For miners, their hands are their most critical tool. The world of mining is demanding and perilous, as they are constantly exposed to extreme hazards. The risks are immense, ranging from abrasive materials and heavy machinery to explosions, falling debris, and sharp rocks.
This is where mining gloves come in handy. Like a miner’s safety and well-being, these mitts are a non-negotiable component of personalized protective equipment (PPE). They aren’t your average protective hand gear. They are specialized protection tools for miners, engineered to provide top-notch and rugged protection for some of the heaviest tasks on the planet.
A miner’s protective hand mitts are the first line of defense against abrasions, cuts, impact injuries, and vibrations.
This post will explore the features of such hand gear and what makes them indispensable. Similarly, we will also understand their crucial role in a miner’s safety. Such gear provides them with a strong barrier that becomes the difference between a minor cut and a life-threatening injury.
Why do miners wear mining gloves?
Miners wear them for protection against abrasions, cuts, and hazardous materials present in mines and mining environments. Their hands are indeed exposed to many risks, especially from chemical exposure, extreme temperatures, sharp objects, and rough surfaces. Let us explore the role of hand mitts in this regard in brief detail:
Protection against Abrasions and Cuts
Mines are full of sharp rocks, jagged surfaces, and tricky terrain. Protective hand gear made from HPPE, Kevlar, or leather helps prevent serious injuries. Kevlar has excellent cut resistance. High-performance polyethylene (HPPE) fibers are lightweight yet robust. They provide top-notch protection against abrasions.
Resistance against Impact
Using heavy tools in mines can make debris fall. They are a serious risk to a miner’s health. Most impact-resistant mitts are designed with TPR (thermoplastic rubber) padding. Evidently, this helps them absorb shocks and prevent injuries (especially bruises and fractures).
Mining experts recommend hand protectors with reinforced knuckles and padded palms. They help reduce the risk of injuries in high-impact work.
Protection against chemical hazards
Some mining operations have chemical hazards. Nitrile or rubber gloves for mining help provide a substantial barrier against harmful and corrosive chemicals, especially fuel, chemical solvents, and mining residues. The former offers a notably higher degree of chemical resistance and durability.
Dexterity and Grip
A miner’s ability to have a good grip on mining tools and machines is essential. Protective hand gear with latex or PU coatings helps amplify grip whilst maintaining dexterity. Textured palms ensure that the tools do not slip. This helps prevent mining accidents.
What PPE Is Required in a Mine?
What to wear when you’re working in a mine? Miners should obviously use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when working in a mine. This usually includes a hard hat, boots with steel toes, safety goggles, clothing with high visibility, and specialized mining mitts. Let us now take a look at the complete list of PPE required by miners.
| Category | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Protective gear for the head | Hard hats and helmets protect against falling debris and mining equipment Torches on helmets provide visibility in the darkness. They are a critical safety tool |
| Protection for eyes and face | Safety glasses and goggles shield the eyes from dust, debris, and particles Face shields cover the face to provide comprehensive protection |
| Ear protection | Earmuffs help protect against the loud noise of machinery, the sounds of blasts, debris, and dust |
| Respiratory protection | Masks and respirators can filter out harmful dust, fumes, gases, and vapors in mines |
| Body protection | High-visibility clothing made of fluorescent materials with reflective strips ensures miners are visible to machinery and vehicle operators |
| Gloves | Specialized mining gloves protect miners’ hands from sharp objects and other occupational hazards |
| Flame-retardant clothing | Fire-resistant clothing protects against fire hazards |
| Foot protection | Protective footwear like steel-toe boots with puncture-resistant soles can protect miners’ feet from punctures, debris, and heavy objects |
| Fall protection systems | Personal fall arrest systems comprise harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points |
What makes a top-class pair of mining gloves?
Not all mining mitts are the same. Meaning each pair is made of varying craftsmanship, materials, and the nature of the work. The best protective hand gear is that which can combine comfort, durability, movement, and protection in all kinds of conditions.
Superior quality hand gear for miners is built to endure extreme conditions. For the same reason, they also offer protection against the following:
- Cuts
- Lacerations
- Impact of debris and explosions
- Chemical exposure
Let us now explore the features that make a good pair of mitts that miners can use with ease:
They provide multi-layer protection
The most effective mining mitts provide multiple layers of protection for adequate safety. Leather offers resistance to abrasions. Whereas protective hand gear made from HPPE fibers or Kevlar protects against cuts. Moreover, they also contain TPR padding for absorbing the impact of debris and tools.
Enhanced dexterity and grip are a necessity
Mining gloves must have a secure grip. It evidently helps miners to use machinery and tools with ease during the mining process.
Besides, miners’ mitts that have either silicone coatings, textured palms, or both help improve both grip and dexterity. This makes it easy to manage mining equipment and tools safely.
Breathability and comfort matter
Miners work strenuous shifts. They wear their mitts for an extended time. This is the reason such hand gear should be breathable and comfortable. It ensures wearing them for an extended time isn’t a problem.
These hand protectors should have moisture-absorbing liners and be made of breathable materials. They help keep hands dry and reduce fatigue over long shifts of work.
Mining gloves should be flexible and fit correctly
Top-notch mining mitts strike a balance between flexibility and protection. An ergonomic design helps ensure a snug fit without restricting movement. What’s more? It not only reduces hand strain but also improves overall work efficiency.
These mitts should have specialized features at all costs
Miners require protective hand gear that provides thermal insulation in cold climates. In hot climates and when handling hot materials, hand protectors with heat resistance are necessary. Choosing the correct pair of specialized mitts with the proper features for the job is the main differentiating factor in terms of performance and safety.
Over to You
Mining gloves should help miners do their mining job easily. Instead of gloves mining, they should be able to mine for metals and minerals with precision. Unfortunately, their job comes with occupational hazards caused by exposure to chemicals from mineral ores, falling debris, equipment-related accidents, explosions, and the like.
Miners often get their hands injured. Equipment can slip out of their hands, a hammer can accidentally strike them, debris can fall, and chemical exposure can occur. Moreover, it results in life-threatening injuries and long-term disabilities. Specialized hand gear for mining can help prevent these injuries. They can even help them conduct their work with ease and precision.
