At times, employees risk injury by not wearing gloves that guard against hazardous chemicals, high heat, or sharp materials because they prove to be cumbersome and limit handling.

Glove manufacturers working to improve wearer dexterity can benefit from ASTM F 2010, Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Glove Effects on Wearer Hand Dexterity Using a Modified Pegboard Test.

“In my opinion, the greatest benefit of the new test method is to provide a standardized procedure for measuring the effects of gloves on hand dexterity,” stated Jeffrey Stull, a personal protective equipment specialist who is president of International Personnel Protection, Inc., Austin, Texas, and chair of an ASTM task group that developed the test.

“In many protective clothing applications,” he said, “the gloves are often relatively heavy and bulky, having a significant effect on wearer hand function. In some cases, end users decline from wearing protective gloves because the glove limits their dexterity and hand function. With the new test method, manufacturers will be able to consistently determine how much their glove designs and materials affect hand function and provide a quantitative comparison of current and potential products.”

Seven manufacturers and end users on a Human Factors Subcommittee in ASTM Committee F23 on Protective Clothing formulated the test.

“The standard is expected to have an impact on bulky gloves used in high heat applications such as firefighting and foundry operations, for physical protection in handling sheet metal and other applications, for needle/puncture resistant gloves used in surgery, and for heavy gloves used in protecting individuals from hazardous chemicals,” Stull continued.

“Glove manufacturers are expected to be the largest users of F 2010. The new test will likely be specified in several standards that are being written by the National Fire Protection Association for performance of gloves for specific applications including firefighting, hazardous chemical response, and emergency medical operations. F 2010 may also be specified by purchasers as the industry becomes more familiar with the test method.”

Technical questions may be directed to Jeff Stull, International Personnel Protection, Inc., Austin, Texas (phone: 512/288-8272). Committee F23 meets Jan. 24-26 in Reno, Nev., and June 27-29 in Norfolk, Va. For meeting or membership details, contact Staff Manager Steve Mawn, ASTM (phone: 610/832-9726). //

Copyright 2001, ASTM