What Do Safety Gloves Protect: A Detailed Guide to Hand Safety

Introduction

Safety gloves are an essential piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to protect workers’ hands from various hazards in the workplace. Gaining an understanding of the hazards that safety gloves protect against is essential to prioritize worker safety and reduce the likelihood of hand injuries. This blog aims at providing valuable insights into the question,”What do safety gloves protect?

Types of Safety Gloves Protection

Protective Safety Glove Types	Application	Sample
General Purpose Gloves	Commonly used in light-duty labor environments or daily chores. They can be made of materials such as cotton fabric, canvas, dipped latex, or leather.
Cut Resistant Gloves	Typically used in work environments with cutting hazards, common cut-resistant materials include foam-dipped latex, leather, aramid, HPPE, and more.
Heat-Resistant Gloves	Fire-resistant and heat-insulating gloves, such as leather, aramid, dipped latex, and aluminum plating, are used in situations where there is a risk of open flames. Cowhide gloves are popular for welding.
Cold-Resistant Gloves	High-temperature-resistant gloves can also serve as cold-resistant gloves, with materials like dipped latex and leather. Certain cold-resistant gloves used for handling frozen food must meet FDA requirements.
Chemical-Resistant Gloves	Typically dipped gloves used in scenarios involving chemical corrosion. Common coating materials include latex, PVC, nitrile, neoprene, butyl, etc.
Impact/Vibration Resistant Gloves	Protect against mechanical impact injuries and often feature TPR rubber on the back.
Electrical Insulating Gloves	Latex gloves are commonly used for handling electrical components

Factors about Safety Gloves

Generally, four key aspects are evaluated when testing a pair of work gloves: durability, dexterity level, grip and tactile sensitivity, and size and fit.

Durability

Based on the seven types of work gloves mentioned above, there are different measurements used to assess durability.

Take examples of general purpose gloves. Considering the scenario uses of general work uses are warehousing, woodworking, construction, gardening and mechanic. Therefore, firm grip and oil resistance is crucial to prioritize. toolant safety work gloves equipped with a nitrile coating that delivers outstanding performance in dry, damp, wet, and oily conditions. This is because the textured surface of the coating enhances friction and improves grip, allowing workers to maintain control and handle objects securely. The likelihood of accidental slips is consequently reduced.

As for cut resistant gloves, ANSI (American National Standards Institute) has established a cut resistance level rating system ranging from Level A1 to Level A9 (applies to arm sleeves as well). For medium to heavy-duty cutting, handling glass or metal edges, and working with sharp tools or machinery, A6 general work gloves make the best balance between protection and comfort. Additionally, abrasion resistance is rated on a scale of 0 to 6, with a higher number indicating superior resistance to abrasion.

Dexterity level

For knitted gloves, the gauge which is the number of stitches per inch typically ranges from 7 to 13. A higher gauge indicates finer yarn, resulting in thinner gloves that offer better comfort and flexibility. Conversely, a lower gauge means thicker yarn and bulkier gloves, which may reduce comfort and dexterity. Besides, an emerging dexterity requirement for work gloves is the ability to operate touch screens.

Size and fit

Conclsuion

Understanding the nature of the task, level of dexterity required, comfort and fit, grip and traction, as well as durability are vital considerations when choosing the right gloves. By prioritizing hand safety and selecting the appropriate safety gloves, individuals and organizations can mitigate risks, prevent injuries, and promote a safer work environment. Keep in mind about safeguarding your hands, investing in the appropriate safety gloves is a valuable investment in both safety and productivity.

Find more information about work gloves and safety gears, please visit:
https://toolant.com/