Flexible arm protection in the workplace

Personal protective equipment includes forearm protection, which takes the form of sleeves that cover the forearm or arm either from the wrist to the elbow or to the shoulder joint. Arm protection protects you against electrical, mechanical, thermal and chemical hazards. It is particularly necessary in warmer temperatures, when employees are wearing short-sleeved clothing and their arms are bare. The wearing of arm protection is also legally prescribed in the DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance) regulations 112-195 and 112-202.

Our hands and arms are extremely important in our working life. We use them to operate machines or tools and carry out other activities, which means they can easily be injured. Falls are the number one cause of accidents at work in Germany. This is immediately followed by accidents during activities that are carried out by hand.

These activities include:

• working with hand tools

• handling chemicals

• manual handling of objects

• manual transport of objects

• manual operation of machines

The most common occupational injuries to the hands and arms include:

• cuts and stab wounds

• sprains, strains and broken bones

• burns and chemical burns

Different working environments, activities and tools or ancillary objects require different types of forearm protection in order to minimise the risk of injury at work.

To offer maximum protection, robust and smart materials are used to manufacture arm protectors. Metal forearm protectors, for example in the form of a fine metal ring mesh, are worn in butcher’s shops and other work environments in which sharp knives are used on a daily basis. Particularly robust forearm cut protection is also required when working with saws.

As an alternative to metal, intelligent fibre combinations such as steel, glass, HPPE, viscose and polyamide or SuperFabric® are used in the production of arm protection. They are lighter and more flexible than metal, making them comfortable to wear. At the same time, depending on the fibre combination, the various materials have tear-, cut- and puncture-resistant properties and can also protect against heat.

Traditional forearm protectors start at the wrist and end at the elbow. However, there are various options to provide employees with even better protection for different activities. Some arm guards go as far as the shoulder joint – thus protecting both the forearm and the upper arm. Forearm protection can also be offered by an extended safety glove, which does not end at the wrist, as is usually the case, but is much longer.

Depending on the area of use, the arm protector can be tight or slightly looser fitting. Whatever the fit, it is important that it cannot slip. Many arm guards therefore have an elastic cuff at the wrist and at the upper end or a hook-and-loop fastener on the upper arm. A thumb loop also prevents the arm protector from slipping.

The uvex C500 forearm protector has cut protection level C and is certified according to EN 388:2016 (2 X 4 X C). This arm protection sleeve is very flexible and breathable thanks to a blend of smart materials including bamboo viscose, fibreglass, HPPE and polyamide together with the patented uvex Bamboo TwinFlex® Technology and uvex climazone. This makes the C500 forearm protector suitable for a wide range of activities in the automotive, iron and steel industries, in assembly, sorting work and in the construction industry. This forearm protector also protects against contact heat up to 100°C in accordance with EN 407:2020 (X1XXXX) and is suitable for handling food.

This forearm protector by uvex is made of HPPE, glass and polyamide. It is certified according to EN 388:2016 (2 X 4 X C) and has cut protection level C, making it perfect for use in the automotive, metal and glass industries as well as for assembly and construction work. The unidur sleeves are very flexible and thin, for maximum wearer comfort. The forearm protector can be put on and taken off quickly and easily thanks to a hook-and-loop fastener. The cuff on the wrist prevents the protective sleeve from slipping. The unidur C TL model also has a thumb loop (TL) for an even better fit.