Which Gloves Do You Need For PPE?
Injuries from hand related incidents account for 1 in 5 disabling accidents in today’s workplace. That is why hand protection is an essential PPE for anyone that works with their hands. They are essential to protect against cuts, punctures, fractures, burns, chemicals, cold and are required in many instances by OSHA. In addition to PPE, gloves can also increase the performance of many manual activities and improve manual comfort.
It is extremely important to match the right glove to the task at hand. Productivity has a large selection of gloves for nearly every application on the work site. Match your application with the best glove in our categories below.
Coated General Purpose Gloves
These gloves provide a general layer of protection against cuts and minor chemical exposure while also ensuring good dexterity and comfort. This is why this type of glove is the number one choice for professionals in many industries. There are a number of different coating types, each with its own unique advantages.
- Nitrile - Provides a good barrier against cuts, abrasions, and mild chemicals. There are different thickness levels to provide different levels of protection. Is also better for those with latex allergies. They are best against oil-exposure.
- Latex - Also provide a good barrier against cuts and abrasions. Have a higher elasticity and superior grip to nitrile gloves. These gloves are best with alcohols and ketones but bad against organic solvents and oils.
- NeoFoam - Proprietary coating of G-Tec gloves. They are highly flexible and resistant to light oils but touchscreen compatible.
- Polyurethane - Resistant to oils, solvents, greases, gasoline, as well as minor cuts and scrapes.
- PVC - These gloves are liquid and chemical resistant and durable against cuts and abrasions.
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Uncoated General Purpose Gloves
These gloves provide a thin, breathable layer of protection against puncture hazards, jagged materials, heat and cold. Sometimes these gloves are used as a base layer for other types of gloves..png)
High Performance Gloves
These gloves are designed from synthetic and natural leather materials to excel at cut and abrasion protection while providing maximum comfort..png)
Chemical Resistant Gloves
The effect of chemicals on the skin can be debilitating and lead to serious long-term effects. That is why it is so important to find the proper glove for your given application. There is a wide variety of chemical resistant gloves available. It is best to consult the MSDS to help identify the level of protection required.
Here are some examples of glove types and their related applications:
Butyl Rubber Gloves
Used for protection against:
- Keytones, esters, alcohols
- Alkali
- Nitric acid
- Sulfuric Acid
- Hydrochloric acid
- Peroxides
Natural Latex / Rubber Gloves
Used for protection against:
- Biological hazards
- Water-based solutions
Neoprene Gloves
Used for protection against:
- Acids
- Bases
- Alcohols
- Fuels
- Peroxides
- Hydrocarbons
- Hydraulic fluids
- Gasoline
- Alcohols
- Organic acids
Nitrile Gloves
These are good general-use gloves intended for incidental contact. Best used for:
- Solvents
- Petroleum oils
- Gasoline
- Greases
- A few acids and bases
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Cut Resistant Gloves
These gloves are designed to protect hands from cuts or lacerations in the operation of various cutting equipment or when handling sharp materials. They are made from special composite materials that are resistant to cutting that may include:- Steel core - A cut and abrasion resistant material
- Metal mesh - Made from stainless-steel. Is cut and puncture resistant
- Fiber metal blends - A blend of synthetic fiber and metal
- Kevlar - Flexible and lightweight and is 5x stronger than steel
- Spectra fiber - Cut and abrasion resistant and is 10x stronger than steel
- Dyneema - Resistant to moisture and chemicals and is 15x stronger than steel
- Super fabric - Flexible, cut and puncture resistant
Evaluating the cut resistance is graded on the ANSI cut level scale that measures how much force is required to penetrate the material using a fresh blade, where:
- A1 = 200 - 499 grams
- A2 = 500 - 999 grams
- A3 - 1000 - 1499 grams
- A4 = 1500 - 2199 grams
- A5 = 2200 - 2999 grams
- A6 = 3000 - 3999 grams
- A7 = 4000 - 4999 grams
- A8 = 5000 - 5999 grams
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Cold Protection Gloves
These gloves are designed to protect hands against very cold surface contact or working conditions. Usually they will have a thermal layer with an outer shell made from various materials depending on that application. Many of these gloves are also cut resistant..png)
Heat Protection Gloves
Made for working in high temperature conditions, from heat and flame resistant materials. Many of these gloves will have an outer coating or shell depending on the application..png)
Disposable Gloves
Disposable gloves have become essential PPE, widely used in medical and manufacturing industries. They provide a safe barrier between your skin and possible pathogens and dangerous substances. There are several different types:- Latex - Are very comfortable, form-fitting, highly touch sensitive. May cause a allergic reaction.
- Nitrile - More resistant to chemicals than latex with some degree of puncture resistance.
- Polythylene - The most economical glove available. Useful in food service.
- Vinyl - An inexpensive solution but less durable than either latex or nitrile.
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Fabric Work Gloves
Fabric work gloves are designed for general use and may have a coating to provide a better level of grip..png)
Leather Drivers Gloves
Traditional gloves that provide excellent protection against cuts and abrasions with great grip..png)
Leather Palm Gloves
Traditional gloves that provide excellent protection against cuts and abrasions. Excellent choice for handling sharp objects..png)