something that is cut protection 3 but am not sure if there is a glove which will cover both sides of the dilemma, hence my question.

A chain glove may help, leather or cloth glovesv will be at risk of being entangled with the drill. Normal gloves are not adequate, having seen the results of an operator who used gloves after lifting the guard to operate the drill. Its not pretty.

Thank you for your assistance thus far. RayRapp, there is absolutely NO temptation to condone what is essentially unsafe working! Sadly an individual has decided to put his hand near a drill while it was in operation. This is contrary to the safe working practice currently in place. The incident is now a clearly foreseeable cause of injury through human error (failure to follow the SWP). What I am trying to establish is, is there a glove or similar which will protect against sharp edges, but which will have the flexibility to tear in contact with a drill. The drill is guarded, the SWP states drill MUST be turned off while the material is being moved into position - short of getting robots to do the job I am running short of ideas on how to minimise the risk of injury due to human error. The work piece is nearly 7 metres long hence the requirement to stop and start the drill between holes. Maybe I am approaching this from the wrong angle??!! Your thoughts are welcome CRN

Hi CRN If the drill was guarded then forgive my naivety, but how did the operative come into contact with the moving drill bit or chuck? As surely a correctly positioned and operating telescopic chuck guard would have stopped this happening? If it was the swarf that grabbed hold of his gloved hand, then that is a different matter: drilling in stages (i.e. applying and relieving pressure on the drill handle and therefore drill bit) makes it possible to avoid really long swarf; which of course can be problematic on pillar drills. As for your enquiry about gloves then I know of no gloves that would offer suitable cut resistance yet easily tear off of hand if they became entangled in rotating machinery. I would not like to stake my pinkies on anyone’s claim of a glove of that type either. Think you have to look at training/competence of the operatives along side ensuring that any SSOW are followed, eliminating the risk of human error in this instance totally would undoubtedly require some form of enclosing/automation of this process. HTH smitch