A bit of grease never hurt anyone? Hardly, because engineering oil and mechanical grease have been known to cause various health complications such as contact dermatitis and more serious illnesses such as a variety of cancers.
According to the National Library of Medicine, oil is a combination of many substances, including powerful neurotoxins which can cause a range of symptoms including nausea, headache, euphoria and dizziness.
These symptoms are signs that the nervous system of those exposed to oil is being damaged.
Safety wear specialist Ansell says durable gloves are paramount to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of workers who deal with grease on a frequent basis such as servicing and maintenance technicians, but some are viewing them as an obstruction to completing the tasks at hand
“Even on sites where it’s mandatory for gloves to be worn, many workers take them off, thinking that this will improve their dexterity and speed,” Ansell marketing manager David Nicholls says.
“However, in doing so, they are unaware that oil, dust and small, sharp pieces of debris can be a nasty combination added to the surfaces that comes into contact with exposed skin.”
A lack of grip is also another issue when it comes to working with oily surfaces or machinery.
“Getting a firm hold on a slippery surface can be quite a challenge but when other materials are added that can dig into hands and make one’s grip less sure, it can protract the time taken to complete a job,” Nicholls adds.
“Oil is used heavily in the majority of mining sites and associated maintenance areas and wearing gloves is the best way to keep one’s hands away from this potential skin contamination.”
Ansell offers a range of safety gloves such as the Alphatec 58-430 and 58-435 to address the need for protection against chemicals found in oils, as well as the common problem of wet and oily grip.
Find out more information or request samples from Ansell on Ansell’s website.