Gloves

[Rich]

We currently get issued 2 pairs of firefighting gloves - these are a padded gortex glove excellent for firefighting but not so good for RTC's especially using hand tools (pry bars, screwdrivers etc) plus the rubber gloves worn underneath as well.  Is there any brigades out there that have two types of glove one for firefighting and one for other use - RTC etc.  If so would you recommend them and what type are they?

[fireftrm]

Here it is just as you have , the RTC gloves would actually need to be well padded too for safety - too many sharp edges around to consider a less protected had at an RTC. Pry bars shouldn't present aproblem, though I can see screwdrivers beingt ricky with such a glove, but hen again using a screwdriver is more likely to be for intricate jobs than the usual hydraulic rescue work, such as trim removal (even then a pry bar may be more appropriate as we aren't looking to prevent damage to the vehicle!). If that's what you are doing it may be appropriate, under approval of your and your managers DRA to remove the gloves. DRA allows for changes in control measures - the whole point of it!

[toby14483]

We have padded firefighting gloves, which we just use for BA, and when close to fire.

For RTC and any other time, we have black grip gloves. Made by showa I believe, or some similar far east sounding name.



Same type of gloves, but different maker...

The fire gloves tend to make intricate jobs using tools more difficult. The rubber grip gloves are much better to use.

[Julie Andrews]

We are issued a pair of Granqvists RB90 firegloves and a pair of Mainline Safety working gloves for general fireground, line rescue and RTC use. They are leather gloves with a Kevlar lining for sharp edge protection. Great gloves.

[Alex Bayley]

We are issued a pair of firefighting gloves (pacific firefighterVIII) for BA / structural work and are issued leather riggers gloves for MVA's (RTC's), bushfires and general work.

Alex

[John118]

Hi,

I have used an extrication Glove made by ringers and supplied by Bountree medical ltd in the UK.

I have used this glove for 4 years and they are still going strong, there is no need to remove your gloves for delicate tasks such as using small tools and removing trim, as the dexterity is excellent.

They offer great protection from sharps and the common hazzards found at RTC's,

i hope this helps.

[BB]

Wow Things have moved on considerably since i first joined many moons ago 24 + years.

All they issued us was at training school was a pair of cheap 99p plastic coated gardening gloves, which the first time you used them turning over or handling burning embers resulted in a small burn on the plam of your hand.

Yes it was from the gloves honest i promise you!!!!

[Kaiser]

In my brigade we get firefighting gloves and also leather debris gloves,  the debris gloves are a type of rigger glove which are comfortable to wear at RTC's.  I do have a big problem with the debris gloves though, lots of firefighters wear them almost all the time which makes these individuals useless when they need to use their firefighting gloves.  This has led to some individuals wearing debris gloves at fires and getting burnt on their hands.  The brigade issues notices telling everyone that they are not designed for this and it is not allowed but some of my retained colleagues believe that this doesn't apply to them and continue to wear them.

[Mike Buckley]

Yes BB I had the same when I joined, there was a running discussion whether or not to wear those gloves when fire fighting, Did you risk your bare hands or risk a permenant pair of gloves?

As far as Kaisers comment goes what are the officers doing? or is it that now they are all managers they can't tell someone to wear the correct gloves at a fire?

I certainly remember practising tieing knots and handling  equipment in fire gloves during drill (or is that a dirty word now?)

[Kaiser]

As far as Kaisers comment goes what are the officers doing? or is it that now they are all managers they can't tell someone to wear the correct gloves at a fire?

The problem is Mike, half the junior officers are just as bad, they set a bad example and the crew accept this as normal.

[Mike Buckley]

Yes Kaiser I can believe it. It goes up the line, management is not doing its job. At the end of the day if things do go badly wrong the s**t will fly everywhere. If the ff tries for compensation for burnt hands it will be reduced as they were partially responsible. The jo's and the management chain will get it from the HSE as they failed to provide adequate supervision. (If they had the ff would have been wearing the coorect gloves). The only winners are the lawyers who will spend a long time at exorbitant fees arguing with each other.

I made a point at one station where I was supervising standard tests. The crew had just "tested" the lowering line which used to be done by 6 firefighters pulling on it to see if it stretched too much. They were very lacadaisical about it. I asked them if they were happy with the test they said yes. I then said Ok in 8 hours time one of you will be hanging on that line half way down a quarry rescung a dog are you still happy? One line retested properly.

At the end of the day you've got to look after yourself. Others may think you are a wally for wearing the proper gloves but you are not the one in the burns unit.