Construction Solutions - Anti-Vibration Gloves



Solution: Anti-Vibration Gloves
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	Description:	Anti-vibration gloves are designed to reduce harmful vibration frequencies that are transmitted to the hand while using vibrating tools, equipment, or machinery. Vibration is reduced by placing viscoelastic material or air pockets in the palm and fingers of the gloves. To properly reduce harmful vibration frequencies, the glove must provide full-finger protection. Fingerless gloves still allow contact with the vibration source and should be avoided. Also, anti-vibration gloves should keep the hands and fingers warm when used in cold environments. Make sure to purchase gloves that are compliant with the Hand-Arm Vibration Standard ISO 10819-1996 or ANSI S3.40-2002, such as those pictured below: More Detail The primary health disturbances from vibration exposure include circulatory (vasospasm with white finger syndrome), sensory- motor (numbness, pain and decreased hand coordination) and musculoskeletal disorders of the bone and joints. It is optimal to eliminate all vibration between the source and the hand interface through vibration damped tools, hands free equipment or alternative procedures that eliminate vibration. The vibration signal contains two primary characteristics including a wide range of frequencies and different magnitudes for each frequency. Although there is no safe exposure published that defines a level above which vibration associated diseases cannot occur, there are current guidelines to follow (ISO 5349 part 1 and 2). Daily exposures of vibrations of 8-hours should not exceed 2.5 m/ss for the action limit level and 5.0 m/ss for the exposure level limit. It is thought that exposures tools whose operations include the lower vibration frequencies (centered around a 16Hz frequency) should be minimized. For this reason, most glove manufacturers use inserts or paddings that target vibration frequencies in this range. Manufacturers information should indicate the specific applications and details that apply to each glove. Less Detail
	Risks Addressed:	Hand Vibration
	How Risks are Reduced:	Anti-vibration gloves reduce the frequency and intensity of vibration (average acceleration) transmitted from tools, equipment, or machinery to the hand and fingers. Anti-vibration gloves should not be used to increase the duration of exposure to harmful vibration frequencies or exceed recommended exposure limits. In general, efforts should be directed to use tools, equipment, or machinery with the least vibration for the shortest daily exposure time, rather than relying on anti-vibration gloves. Quality of Evidence Independent published studies have found a risk reduction. Manufacturers, vendors, or worksites have reported a risk reduction. Safety and health experts believe there is a risk reduction. Companies have produced anti-vibration gloves that are specially designed to reduce exposure to harmful vibration frequencies in order to minimize the harmful effects associated with hand-arm vibration. Workers using anti-vibration gloves also experience fewer hand-arm vibration syndrome or carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Health and safety experts believe that any reduction in exposure to hand-arm vibration could be beneficial in preventing new cases of hand-arm vibration syndrome. Direct quantitative measurement of vibration exposures for glove interventions is complex and difficult to interpret. According to the recommended procedures for evaluating vibration transmission (ISO 10819). a single axis accelerometer is placed in an adaptor in the palm of the hand. A second accelerometer is placed on the handle of the tool. Transmission of vibration is calculated as the difference from the tool handle to the adapter for recordings across different spectra of vibration signals. Gloves are considered having anti-vibration properties if the transmissiblity is less than 1.0 for medium frequency vibration signals and <0.6 for high frequency vibration signals. It is difficult to know how these recommended values pertain to tool vibration spectra. If possible, obtain the vibration characteristics of tools. If these values exceed recommended limits, investigate available anti-vibration gloves, selecting gloves that meet the rating described in this selection.
	Effects on Productivity:	There is no evidence to indicate that anti-vibration gloves affect productivity. Quality of Evidence Safety and health experts believe there is an increase in productivity. No articles that address the effects on productivity with use of anti-vibration gloves have been identified. From working with sheetmetal workers who must manipulate small fasteners during assembly operations, the full finger anti-vibration gloves prevent good finger dexterity. For these operations, some workers prefer to use the visco-elastic wrap around the tool handle so their fingers are not covered with a bulky glove. For workers who use continuous operating tools such as jackhammers or chain saws where precision is not needed, the anti-vibration gloves may be donned prior to work and used without complaints from the workers. Workers who are offered several anti-vibration gloves as options for use do not necessarily select the same glove. The preferred glove may depend upon the size of the worker's hand while wearing the anti-vibration glove relative to the tool diameter. Workers with small hands may prefer a less bulky glove if the tool handle is large in diameter. Offering workers several options may allow workers to self-select the best glove for their personal hand size and work technique.
	Return on Investment:	No specific calculation ROI information exists for this particular solution, however, there are some general approaches that might be useful for a “Return On Investment” analysis. For a general discussion of these approaches, visit our “Return on Investment Calculation” page.
	Availability:	A wide variety of anti-vibration gloves are available varying in cost from $10 to $50 depending upon features. Manufacture/supplier sites include: http://www.ergoair-inc.com/products02.html http://www.2protect.com/home.htm http://www.ergo-tech.ca/catalog/Anti-VibrationGloves.cfm http://www.galeton.com/browsecat.asp?CategoryID=70 http://www.antivibrationmethodsrubber.co.uk/html/av_gloves.html
	Additional Considerations:	The use of gloves increases the grip force necessary to complete a task compared to the same task performed without gloves. Thus, while anti-vibration gloves may be effective in reducing exposure to high frequency vibration, they could potentially increase exposure to lower frequency vibration due to increased gripping force. It is important to note that use of gloves to lower vibration may be a trade off to the increase in hand grip force.
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