Safety is in your hands

By Tom Andrews

Oil and gas companies have very high level of exposure to overall occupational risk factors. Many companies in the industry understand that protecting their workers against falls, cuts, harmful chemicals and harsh environmental conditions is essential to productivity and well-being. In the Middle East, major players have understood the need and have introduced intensive training and quality products.

Hands are precious, irreplaceable tools that are used in almost everything we do. As a result, they may also be exposed to a whole range of risks that often require a specific approach in terms of safety. When it comes to protecting hands, the oil and gas industry, sharing many needs with the chemical industry as a whole, has its own specific challenges and requirements. The challenge is thus to select the most appropriate glove for the intended task or situation and to use it in the proper way.

In order to meet particular needs of workers in onshore and offshore, protective gloves should meet two main criteria. First of all, they should offer exceptional protection against workplace hazards, including chemicals. Secondly, they should promote the tactility and dexterity required for workers to properly handle their tools.

The gas and oil industry in the MENA region employs thousands of people every day. Evidently, the need for effective protection is high. Today, many health and safety managers in the Middle East have realised the importance of adequate hand protection and are making great efforts to introduce high-quality gloves offering better protection, more tactility and better comfort.

Leading energy companies such as Chevron have, in collaboration with hand protection specialist Ansell, introduced educational programmes making their workers more aware of the importance of adequate hand protection. One of the tools the company has developed is a handy Pocket Glove Guide, allowing employees to make the right choice of glove depending on the application and the requested mechanical protection (general purpose, abrasion, cut, tear, puncture), chemical protection and extreme weather protection.

A similar reflection was done by Baker Hughes, a technology leader providing the petroleum industry with best-in-class products and services for use in oil and gas wells, pipelines and refineries. After an extensive glove audit, the company decided to switch to more comfortable Ansell gloves to guard employees against the particular hazards they are exposed to such as offshore oil-based mud or grease.

Next to the need for comfort and keeping hands dry, grip is another key challenge for hand protection in the chemical and oil and gas industries. Safety concerns when lifting with a poor grip are frequently cited as a serious safety hazard, as objects might be dropped, resulting in foot injuries or cuts. For workers, exerting less grip force can also positively contribute to preventing the onset of musculoskeletal disorders. Glove manufacturer Ansell Healthcare, for example, is addressing the grip issue through innovation. Its Ansell Grip Technology, a revolutionary new glove coating, enhances grip performance when grasping wet or oily objects.
 
Based on many years' experience in the sector and extensive interviews with industry experts, Ansell has put together a dedicated range of solutions that protect hands from hazards specific to the oil and gas industry. AlphaTec gloves offer advanced chemical protection and are recommended for handling and light and medium assembly applications in environments with potential chemical hazards. The Sol-Vex is a chemical-resistant, reusable nitrile glove. It offers high abrasion resistance and mechanical protection. Ansell's single-use, nitrile Touch N Tuff glove is the best choice to protect against chemical splashes, as proven in several official trials were carried out. No other single-use nitrile glove resists a greater variety of industrial chemicals for a longer period than Ansell's Touch N Tuff.
 
About

Tom Andrews is Technical Sales Manager Middle East at the Occupational Division of Ansell Healthcare EMEA. www.ansell.eu