Each year, approximately one million workers are treated in emergency rooms for hand injuries ranging from minor cuts and burns to severe, career-ending lacerations. The good news is that you can easily prevent most of these injuries by choosing the right safety gloves for the job.
Safety gloves protect your hands from cuts, chemical burns, electrical shocks, and countless other dangers that lurk in industrial environments. This guide to safety gloves and how to prevent hand injuries at work will help you determine which type of gloves to choose for your job.
Cut-Resistant Gloves
Cut-resistant gloves are designed to provide a robust barrier for the safety of your hands when working with sharp objects, and all without compromising dexterity. These specialized gloves protect your hands from sharp tools, metal edges, and jagged materials. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rates cut-resistant gloves on a scale from A1 to A9, with A9 offering the highest level of protection.
A1 to A3 gloves are suitable for light-duty tasks, like handling small parts or working with thin metal sheets. A4 to A6 gloves are recommended for moderate risks, including glass handling or sheet metal work. For severe cut hazards like sharp knives, razors, or heavy machinery with exposed blades, A7 to A9 gloves are the best line of defense.
Materials That Make the Difference
Manufacturers create cut-resistant gloves using various high-tech materials. While maintaining ample flexibility, high-performance polyethylene (HPPE) fibers offer excellent cut resistance.
Although they do reduce dexterity, steel mesh gloves provide maximum protection. If you work with hot machinery or in high temperatures, Kevlar gloves deliver strong cut resistance with excellent heat protection.
Choosing the Right Cut-Resistant Gloves
Consider your specific work environment when selecting cut-resistant gloves. Assembly workers benefit from lightweight A2 to A3 gloves that maintain finger sensitivity. Glass handlers need A4 to A5 gloves with a good grip. Metal fabricators require A6 to A9 gloves for maximum protection against sharp edges.
Chemical-Resistant Gloves
Chemical-resistant gloves are essential in various industries for safeguarding hands from harmful chemicals, corrosive substances, and toxic materials. However, since no single material resists all substances effectively, various chemicals require different gloves. The most common types of chemical-resistant gloves are:
- Nitrile gloves: These gloves provide good puncture resistance while protecting hands from oils, greases, and many chemicals.
- Neoprene gloves: Designed to effectively handle acids, bases, and alcohols, neoprene gloves are a good choice in many industries.
- Butyl rubber gloves: This type of rubber glove can protect hands against gases and vapors.
- PVC gloves: PVC is effective against acids and bases but breaks down quickly when exposed to organic solvents.
Breakthrough Time and Degradation
Breakthrough time is a measurement of how long it takes a chemical to penetrate through the glove material. Always check the manufacturer’s chemical resistance chart before using gloves with specific chemicals.
Heat-Resistant Gloves
Heat-resistant gloves use specialized materials and construction to insulate hands against extreme temperatures and prevent burns or other thermal injuries. These gloves are specifically designed to withstand intense heat, making them crucial for environments involving hot surfaces, flames, or molten materials.
The following materials are the most common for heat-resistant gloves:
- Leather gloves: This durable material offers basic heat protection, making it suitable for welding and other tasks involving general heat exposure.
- Kevlar gloves: Kevlar is known for its superior heat resistance and cut protection, making it a popular choice.
- Aluminized gloves: These gloves reflect radiant heat and protect against splashes of molten metal.
- Silicone-coated gloves: The silicone layer provides a secure grip on hot objects while protecting against burns.
Temperature Ratings and Applications
Heat-resistant gloves are rated by their maximum safe operating temperature. Light-duty gloves can handle temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, while medium-duty gloves protect against temperatures of up to 500 degrees. Heavy-duty gloves withstand temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees, making them ideal for foundry work and metal handling.
Impact-Resistant Gloves
Impact-resistant gloves protect workers’ hands from crushing injuries, heavy impacts, and other blunt force hazards commonly found in industrial environments. Manufacturers build impact-resistant gloves with thermoplastic rubber (TPR) padding strategically placed over knuckles, fingers, and the back of the hand. This padding absorbs and disperses impact energy, reducing the force transmitted to your hands.
Here are some professions that benefit from impact-resistant gloves:
- Construction: Workers in this field need impact resistance when handling heavy materials and power tools.
- Oil and gas: This industry generally requires impact-resistant gloves for handling pipes and performing equipment maintenance.
- Manufacturing: Use impact-resistant gloves when operating machinery with pinch points and moving parts to minimize injury risk.
Electrical Safety Gloves
Electrical safety gloves protect your hands from electrical shock and electrocution. These gloves receive a classification based on their voltage protection capabilities, ranging from Class 00 (500 volts) to Class 4 (36,000 volts).
Electrical safety gloves must meet strict testing standards and thus require regular inspection and testing. To maintain their effectiveness, you must air-test these gloves before each use and have them professionally tested every six months or after suspected damage has occurred.
Proper Use and Maintenance
Always wear leather protective gloves over electrical safety gloves to prevent punctures and cuts. Additionally, store gloves in protective containers away from sharp objects and extreme temperatures. Most importantly, replace them immediately when damaged.
Puncture-Resistant Gloves
Puncture-resistant gloves rely on multiple layers of cut-resistant materials to protect your hands from sharp objects like needles, glass shards, or metal fragments. Individuals in these industries will benefit the most from puncture-resistant gloves:
- Health care: Puncture-resistant gloves are vital for handling sharps and disposing of medical waste safely.
- Construction: These gloves help workers avoid injuries from nails, screws, and metal debris.
- Waste management: Workers need puncture protection from hidden sharp objects in trash and recycling.
Vibration-Dampening Gloves
Exposure to prolonged vibrations from power tools and heavy machinery can lead to hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), making vibration-dampening gloves an essential protective measure.
Design and Effectiveness
These gloves feature gel or foam padding in the palm and fingers to absorb vibration. While they don’t eliminate all vibration, they significantly reduce exposure levels when you use power tools for extended periods.
Protect Your Hands, Protect Your Future
With this guide to safety gloves, you can prevent work hand injuries to stay safe and productive for years to come. Explore our collection of safety gloves to find your perfect pair today and give your hands the protection they deserve on the job.
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