Using Work Safety Gear in a Retail Environment

Cold and flu season. Disease outbreaks. Large crowds. All of these can threaten the health of your employees in the best of times. The risks in retail are higher than many other industries, for most jobs involve working with customers and other employees.

It is necessary to ask your clerks to allow plenty of space between others and wash their hands frequently as these do a great deal to reduce risk. However, you can do more to prevent disease from spreading. Adding work safety gear reduces the risk of exposure.

Protected by Masks & Gloves

The type of safety gear we’re talking about here is personal protection equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves. Masks help in two ways. One, they assist in preventing you from spreading viruses and germs to others by breathing, coughing, and sneezing. And, two, those who wear masks have a barrier that protects them.

We recommend you ask your employees to put on gloves, too. This is especially important when they are sanitizing the workplace or handling goods that others have touched or will touch within a day or two. These two pieces of safety gear for work, let your employees know you are concerned about their health and well-being. And your customers will feel safer, too.

How Work Safety Gloves Protect Your Employees

We all use our hands for work. When the job poses hazards to your hands, you wear work safety gloves for protection. Depending on the danger of exposure, different types of gloves safeguard your fingers, skin, and bones. For instance, to protect against:

• Biohazards & Chemicals – Use gloves that form a barrier between your hand and the virus or chemical. These may consist of materials from Latex to PVC and neoprene to treated cowhide.
• Heat & Arcs – When faced with high heat, safety gloves made of Kevlar protect you from burns. When work involves arc flash, a combination of Kevlar and string-knit offer flexibility and protection.
• Extreme Temperatures – Your hands must be protected from cold temperatures. Natural materials such as cow grain and buffalo hide work well. And synthetic fabrics, such as Thinsulate and PVC, keep out the cold.
• Vibrations – Yes, vibrations can be harmful, especially when they are constant. Look for safety gloves for work that are specially made to protect the nerves, blood vessels, and joints.
• Cuts & Scrapes – The type of gloves that are best for you depends on what your job entails. Kevlar guards against cuts, while leather protects against scrapes.
• Blows – Work gloves are a necessity for those whose jobs involve the threat of being struck or crushed by equipment. The safety feature here is to make a glove with material that absorbs the blow.