Engineering Gloves

Engineering covers a spectrum of many different working applications. It’s defined as ‘the branch of science and technology concerned with the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures’. Engineers are required to solve problems within their field by innovating, developing, and improving technologies to advance our way of living.

Engineering can be broken down into lots of different sub-categories, each carrying different risks. Today, we are focusing on protection for the 6 main branches:

• Mechanical engineering
• Chemical engineering
• Civil engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Management engineering
• Geotechnical engineering

Mechanical engineering:

Combining engineering physics and mathematics principles with science, to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems. This branch of engineering involves design, production and operation of machinery.

Associated Risks:

Mechanical engineering can be labour intensive and includes working with heavy machinery, power tools, and volatile materials. This creates a number of potential hazards which all require protecting against with various types of PPE (depending on the application).

Suitable hand protection could include:

Chemical engineering:

Is the combination of natural and experimental sciences like chemistry and physics, along with life sciences, such as biology and biochemistry. Chemical Engineers use mathematics to develop, transform and manage industrial processes that turn raw materials into valuable products.

Associated Risks:

As the name quite accurately suggests, chemical engineering can involve working with lots of different chemicals and can include working with carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic substances. As such, the main risks in this sub-sector would surround the chemicals themselves and any potential risk they offer.

Civil engineering:

Civil engineering is everything you see that’s been built around you and has a direct impact on day-to-day life. This incorporates bridges, roads and railways; schools and offices; water and power supply; waste networks and flood defences; and so much more.

Associated Risks:

Civil engineering comprises of organising and taking part in the building of small and large structures. Where hand protection is concerned, the main risks would surround construction and destruction.

Electrical engineering:

Electrical engineering relates to the study, design and evolution of equipment, devices and systems which use electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. These include anything from electrical systems, to computers or kitchen appliances.

Associated Risks:

The main risks would involve shocks and/or burns, or possibly fire related hazards. Gloves with great dexterity and tactility are better suited in these applications.

Management engineering:

Utilising industrial and engineering knowledge to provide internal consulting services for all departments to develop, implement and monitor more efficient and cost-effective business processes and strategies.

Associated Risks:

Management engineering carries fewer physical risks, due to the consultative approach, but whenever on site it is important to wear adequate PPE.

Geotechnical engineering:

Geotechnical engineering, also known as geotechnics, is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behaviour of earth materials. It uses the principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics for the solution of its respective engineering problems to design foundations, structures and retaining walls in areas such as earth-filled dams, or earthwork like tunnels, reservoirs, embankments and channels.

Associated Risks:

When working around ground work and earth materials, the wearer needs to protect their hands, but be careful not to contaminate substances required for testing.

If you would lik