WRONG GLOVES FOR THE JOB: THIS MAKES ME ANGRY AND SAD

A personal experience happened recently that left me feeling quite concerned. A friend of mine who works in a chemical manufacturing plant was given generic working gloves for his job. As someone who knows a little about gloves, I could tell that the gloves were not designed for the specific chemicals being handled. My question to him was, why??

"The purchasing department have acquired these gloves, and they should know what we need", my friend said. I answered him, "The glove you use is not for chemical protection. It is a general working glove. You need a chemical-resistant glove that can withstand the chemicals you handle according to the CAS number".

I needed to know what was behind the purchasing department's decision and asked him to check. After some time and investigating, we could read between the lines that the purchasing department didn't really know what they were doing. Instead, they chose to buy safety gloves based on price.?

It's hard to express how upsetting this was for me. This friend is someone I care about, and to think that they were being put at risk for the sake of saving a few kronor is difficult to comprehend. The idea that a company would be willing to put their employees' health and safety on the line this way is simply unacceptable.?

Even though no accidents have occurred because of this decision (yet), it's clear that the risk of getting hurt is real. Handling aggressive chemicals is dangerous, and the importance of using the correct equipment cannot be overstated. By using the wrong gloves, my friend could have had severe consequences for his health and well-being, exposing himself to harmful chemicals.

It's a reminder of how important it is to prioritize the safety and well-being of employees rather than prioritizing cost savings. I feel that I am responsible for speaking up when we see potentially dangerous decisions being made, ensuring that those in charge understand the importance of putting safety first.

If you are interested to know more, here is an article about the different types of certified chemical-resistant gloves against different chemicals.?Follow this link for more info

I hope that by sharing this experience, others will be reminded of the importance of speaking up when it comes to workplace safety. Just because a glove looks good and "safe" doesn't mean it is safe for use with chemicals. It must always be a certified chemical-resistant glove properly tested for protection against the right chemicals. We all deserve to work in an environment that prioritizes our health and well-being above all else.?