The question of whether personal protective equipment (PPE) such as anti-vibration gloves are beneficial in the management of HAVS has been investigated. Anti-vibration gloves are typically made from resilient gel, foam or rubber-like materials, or an array of air bladders.

There are many influencing factors that determine how the vibration of a tool is transmitted to the user. This includes:

• The vibration spectrum (in Hz) of the power tool
• The main direction of the vibration
• The transmissibility of the glove in that direction
• The physical characteristics of the wearer
• The posture and amount of force applied by the wearer to the vibrating surface/tool

The complex interaction between these many factors makes accurately predicting and measuring the individual performance of anti-vibration gloves very difficult.

This makes anti-vibration gloves unreliable as a form of PPE against vibration exposure.

Employers should not assume that anti-vibration gloves reduce vibration exposures unless specific data are available for the combination of glove and tool used.

Ultimately, anti-vibration gloves alone should not be relied on to provide suitable and consistent protection to the wearer. Individuals should consider all other available means of vibration control before using anti-vibration gloves for protection.

Management of exposure to HAVS in the workplace typically includes eliminating the need for the exposure, using modern, low-vibration machinery and minimising exposure times.

If you need further advice about your hands, contact us at Peninsula Hand Therapy. Or, to find a Hand Therapist near you search the Australian Hand Therapy association website.

This blog has been written by Brooke Taylor & Ross Bruce.

Reference:

Hewitt, S., Dong, R., McDowell, T., & Welcome, D. (2016). The Efficacy of Anti-vibration Gloves. Acoustics Australia, 44(1), 121-127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40857-015-0040-5