Do anti-vibration gloves prevent HAVS?

No reliable evidence supports that claim. The disease is driven by low and mid-frequency vibration, and gloves attenuate mainly the high frequencies that don't cause it. The HSE's position is that no PPE can be shown to reduce HAV risk, which is why prevention depends on lower-vibration tools, limited trigger time, and health surveillance — not on the gloves themselves.

Are anti-vibration gloves effective for angle grinders?

More than on a breaker, but still only partially. Grinders sit at higher frequencies where gloves perform better, so some reduction is plausible. The catch is that the benefit only materialises when the glove is matched to that specific tool and exposure reduction is actually measured — a generic certified glove proves nothing for your grinder on its own.

Can anti-vibration gloves make vibration worse?

Yes, and this is the edge case competitors skip. In testing, certain gloves — neoprene in particular — increased frequency-weighted vibration by more than 10% (NIOSH, 2017). Separately, gloves cut grip strength by over a third, prompting a harder grip that raises carpal tunnel risk. The wrong glove can add risk rather than remove it.

Do anti-vibration gloves satisfy the regulations?

No. Under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (UK) and EU Directive 2002/44/EC, the duty is to reduce exposure at source against the action and limit values. The HSE advises gloves must not be provided as the means of control unless exposure reduction is demonstrated. This is general guidance, not legal advice — confirm specifics with counsel in your jurisdiction.

What does ISO 10819 certification actually mean?

It means the glove passed a defined laboratory transmissibility test, meeting TRM ≤ 0.90 over roughly 25–200 Hz and TRH ≤ 0.60 over the higher band, with palm padding within 8 mm. It is a minimum benchmark under set spectra — not proof that the glove protects against your particular tool in real working conditions.

Do anti-vibration gloves help with chainsaws?

HSE forestry guidance puts the vibration reduction at best small, and unproven as protection against HAVS. The dependable benefits are warmth and grip, which matter for circulation and control. Treat any vibration reduction as a bonus you cannot count on, and keep the real controls — saw maintenance, sharp chains, and limited trigger time — doing the work.

John Mathew | Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Blog

Anti-Vibration Gloves: Do They Really Work? The Evidence

June 18, 2026June 14, 2026 Author John Mathew

Worker in safety gear using an angle grinder on metal in an industrial workshop, with sparks flying from the grinding operation.

TL;DR Anti-vibration gloves work only partially. They can modestly reduce high-frequency vibration but do little against the low and mid-frequency vibration that actually causes hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Regulators including the UK’s HSE hold that no glove reliably reduces HAV risk, so gloves should supplement — never replace — lower-vibration tools and limited exposure time. … Read more

Concrete vs Plastic Jersey Barriers: Which Is Safer?

June 11, 2026June 8, 2026 Author John Mathew

Two construction workers in orange safety vests install concrete barrier blocks along a highway using a crane, with traffic and barrier barriers visible in the background.

TL;DR For safety, the deciding factor in concrete vs plastic jersey barriers is not the material — it is whether the device is a crash-tested positive barrier or a longitudinal channelizing device. A positive barrier redirects an errant vehicle; a channelizing device only guides traffic and ruptures on impact. Concrete and steel-reinforced units are usually … Read more

10 Tips to Reduce Eye Strain from Computer Screens | HSE Blog

April 25, 2026 Author John Mathew

Woman in business attire working at a desk with multiple monitors displaying code in a modern office environment while colleagues collaborate in the background.

TL;DR Computer eye strain — also called computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain — is a group of symptoms including dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches caused by prolonged screen use. It affects approximately two-thirds of regular computer users globally (Nature Scientific Reports, 2024). The condition is temporary and does not cause permanent eye … Read more

Managing Fatigue in Shift Workers: Best Practices Guide

April 22, 2026April 21, 2026 Author John Mathew

Control room operators in orange safety suits monitor mine incidents on displays, analyzing seismic heatmap data at workstations with multiple screens and technical equipment.

At 3:15 on a winter morning, the underground haul road sits at its quietest and its most dangerous. Low-lux emergency lighting throws cold pools onto the ribs, a 90-tonne truck cycles past the tip at the bottom of the decline, and in the surface control room the only sound is the slow tick of the … Read more

Pressure Vessel Safety: Key Hazards and Controls Explained

April 22, 2026April 19, 2026 Author John Mathew

Two workers in orange safety suits and hard hats inspect a large industrial storage tank at a refinery facility using thermal imaging equipment and a tablet device.

Put your palm on the steel shell of a 30-metre propane sphere at an olefins plant on a coastal industrial strip, and the metal feels ordinary — cool, slightly gritty under paint. Behind that 40 mm of plate sits roughly 2,000 cubic metres of liquefied hydrocarbon at 17 barg, held there by nothing more than … Read more

Thorough Examination of Lifting Equipment: LOLER Guide

April 22, 2026April 18, 2026 Author John Mathew

Two warehouse workers in orange safety vests and hard hats inspect a red forklift on a marked loading area, with one operating the equipment and another monitoring with a digital device.

I inherited a mixed lifting fleet when I moved to the distribution and cold-storage campus I now cover — sixteen counterbalance forklifts, four reach trucks, two goods-only platform lifts between the mezzanine and the chilled dispatch floor, and around 140 accessories ranging from polyester round slings to grade 80 chain sets on the yard-side loading … Read more

Carbon Monoxide Levels: Safe vs. Dangerous CO Concentrations

April 22, 2026April 1, 2026 Author John Mathew

Two workers in hard hats and safety gear inspect industrial equipment in a basement corridor with caution tape, using a handheld measuring device and portable fan.

TL;DR The four-gas detector on the entry attendant’s belt started alarming thirty seconds after the maintenance crew entered the boiler room. Carbon monoxide: 87 ppm and climbing. The crew had been inside for less than a minute. No one felt anything yet — no headache, no dizziness. The gas had been building silently for hours … Read more

Hard Hat Color Codes & Meanings: A Field Safety Guide

February 7, 2026January 28, 2026 Author John Mathew

I once walked onto a chaotic turnaround project at a petrochemical refinery where every worker, regardless of rank or trade, was wearing a white hard hat. When a confined space alarm triggered in Zone 4, the emergency response team lost precious minutes trying to locate the area supervisor and the fire warden among a sea … Read more

What’s a Ladder Cage and How To Use It Safely?

January 24, 2026 Author John Mathew

As a Lead Auditor and Occupational Safety Expert with over a decade in high-risk heavy industries, I was recently inspecting an aging fertilizer plant where a maintenance technician had slipped inside a 50-foot caged ladder. Suspended by his tool belt, which had wedged between the rungs and a corroded horizontal hoop, he was trapped 40 … Read more

Levels of PPE: OSHA & EPA Guidelines for HAZMAT Safety

December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 Author John Mathew

When it comes to managing chemical spills, toxic vapor releases, or hazardous material incidents, the margin for error is razor-thin. Personnel involved in these operations are exposed to potentially life-threatening conditions that require precise, informed decisions—none more important than selecting the correct level of personal protective equipment (PPE). To standardize protection and ensure worker safety, … Read more