Time and again I keep coming across the argument for/against the use of robust nitrile disposable gloves  providing a barrier to cutting fluids when operating rotating machinery such as a mill.

I would like to understand others opinions please and their interpretation.

Thanks

Firstly, gloves should only be worn when all other means of managing exposure have been investigated and where practicable implemented. Secondly, all occlusive gloves present a hazard to the skin, regardless of the material they are manufactured from. The occlusion, particularly with relatively tight fitting single-use gloves, results in changes in the skin that can have an adverse effect on the skin’s own barrier properties. This is particularly the case where gloves are worn for long periods. The result can be that there is an increased potential for both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. We need to balance the hazard against which the gloves are being worn with the hazard that the wearing of the gloves presents.

The evidence about the wearing of the thin, single-use nitrile gloves with rotating machinery is certainly inconclusive and I would myself not recommend it. I would concentrate instead of finding ways of working that minimises the exposure and optimises the skin care aspects of the task.

If you need more PM me.

Depending on the machine I would never advise wearing any sort of gloves. They significantly increase the risks of getting entangled and drawn into the machine, taking the operators hand with them! With a rotating mill this can be extremely dangerous, of course very dependant on the guarding and operation of said machine.

Originally Posted by: Mels

Deburr and Clamp securely the work, remove the gloves and operate the equipment, thus reducing the need to handle

That seems eminently sensible to me. What is in their consideration that is giving them a reason to not want to remove the gloves?