Work carried out in many industrial settings invariably presents some degree of inherent risk. Every day, workers expose themselves to all types of hand injuries including cuts, abrasions, chemical contact, and even strains. Less apparent however, is that workers may also be susceptible to arm injuries and require a dedicated arm protection (or sleeve) solution.

A thorough risk management process that encourages worker input at the assessment stage will help identify if there is an existing requirement, as will incorporating a process for ‘near miss’ reporting and analysis. Once hazards (including applicable machinery or tools, work practices, the nature of the task, exposures and other external conditions) are identified, the risk of harm associated with those hazards should be analysed.

A superior sleeve will provide a certain level of defence against injuries and is most likely engineered to perform in combination with suitable gloves. Safety sleeves are covered by the EN388 – Mechanical hand protection standard and will bear a marking that indicates performance level ratings. Choose the option that aligns best with the risk, bearing in mind this may not be a direct match with the selected glove, particularly if risk of injury to the arms is less pronounced.