Dynamic simulations to test the protective safety gloves: first results of a new methodological approach

Gloves are largely diffused as work tool in many activities. According to the Italian Law in force concerning health and safety at the workplace, the employer must endow of special PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) the workers (element not always effected) after the risk evaluation in which he has identified the characteristics of the ppe, according to the specifications of the work activities. On the market there are many brands of gloves with technical standards (EN 388 for protection against mechanical hazards and physical). However, there are still many accidents in which gloves didn’t have the appropriate technical measures able to protect the worker. This search analyzes, through techniques for the evaluation planned for this study, the effectiveness of the gloves in real working conditions. From a methodological point of view, a protocol has been elaborated in order to test in the real sceneries the efficiency and the effectiveness of these PPE. First results show that the classes of resistance are not very often appraised by the employer and in this way the gloves used in agriculture don't always guarantee good performances in terms of effectiveness. Besides, the protocol defines a new methodic that could directly be gifted in the agricultural firm.