What prevents oils in your hands from contaminating the material during the lay-up process?

Wearing gloves during the lay-up process is crucial for preventing contamination of materials by the oils present on your skin. The gloves create a physical barrier that protects the surface of the materials from any dirt, oils, or other contaminants that might be transferred from the hands. This is especially important in aerospace assembly, where the materials used are often sensitive and can be adversely affected by foreign substances, potentially compromising the integrity and performance of the final product.

While other options, like an apron or hand sanitizer, provide some level of protection or hygiene, they do not serve the same direct purpose as gloves in preventing contamination at the point of contact with the material. Barrier creams can help protect the skin itself but do not prevent the transfer of substances from the hands onto the material. Therefore, gloves are the most effective measure to maintain the quality and integrity of materials during the sensitive lay-up stage.