Choosing the right work gloves is an important step towards working safely and efficiently. They protect your hands against various risks, including mechanical hazards, chemical substances, heat and cold.

Whether you work in construction, industry or another sector, here are a few steps to selecting the right gloves for your needs.

You must always consider a few criteria:

• What type of work do you do?
• From which types of hazards do your hands need protecting?
• What objects will you use?
• Which characteristics could increase wear comfort?

1. What type of work do you do?

One of the first issues to consider is the type of work that you carry out.
Are they light activities, heavy activities or precision work? The type of work influences:

• The necessary finger sensitivity and the thickness of the gloves (expressed as a Gauge)
• The most suitable style (e.g. a glove or mitt)

Against which types of hazards do you need protection? You must also take account of the risks that are associated with the type of work. That is why a risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E) is drawn up to establish the risks and hazards of the work:

Mechanical risks: Almost all working situations present mechanical risks. The most well-known processes involving mechanical hazards are sanding, cutting and processing sharp metals and glass. However, smooth plastics, paper boxes and pallets can also lead to serious and sometimes permanent hand injuries, including cuts, grazes, blisters and so on. The conditions that gloves which offer protection against mechanical risks must fulfil are set out in standard EN 388.

Chemical risks: These may not be the most common hazards but chemical risks are certainly a serious issue. The potential injuries caused due to chemical incidents are not insignificant and include chemical burns, irritation, allergic reactions and others. The requirements set for gloves that offer adequate protection against the risks mentioned are set out in standard series EN 374, parts 1 to 3. There is a consideration of the provisions for both general and specific chemical protection. Protection against micro-organisms is also not overlooked.

Thermal risks: Heatproof gloves in accordance with EN 407: 2004. These gloves protect against thermal risks (heat and/or fire).

Cold: Cold-proof gloves are approved according to EN 511: 2006. Both offer protection against contact and conducted cold. Here, this concerns cold that may occur due to climatic and industrial situations.

Note! During some tasks, you may need protection against various risks simultaneously.

Determining the risks:

• With which requirements must the gloves comply?
• The basic materials used for the gloves
• The length of the gloves
• Whether a protective sleeve or cuff is needed
• Whether the back must be ventilated or closed.

Standards

As you can read above, the protection against each risk is denoted by an EN-standard. This will be indicated by a statement of the standard and pictograms on the gloves and in the instructions.
Most standards also have ‘performance levels’ which are given as a number under the pictogram. The rule is: the higher the figure, the better the performance. An X indicates that the gloves have not been tested for this risk.

2. Material

Work gloves are available in various materials, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Each have their own characteristics which, in turn, determine the protection level.

Leather gloves

Pictogram	Constructed from	Product details
	Full grain cowhide	Durable Comfort Excellent abrasion resistance Certain degree of oil and water-repellent properties
	Split-grain cowhide	Good against cuts Absorbs perspiration Spongy in very wet conditions
	Full grain pigskin leather	Less durable than cowhide More flexible than cowhide Certain degree of oil and water-repellent properties
	Split-grain pigskin	Less durable than cowhide More flexible than cowhide Absorbs perspiration Spongy in very wet conditions
	Goatskin leather Sheepskin leather	Very flexible leather, often with finger sensitivity Breathable Goatskin is more robust and has a better abrasion resistance than sheepskin

Linings and liners for synthetic gloves

Pictogram	Constructed from	Product details
	Kevlar®, aramide and twaron	Average blade cut resistance. Good heat resistance but low abrasion resistance. Not resistant to UV radiation.
	Dyneema®	Durable, strong cut-resistant fibre. Very comfortable and good abrasion-resistant properties. No heat resistance.
	Dyneema® Diamond Technologie	Durable and even more cut-resistant fibre for increased cut-resistance and/or increased comfort. Long service life combined with stable protection against cutting risks. No heat resistance.
	HPPE	Cut-resistant PE (polyethylene)-based fibre. Provides average cut resistance and comfort. Good abrasion resistance and no heat resistance. Often combined with fibreglass.
	Fibreglass	In combination with cut-resistant fibres, this ensures increased cut resistance. With intensive use, the fibreglass can break and lose its cut resistance.
	Stainless steel wire	Used to give gloves very high cut-resistant properties. In combination with other fibres such as HPPE, fibreglass. With intensive use, the wire can break and lose its cut resistance. Average comfort.

Coatings

Pictogram	Constructed from	Product details
	Polyurethane	Flexible Breathable Abrasion-resistant Good dry grip
	Smooth Nitril	Less flexible Good oil and wet grip Safe cut resistance Good perforation-resistance
	NBR Foam	Nitrile foam coating Same properties as nitrile but even better grip on wet objects. More flexible
	Latex	Natural, flexible material Highly abrasion-resistant Waterproof, not oil-resistant

Disposable raw materials, liquid-proof and chemical-resistant gloves

Pictogram	Constructed from	Product details
	PVC	Good abrasion resistance Not finger sensitive Relatively stiff Good dry grip Good grip, suitable for many acids, lyes Non liquid-proof PVC gloves, can only be used for mechanical risks
	Latex	Good abrasion and cut resistance Flexible, suitable for aqueous solutions, acids and alcohols Not suitable for mineral solvents and oils
	Nitrile	Good grip on oil and in wet conditions Good cut and perforation resistance Good protection against bases, many solvents and esters, fuels, oils and fats, especially animal fats
	Neoprene	Flexible Good abrasion and cut resistance Certain degree of flame resistance Chemical protection against certain solvents, acids and lyes, oils and fats Poor grip in wet conditions
	Vinyl	Mechanically less strong than latex and nitrile disposables Suitable against bases and to a very limited extent against acids For dirty work, can be used with food products
	Butyl	Very flexible, even at low temperatures Excellent chemical resistance to esters, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols and organic acids and lyes. The best material against e.g. acetone Poor grip Low mechanical resistance Low resistance to hydrocarbons
	Viton	Offers chemical resistance against aliphatic, aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons The best material against, for example, benzene, toluene, including PCBs Poor grip Not suitable for ketones and esters

Note: Gloves are often made of multiple materials or with a lining and coating. So, it is important to read the labels carefully and check the composition of the gloves.

3. What objects will you use?

Here, it is important to understand the shape of the objects that will be used, as well as the corresponding surfaces.

This includes questions such as:

• Smooth or rough?
• Oiled, greasy or wet?
• Heavy or light?
• Large or small?
• Smooth, sharp or notched?

The answers to these questions will determine whether you should choose a certain profile in your coating (smooth or structured), as well as thickness.

4. Which characteristics could increase wear comfort?

When choosing a glove, it is best to include as many comfort aspects as possible. This is not only important for ensuring work is carried out effectively and safely, but also for ensuring that the gloves will actually be worn.

The ease of movement in gloves is determined by the following characteristics:

• Suppleness of materials
• Elasticity of fabric
• Anatomical shape
• Right sizing
• Thickness of the glove

Finger sensitivity is best if you wear the right size. Moreover, a thin glove offers good finesse in the fingertips.

Degree of tiredness: Repeated movements and wearing the gloves for long periods can lead to muscle fatigue. The wearer will experience less fatigue if the gloves are manufactured from a supple material, have an anatomical shape and are the right size.

Temperature and moisture regulation:

Transpiration in the gloves causes discomfort, over-sensitivity and skin complaints due to enclosure.

If the risk allows, it is important to wear gloves that:

• Allow fingertip finesse
• Are not entirely sealed, with a ventilated back made of textile
• Have a cotton or jersey lining
• Have a cotton flock lining
• Are wide to ensure good air circulation

Easy to put on and take off:

Gloves that are easy to put on and take off are more comfortable to wear. Either the gloves are made of an elastic material, or they are wide at the wrist. When wearing the right size, gloves should be easy to put on and take off.

Skin-friendly and hygienic:

Some wearers may have allergic reactions when coming into contact with certain materials. From a wearer hygiene and hand-health point of view, the best gloves to use are:

• Gloves with a jersey or cotton lining to avoid contact with the glove material.
• Gloves made of synthetic rubber or PVC for people who are sensitive to proteins in natural latex.
• Gloves without leather for people who are sensitive to chromium.

Additional issues to consider

• Fit: Gloves that fit well offer the best protection. Always try different sizes to find the best fit.
• Wearer comfort: Opt for comfortable gloves, particularly if you have to wear them for long periods. Be aware of movement capacity, finger sensitivity and grip. Soft linings and an ergonomic design can significantly improve wearer comfort.
• Sustainability: Choose gloves made of top quality materials which will withstand wear and tear and regular use.
• Maintenance: Don't forget to check the condition of gloves regularly and, if necessary, replace them to guarantee optimum protection. Make sure that the gloves are easy to clean, especially if you wish to use them regularly and work in an environment where dirt, oil or chemicals are present.
• Provide sufficient gloves: Make sure that you always have enough spare gloves so that you can replace them in good time.