The History of Hand Protection | Delta Health and Safety
The Evolution of Safety Gloves
Today’s range of hand protection is so vast and advanced because of a long history we easily forget. For example, safety gloves used to either be leather or metal. Although the design and purposes were varied.
Over time, technological advancements lead to the vast options we have today. In this article, we remember the history of hand protection and take you through the improvements made over the decades.
Early Records of Hand Protection
The use of hand protection is recorded periodically throughout history.
As far back as the eighth century B.C, Homer’s Odyssey mentions hand protection. It refers to Laertes using gloves to protect his hands when working in the garden. The Greek historian Xenophon also writes of the Persians using gloves to protect them from the cold.
In addition, there are many records of medieval knights using metal and metal mesh gloves in the twelfth century.
Leather Gloves Stand the Test of Time
In the Middle Ages, blacksmiths wore sheepskin gloves to prevent molten metal burns.
Hand protection used by hunters was also made of leather. Soldiers also wore leather gloves, referred to as gauntlets. Leather is such a practical material that it is still used today. Delta Health and Safety supply Chrome Leather Double Palm Gloves that have high abrasion and cut resistance.
In the mid-1500s, William Shakespeare’s father was a glover by trade. He trained as a whittawer, someone who converts skins into white leather. He made gloves from leather which involved a long and labour-intensive process. Fortunately, technology has made the production of leather gloves much easier today.
Hand Protection in Sport
As in many industries, participation in sport can present a need for hand protection. A fresco painting dated 1600-1500 BC from Akrotiri in Greece shows children wearing boxing gloves.
Gloves are not only for protecting your hands from injury; they help increase grip as well. In early Formula One races in the 1950s, driving gloves were essential to improve grip on the wooden steering wheels.
Hand protection is still relevant in sports today. Lightweight cut resistant gloves that allow for good grip and a sense of touch are valuable PPE. uvex’s Unilite glove is a suitable glove to wear when doing mountain bike maintenance.
Hand Protection from 1970 to Today
The 1970s
While gloves appear throughout history, the beginning of hand protection as a requirement for PPE purposes started in 1970. The founding of OSHA in America made hand protection a requirement where employees are exposed to potential hazards.
Up until 1970, leather, cotton and jersey fabrics were the primary materials used, but OSHA prompted a change. The law required that hand protection must be specific to the job at hand.
This led to the creation of cotton gloves dipped in a latex coating for added safety. The dipping process is a concept still used today. The Showa DURACoil 577 is a modern example of the dipping process. On top of engineered fibre reinforced with HPPE, foamed nitrile is placed over a fully dipped nitrile coating. This construction makes the glove powerfully resistant against cuts.
The 1980s
The 1980s saw the introduction of seamless knit gloves. By changing the way a glove is knitted and removing the seam, the person wearing the glove experiences less irritation. The DURACoil546X is an example of this technique of seamless knit gloves that is still in use today.
The dipping of glove shells developed from the 1970s made use of many different polymers. The use of latex, nitrile, neoprene and PVC began in the 1980s. These materials are still vital in glove production today.
The 1990s
The 1990s saw the formation of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). For the first time, worldwide standards were created. This organization develops and publishes worldwide technical, industrial, and commercial standards.
As a result, the demand grew for glove and material options offering greater comfort and protection. This introduced the use of stainless steel, kevlar and other synthetic materials to provide more robust shielding.
These materials are used in many valuable ways, as seen in the thread of the gloves in the G20001 Red Heat Glove. Kevlar thread is one of the strongest available threads; it is also one of the most fire-retardant.
Disposable nitrile gloves were also introduced in the 1990s as an alternative to latex, which has a high allergy occurrence.
The 2000s to Present
More cut-resistant and user-friendly glove options arose in the 2000s bringing us to today’s high-quality protection. The PPE industry has developed state of the art testing to measure hand protection qualities. These methods test for important protective aspects like abrasion, cut resistance and even dexterity.
Hand Protection has undergone profound changes throughout history. From the crude blacksmiths’ gloves of the Middle Ages to today’s varying material compounds engineered for maximum protection.
Technology has brought us a long way, and PPE suppliers are continuing to innovate. Delta Health and Safety offers a range of hand protection from world-renowned suppliers covering various industries.