Question to all:

Using a radial arm drill, gloves or no gloves?

I work for a structural engineering company and their process is fabrication and welding of steel beams and columns.

We are going through the process of reviewing our risk assessments and systems of work.

The mandatory requirement in the shop is PPE to be worn at all times. The gloves that we wear are close fitting.

I understand that when operating this kind of machinery the risks involved of entanglement.

My route would be that when the machine has stopped, the operator would be required to wear the gloves to clean away the swarf etc.

What are your suggestions to this?

You don't state what kind of gloves are being worn.

In any event I would be concerned about a policy that PPE is to be worn at all times. All PPE must be considered as a last resort after other methods of controlling exposure have been identified and, where practicable, implemented.

If the gloves are to protect against chemical hazards, then the selection of the correct gloves for the particular chemical is essential and this can vary, depending upon many factors. Wearing the inappropriate glove, or wearing the glove beyond its permeation breakthrough time, can increase the potential for damage to health to occur. So a blanket policy of glove wearing may actually be counter-productive, and certainly not conducive to compliance with COSHH.

As for cleaning away swarf, this presents both physical and chemical hazards and you would probably have difficulty in finding a glove that can meet both requirements. In any event, there are other, better, methods of clearing away swarf than using a gloved hand.

Chris