Effect of gloves on control operation time

Author / Creator

Bradley, James V., author

Available as

Online

Summary

"Five types of control (push buttons, toggle switches, knobs, horizontally operable levers, and vertically operable levers) were operated at room temperature with the hand clothed as follows: no gl...

"Five types of control (push buttons, toggle switches, knobs, horizontally operable levers, and vertically operable levers) were operated at room temperature with the hand clothed as follows: no glove, wool glove, double glove, i.e. leather glove over wool glove. Operation time was measured. The double glove was superior to both the bare hand and the wool glove for operation of the toggle switch. The wool glove was inferior to both the bare hand and the double glove for operation of the push button and was inferior to the bare hand for operation of the vertically operable lever. The wool glove was slightly (but nonsignificantly) inferior to the other two hand conditions for all of the other possible comparisons. There was considerable indication that, though not statistically significant, this effect may be real. It was concluded that the effect of gloves on control operation time depends upon the type of glove worn, the physical characteristics of the control, and the type of control operation required. Specifically, it was concluded that the wool glove is inferior to the bare hand and double glove because of the tendency of wool to slide on the types of smooth material of which controls are constructed and possibly because of the failure of wool knit gloves to fit tightly; and that the double glove is superior in those situations where a rapid control operation may injure an insufficiently protected hand, Since the double glove was never significantly inferior to the bare hand, and since there seemed to be a real but small disadvantage to the wool glove in all cases, it was concluded that, for the type of control operations investigated, the only justification for wearing the wool glove instead of the double glove would be that the double glove was too warm."--Abstract.

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