Oil and gas are important pillar of the global economy and involves complex and hazardous operating environments. As a result, it is also one of the most hazardous industries. Whether it is upstream exploration and production, midstream transport and storage or downstream processing and marketing, each part of the industry faces many potential risks.
Some studies have shown that workers in the oil and gas industry are far more likely to be injured on the job than in other industries. Hand injuries are the most common occupational injury in this industry. The three most common contributors to hand injuries in the oil and gas industry are mechanical injuries, heat injuries, and exposure to chemicals.
• Mechanical Injuries
In oil and gas exploration and extraction, workers are often required to use tools and equipment such as drilling rigs, chains and other heavy tools and equipment. Using these equipment can expose the workers to the risk of cuts to the hands, getting caught in the equipment, or being struck by falling equipment if not handled properly.
• Heat Injuries
High temperatures are a common challenge in many operating environments in the oil and gas industry.Workers may come into contact with hot liquids or hot surfaces. And direct hand contact by the wokers can lead to skin burns or scalds.
• chemical exposure
In the process of extracting oil and gas, it is inevitable to come into contact with many chemicals and harmful substances. Chemical substances are common causative factors of occupational contact skin diseases among workers in the oil and gas industry. Operators who come into direct contact with these chemicals or hazardous substances without wearing adequate PPE will not only cause serious damage to human skin, but in serious cases may also cause cancer and endanger life.
Compared to other possible injuries from oil and gas, hand injuries can be avoided. Wearing the proper hand protective equipment can prevent most potential injuries. Most hand injury accidents are also related to not wearing or wearing the wrong hand protective equipment. So what kind of gloves are suitable for wearing in the oil and gas industry?
1.Impact Resistance
In the oil and gas industry, workers may be subjected to mechanical shocks, vibrations and other forms of impact. For example, when exploring for oil, it is often necessary to explore through drilling. This process requires the use of heavy-duty drilling tools to complete the process by means of impact, rotation or spinning. The impact resistance of gloves reduces the force of mechanical impacts and relieves the discomfort of constant vibration on the workers' hands. Furthermore,theses gloves enable workers to better grasp the tools and equipment in the impact environment, which helps to improve the accuracy and safety of the work and reduce the occurrence of accidents.
2.Cut resistance
The cut resistance of gloves is particularly important in the oil and gas industry. Gloves with cut resistant function can provide a physical barrier between the hand and sharp objects, preventing objects from causing direct injury to the hand. In addition to cuts caused by improper use of the tools involved, other aspects of oil extraction also pose a risk of puncture and cuts. For example, oil extraction also needs to deal with various aspects of the waste, sludge, rock chips, etc. And there is no lack of sharp objects in these wastes, which may endanger the safety of the workers. Cut-resistant gloves are usually made of high-strength, abrasion-resistant materials and special cut-protection layers that are effective in staying below cuts from blades and sharp objects. This helps to reduce accidents and workplace injuries in the oil and gas industry and protects the health and safety of workers' hands.
3. Oil resistance
Workers' hands in contact with slippery oil or using oily tools can make it more difficult to grasp the tools, which increases the risk of smashing tools and cutting their hands. Therefore, oil resistance must be considered for gloves in the oil and gas industry. Gloves that are oil-resistant enable workers to have a firm grip on tools while performing tool handling. At the same time, the absence of oil on the hands will allow workers to be more flexible in finishing their tasks, which in turn will help to improve work efficiency to some extent.
4. Chemical resistance
Chemical exposure is one of the most common risks in the oil and gas industry. In addition to the obvious chemicals such as crude oil,acids and alkalis used in processing, there are also other chemicals that are used throughout extraction process. These chemicals are varied, toxic, used in large quantities and are often exposed to the working environment of workers. Chemical-resistant gloves can effectively reduce the risk of chemical contact for professionals and provide them with safety. Common materials for chemical resistant gloves include polyvinyl chloride as well as polyethylene. These gloves are not only resistant to chemicals, but also have good flexibility and abrasion resistance, ensuring that workers' hands are protected in all aspects.
5. High temperature resistant
Heat-resistant gloves are suitable for most operating environments in the oil and gas industry. These gloves prevent heat transfer to the skin, reducing the risk of burns and scalds. They are usually made from special heat resistant materials such as heat resistant fibres, silicone and metallic fibres. These gloves provide effective thermal protection in high-temperature environments, ensuring the safety of professionals' hands.
6. Wearing experience
Most operations in the oil industry require gloves. When working underground, gloves are often worn for long periods of time to complete relevant tasks. Moreover, oil and gas extraction and processing are prone to various accidents. Therefore, gloves suitable for the oil and gas industry should also be comfortable and have excellent tactile sensitivity. By wearing these gloves, workers are able to handle tasks and emergencies with greater ease and dexterity.
Kingfa Nitrile Chemical Resistant work gloves are abrasion, oil and organic solvent resistant. These gloves are also known for their good resistance to penetration as well as anti-slip properties. In addition, they are soft and comfortable for long working hours. Therefore, they are also one of the most suitable gloves for oil and gas scenarios.
The use of gloves in the oil and gas industry is critical. Wearing the right gloves for professionals not only improves efficiency and safety, but also meets regulatory requirements and social responsibility. As a manufacturer of PPE, Kingfa Medical will continue to improve the performance of gloves in the future, so that people in the oil and gas industry can work more safely.
