Workers across all industries are at risk for injuries, hazards and illnesses that can occur on the job. From chemical exposure to dangerous machinery, the workplace is never safe.
Glove manufacturers have developed many different types of gloves to address these dangers, but deciding which one is best for your needs can be difficult.
The amount of protection your glove offers is important, but it is also important to consider the cost. A higher priced glove might offer more protection, but it will also cost more.
Gloves that are not durable and do not protect may still be cheap, but they won’t last long and will likely damage your hands in the process.
This article is for you! I want to share some quick and easy tips on how to make your life easier. I’ll be sure to give you the best advice out there so that these tips don’t just fall by the wayside.
The Ultimate Guide To Work Gloves
Understanding The Different Work Gloves
No matter what your profession, you need to be aware of the risks associated with your work. And in many cases, a proper pair of gloves for protection can go a long way to helping you avoid hazards.
But before you buy yourself a new pair of gloves, it’s important to understand the different kinds that are available — and how they differ from one another.
1. Cut Resistant Work Gloves
Cut-resistant gloves are designed to protect the hands from sharp objects, so that you do not have to worry about cuts or scratches.
These products are designed for use in high volume environments and industrial settings, where the risk of getting hurt is very high.
They can help save your life as well as prevent you from getting hurt.This is a product that is aimed at helping workers in the food industry, especially those who work with raw meat products or foods that are made from meat and seafood.
It can be used to prevent cuts and scratches on your hands, which will make them more effective in the food industry or in other industries where there are a lot of sharp objects being used
Do Cut-Resistant Work Gloves Work?
Do cut-resistant work gloves really offer superior protection for people at dangerous jobs? My short answer is yes, cut-resistant gloves are worth investing in.
The long answer is a bit more complicated, but if you refuse to be an injured worker, maybe something like these gloves will improve your safety.
Purchasing this type of work glove is important because the skin in your hands can easily be cut by anything that’s sharp.
Therefore, if the glove doesn’t offer enough protection for your hand, it will still provide comfort without interfering with your work performance or activity.
Where Can You Find Cut-Proof Gloves?
It is a complete fallacy that there are gloves that are cut-proof. The term “cut resistant gloves” is misleading. You might expect them to provide complete protection from cuts, but that’s not the case.
The term “cut-resistant gloves” is a misnomer, because these types of gloves don’t actually provide any level of protection from cuts.
Instead, they only help reduce the impact of potential cuts by being lightweight and flexible to allow for better movement in the event that a cut does occur.
What’s The Right Level Of Cut-Resistant Work Gloves?
Cut Resistant Work Gloves
The right level of cut-resistant work gloves for you depends on your hazards. There is a huge range in this category, from the level A1 gloves to the level A9 gloves mentioned earlier.
Here is a guide on what kind of glove would be effective for you as a first-responder, landscaper, food server, or chef:
1. First Responder
Workers performing hazardous tasks while exposing themselves to high levels of risk should use ANSI level A9 or higher rated gloves. These gloves help you resist different types of hazards including cuts caused by glass and metal.
2. Landscapers
If you are working in a field that involves handling sharp tools and plants, cut-resistant gloves are highly recommended for the safety of your hands. Work gloves with ANSI level A2 or higher rating offer protection against cuts from pointed objects, glass shards and other debris.
3. Food Server
No one wants to go through severe pain after getting a cut from your knife while slicing tomatoes or peeling potatoes. To make sure that won’t happen, use work gloves with ANSI level A1 or higher rated protection.
How Can You Test Cut-Resistant Gloves?
Seeing as different regions have different standards for gloves, When it comes to measuring the gloves’ cut-resistant properties, there are two common standards.
One is being used in Asia and Europe, and the other one is being used in America. Which standard you use depends primarily on who you want to target with your product
(e.g., American companies will choose the American standard, while European companies will choose the European standard).
European Standard (EN 388):
Every few years, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updates it’s requirements for protective gloves in the United States. The latest update was in November 2016, when there was a major overhaul to the EN388 standard.
Before that, there had been an update in 2003 when EN388:2003 superseded EN388:1998, but this is often referred to as a “revision” rather than an “upgrade”.
The current EN388:2016 standard requires that all gloves used in hazardous and non-hazardous environments must meet the requirements of this standard, or be labeled as meeting these standards.
These protection requirements are for the whole glove. For example, the hand area (from wrist to knuckles) must meet a minimum of 50 MCM of resistance to puncture and cuts, and the whole glove is required to have a minimum of 2.5 N (147 lbf/ft) of tensile strength.
The glove manufacturer must test the gloves using ASTM F734 to ensure that they meet these standards. The testing is performed under controlled laboratory conditions with the gloves being damaged throughout the test.
The test results are then combined with a list of items that indicate which gloves failed each test, and levels of failure by hazard type.
This test has been found to be extremely reliable, and is considered to be one of the most widely-accepted tests for testing gloves used in hazardous (life-threatening) environments.
North American Standard (ANSI/ISEA 105-2016):
Many industries have specific hazards that can impact the safety of their employees wearing cotton gloves.
With ANSI/ISEA 105-2016, many industries can now use a glove that is classified and tested properly so they know it will protect against their hazard.
This standard also includes requirements for the manufacturing process and testing to ensure the quality of gloves produced.
Most cotton gloves used in the U.S. manufacturing industry are made from sweaty, 100 percent cotton gloves.
Under the new standard, only type V industrial cotton that meets specific requirements is allowed to be used in any glove made for use in an application where the hazards include chemicals such as acids and alkalis and other substances that may burn, irritate or cause corrosion of skin or clothing during handling and transport of chemicals.
The new standard also allows testing of all gloves to ensure a chemical resistance level up to 6.0 and a puncture resistance level of 2.4 PPI or greater to be able to qualify for cotton gloves as a suitable alternative for other types of glove that may not be available or appropriate.
What Are The Different Cut-Resistant Gloves?
Cut-resistant gloves can come in different types of materials and layers. There are three main kinds of cut-resistant gloves that most companies manufacture:
1. Cut-and-Sewn Gloves
Gloves that are cut-resistant and made out of a material that is then cut to shape and sewn into a glove. They come in different colors and lengths.
2. Metal Mesh Gloves
These useful gloves are worn by many people for heavy duty work. They are light, strong and very durable. They can be used for many things like welding, cutting wood, breaking glass, cleaning pipes etc.
3. Seamless Knit Gloves
There is no need to worry about getting your hands injured while knitting anymore. These gloves are knitted in a single piece from high strength yarns like high-performance polyethylene or para-amid that are natively cut resistant.
They can be comfortably worn with knit socks under any pair of shoes, allowing you to go about your day without having to worry about being exposed to the cold air.
Once holidays arrive, they can even be used as a pair of mittens on those chilly winter mornings.
Choosing The Best Cut-Resistant Work Gloves For Your Needs
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has continually recognized cut-resistant gloves as a leading measure to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities.
Cut-resistant gloves are designed to provide greater protection against cuts, scrapes, and avulsions caused by sharp objects. This article will help you choose the best cut-resistant work gloves for your needs.
According to OSHA, cut-resistant gloves can be made from a variety of fibers including: “synthetic fibers, metal fibers, carbon fibers, glass fibers and ceramic fibers.”
According to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), “the choice of the right cut-resistant glove is based on an evaluation of both the employee’s personal risk factors as well as general work operations.
Dependent upon these factors, various critical features are assessed in order to determine which glove makes the best fit.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the ASTM have brought forth a set of standards for cut-resistant gloves that manufacturers must meet in order to accompany their marketing with an ANSI or ASTM label.
For example, you may see an ANSI rated glove that has the following ANSI labeling: “Complies with NFPA 70-2014, Section 8.6.1.” This means that it complies with the industry standard for cut resistance as set forth by NFPA and section 8.6.
Can You Wash Cut-Resistant Gloves?
My short answer to this question is yes. There are many factors that affect how quickly the sanitation of gloves wears off, but washing them is one way to help extend the life of your cut-resistant gloves and save you money.
Below I will cover what affects the sanitation of cut-resistant gloves and how they can be washed in a way that ensures safety while also extending their life.
What Affects Sanitation of Gloves?
All glove manufacturers are required to supply the user with instructions for care. These instructions are usually provided on the product packaging and sometimes on the back of the gloves themselves.
Since these instructions can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, it is essential that users read them carefully prior to use.
Sanitation of cut-resistant gloves is affected by a variety of factors, including:
1) The material used in manufacturing the gloves
2) The method used in manufacturing the gloves (i.e. curing system, material composition)
3) Cleaning method and frequency
4) Type of glove used for work (ex: work outdoors with oil mist or chemical spray, etc.)
5) Ingestion of liquid or other chemicals that affect gloves sanitation including, but not limited to: vomit, food and drink spills, hand grease from rubbing hands together, etc.
6) Usage patterns that affect the lifespan of the gloves (i.e. cleaning before wearing them, cleaning before wearing them more frequently over time).
2. Chemical Resistant Work Gloves
Work gloves are an important part of any job, whether the task is delicate or not. For some people, the most important thing to know about their work gloves is what size they should be. Other people need to know that their gloves are chemical resistant.
How Can You Choose The Right Chemical-Resistant Work Gloves?
Chemical-resistant work gloves are essential for many reasons, including protection against hazardous substances.
There are so many different types of chemicals to consider when selecting a type of work gloves, so it can be difficult to choose the right one.
It is important to remember that each chemical needs its own specific protective coating. This is why manufacturers have created several different types of gloves, such as latex, nitrile, neoprene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
1. Synthetic Rubber
Ever wonder what synthetic rubber is and how to make it? Discover the history of this popular material, its chemical formula, and how it’s made in this post that covers the top three most common types of synthetic rubbers.
Synthetic rubbers are popular because they can be produced on an industrial scale while being cheaper than natural rubber. They are also a much less complicated material to work with and can handle a wider variety of applications.
What Is Synthetic Rubber?
So, what is synthetic rubber? It’s a type of plastic that was invented to be a complete substitute for natural rubber. The first attempts at making this new material were in the late 1800s.
Today, synthetic rubbers are used in industrial processes and consumer products. They have the same physical properties as natural rubber and can even be used as an alternative to it in many applications.
Types of Synthetic Rubber
1. Chloroprene
Chloroprene is the most commonly produced synthetic rubber. In its natural state, it is a hydrocarbon compound that has a sweet smell. It’s used in the production of adhesives, films, insulation, and clothing.
Chloroprene is environmentally friendly and can be recycled. However, if it’s not used properly then it could be lethal to humans and animals.
2. Nitrile Rubber
Nitrile rubber is a type of synthetic rubber that can be used in applications that require a high degree of flexibility. It’s also used to make sealants, hoses, and adhesives.
Nitrile can be made from different types of materials and under different conditions; however, it always has butadiene or nitrile as the main ingredient.
This makes it a versatile material because it can be made inexpensively and in large quantities. It’s also a very efficient material that doesn’t crack or absorb water.
3. Butyl and Viton-Butyl
Butyl and viton-butyl are two types of synthetic rubber that are produced when butadiene is combined with another substance in the form of copolymer.
It has been around since the 1930s, making it one of the most well-known rubbers on the market. Because of this, it’s used in a variety of consumer products.
In fact, some people say that there is more butyl rubber in consumer products than any other type of synthetic rubber.
Butyl can be made into a liquid at room temperature. Viton-butyl is similar to butyl except for the fact that it contains silicon as one of its ingredients.
While it has many different applications, this type of synthetic rubber is most commonly used to make seals used in high performance motors and hydraulic systems.
2. Natural Rubber
The word “rubber” derives in the word “rubber latex” which is a shortened term of the phrase “natural rubber”.
Natural rubber or more commonly known as Latex, can be found in more than 200 plants. Hevea Brasiliensis tree, however, is the most common source.
The natural rubber is extracted from inside of the tree’s bark and it takes around 10 years for one to grow to full size where it could be opened up and processed to yield enough natural rubber for one car tire.
Rubber is made by combining chemicals that act as a catalyst, usually carbon black and sulfur. This mixture is heated to high temperatures, which causes the rubber to polymerize.
After polymerization, rubber exhibits a characteristic white colour, which can be caused by the chemical reaction between the sulfur and carbon black.
Polymerization depends on temperature and pressure, which are factors that are controlled to produce higher quality rubber and lower quality rubber.
3. Plastics
Plastics are everywhere and it’s not hard to see why. They’re relatively inexpensive and durable; they last a long time while maintaining their shape, unlike many natural products like wood, paper or cloth.
Modern plastics are moulded into just about any shape imaginable with great precision, which means they can be used in a large number of applications.
1. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC is a thermoplastic, polyvinyl chloride that can give you good abrasion resistance. However, it’s prone to snags, cuts and punctures. This material is usually used as the coating for work gloves coated.
Polyvinyl Chloride’s synthetic polymer material can give you good abrasion resistance but it’s prone to snags, cuts and punctures. That’s why this material is usually used as the coating for work gloves coated with a vinyl chloride polymer.
Plasticizer is used in the manufacturing of PVC because these chemicals are added to the vinyl compound to reduce the brittleness of solid PVC and improve flexibility.
The technology of PVC polymerization was developed by Paul Schulz in 1872. In modern times, the polymerization process is performed using high-pressure oil.
PVC has many advantages over natural rubber such as it being highly flexible, resilient and having a good tear resistance. PVC can be used to make toys, packaging , bags, shoes and more.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is commonly known as PVC or vinyl chloride and it’s also known as a plastic.
2. Polyurethane (PU)
A polyurethane is a thermoplastic polymer of urethane. Polyurethanes are typically tough, rigid and waterproof. They are often used in automotive applications due to their high abrasion resistance and good insulating properties.
Polyurethanes are also widely used in the manufacture of a variety of products, including motor vehicles, health care items (such as surgical gloves or rubber mattresses), furniture coverings, packaging material, flooring coverings and sealants.
A polyurethane is a polymer that includes isocyanate functional groups. Polyurethanes are produced by the reaction of an alcohol with an isocyanate, typically in the presence of heat and a catalyst.
The reaction product is a hard and resilient polymer chain containing many small, individual links between the molecules.
The major material used to produce polyurethanes are polyols. Polyurethane materials can be rigid, but some are flexible or elastic.
The properties of a polyurethane are affected by the length of the polyurethane chain (number of urethane bonds).
Properties can be tailored by selection of appropriate catalysts, reaction temperature and the use of various other additives that affect isocyanate, alcohol or both.
C. Kevlar
Kevlar is an amazing material with a multitude of uses. The chaps you’ll find on this page are made from Kevlar, because it’s a durable, light, and flexible material. The fiber of Kevlar also has excellent flame and heat resistance.
The material is lightweight and flexible, yet it’s incredibly durable. Kevlar is actually a DuPont brand name for a specific type of high-strength aramid fiber. The broad range of applications for Kevlar makes it an incredibly useful material.
Applications include protective clothing, cables, reinforced plastics, and vehicle components.
A few years later the U.S. Military began using ballistic vests made from Kevlar to protect soldiers from injury when shot at with bullets.
The military issued Kevlar vests to our troops, because this material could protect them from bullet wounds better than any other material.
Kevlar is incredibly effective at stopping or slowing down bullets. This feature makes it a useful component in many safety products.
Is It Easy Care For Kevlar Work Gloves?
If you’re new to Kevlar gloves and wondering if caring for them is difficult, the answer is no! It’s really quite easy. You just have to take some precautions when you wash them so that you don’t ruin their durability or responsiveness.
Here are a few tips for care:
1. When it comes time to wash your Kevlar gloves, make sure the surface area of the glove isn’t completely soaked before putting it in water.
This is because water can seep into the gloves from the outside, and if it does, it might make the Kevlar threads swell and deform. (The best way to do this is to place a cloth under your Kevlar glove for waterproofing.)
2. If you must iron your Kevlar gloves, make sure you iron them inside out. This will ensure that the fibers of the glove don’t stretch while they are being ironed.
Ironing the gloves inside out should also make it easier to wash them when you are done. (Ironing them inside out will help prevent shrinkage of the glove.)
3. If you have a pair of Kevlar gloves that has become so dirty that there is no way to clean them, your best bet would be to cut off any deformed fibers and start over.
Don’t throw the glove away unless it’s completely unusable and rags can’t improve its quality.
(This doesn’t apply to gloves that have become so dirty that the fibers are all deformed, whether from wear and tear or from cleaning, but this is not a common reason for gloves to become unusable.)
4. If you must wash your Kevlar work gloves, you can do so by simply placing them in the washing machine with laundry detergent and cold water. (It is not necessary to use bleach when washing Kevlar work gloves.)
Kevlar Thermal Protection
This is a post about the properties of Kevlar Thermal Protection Fibers, which are a material that can ensure excellent thermal resistance in hot environments. Being made out of polyamide-6 fibers and polyimide-resin, Kevlar has an excellent thermal conductivity of 0.0139 W/mK (0.107 BTU / hour ft2 F) at an ambient temperature of 26°C and the melting point is around 830°F.
The thermal protection of Kevlar can be compared to that of Boron Carbide which has an even lower thermal conductivity (0.004 W/mK or 0.071 BTU / hour ft2 F). However, Kevlar absorbs shock and is a more versatile material as it does not burn and is also lighter.
Kevlar has a lower thermal conductivity than many other well-known Thermal Protection Materials such as Carbon Nanotubes and Graphite. These materials do not provide the same level of protection from high temperatures as Kevlar does.
D. Dyneema
Dyneema gloves are made with a special gel, which makes them flexible and comfortable. Other materials used in making gloves do not have this same effect.
This is why Dyneema gloves are some of the best on the market. Dyneema gloves can also last longer than other types of gloves.
They are made to be tough and durable, which means that they will not tear easily. They are also more resistant to heat and water, making them ideal for those who work in hot environments.
There are a few different sizes of Dyneema gloves available. You should measure your hand before purchasing a pair so that you get the right size.
Enjoy Coolness With Dyneema
A problem has been encountered by workers in a manufacturing environment. Dyneema gloves are an excellent solution to this problem as they are heat conductors and adapt quickly to the wearer’s skin temperature.
This allows the gloves to efficiently transport moisture and heat from the gloves’ inside to the outside.
The problem is that the gloves cause discomfort and physical stress on the wearer’s hands. The gloves are very tight near the wrist area and experience pressure at the knuckle joints.
The poor contact between glove and skin, though, can be fixed with a simple modification to the glove design.
If a second layer of fabric is added to the underside of the glove, it will both create an extra layer of protection for the wearer’s hands and provide an improved fit around the wrists area for improved comfort.
Excellent Cut Resistance
When people are working on their hands, they are always at risk of getting injured.
For example, people who work with their hands too long and in heavy equipment, like construction workers and machine operators, face an increased risk of hand injuries.
When you need to wear gloves that get the job done, it is important to have the proper protection. Dyneema is a synthetic fiber that has a very high strength-to-weight ratio when compared to other manmade materials.
When Dyneema is used alone to create work gloves, they can provide you with a cut resistance level up to A2 (ANSI) and 3 (EN388). These gloves can block both sharp and blunt objects.
E. Leather
Leather is a durable, flexible material that is made from the skin of animals. The most common raw material for leather is cattle hide.
Leather can be produced at different manufacturing scales, from an artisan scale to a modern industrial scale. Leather is produced in different styles and types, and can be designed in a wide range of styles.
Leather is generally a more expensive material in comparison to synthetic fabrics, but can be more ethical than other animal products. Leather is also a renewable material, as it originates from an animal source.
Different Kinds of Leather
Leather gloves are one of the favorites of workers in different industries because they have excellent abrasion resistance, lifespan, and durability.
However, it’s worth noting that leathers made from different hides will give you different benefits. To identify the best work gloves made from a suitable material, it’s essential to know the material’s properties.
Leather is made from animal skin, typically tanned with chemicals. There are a lot of different kinds, and each has its own unique features.
This below will give you an overview of the different types and how they are used.
1. Cowhide
Cowhide is most commonly used because it takes less time to tan than other kinds of leathers and is softer too, which makes it more ideal for clothing like jackets or pants.
2. Pigskin
Pigskin is made from the same animal skin as cowhide, but it is processed differently. Pig skin is the layer of skin underneath the hair, so it can be tanned with chemicals to produce a soft leather.
The tanning process involves using enzymes that break down the proteins and fats in the leather. This makes it last longer and gives it a unique color that cannot be achieved by other kinds of leathers.
3. Deerskin
Deerskin is usually the most expensive kind of leather. It is the skin that covers the inner organs of a deer or elk, which means it is often referred to as “game” leather.
The skin has a lot of different layers, each with their own unique characteristics and uses. The coloring can also vary greatly depending on what part was used in the tanning process and may be light-brown, dark-brown, or black in some cases.
4. Sheepskin
Sheepskin leather is used a lot because it is soft, warm, and comfortable. Sheepskin leather also has the texture of suede and some people mistakenly call it suede, but they are actually very different.
Suede is processed differently, usually using synthetic chemicals instead of enzymes to remove the fat and protein that most skin utilizes to tan.
5. Buffalo Leather
Buffalo hides are absolutely huge and full of unique features that make them different from regular cattle hides. They can often be used for hides that do not require any tanning, like boots for example.
Both the hide and horns are usually used for products as well. Besides the horns, buffalo leather is also used to make different types of bags and footwear.
6. Goatskin
Goatskin is made from the skin of a goat and it is incredibly soft, making it perfect for shoes especially. It also has a silky texture, unlike other leathers that can feel coarse.
7. Horsehide
Horsehide is used for making saddles and harnesses as it is extremely durable and rugged. It is also often used in the military because it is comfortable, resistant to water, and does not stink in the arctic cold.
Leather Types:
There are different kinds of leather for different purposes. Some of them have a long history of use while others have just recently become popular in the fashion world.
Cut Locations Of Leather
The type of leather is just as essential as where the leather is sourced. The following are the places where leather is cut:
1. Side-split leather
Side-split leather is made from the skin of the animal’s back, which has been split down the middle, with each side (the right and left halves) turned outwards to form one long strip.
It is less stretchy than other types of leather and has a tighter weave giving it a very smooth surface that is ideal for such items as gloves or jacket linings.
2. Shoulder-split
This leather is made by splitting the flesh on both sides of the animal’s front legs, then turning over the strips to split in half again, to form four long strips.
As well as being less stretchy than side-splits, shoulder-splits have a rougher surface finish (as they have not been turned over and smoothed).
3. Belly-split
Belly-split leather is made from the skin of an animal’s belly – usually cows or pigs. It is thick, yet supple. It has a grainy surface because the flesh side of the skin has been left on and turned outward before being split.
This gives it an uneven and less smooth finish than other types of leather, but it is also very strong, which makes it suitable for heavy-duty work.
Know-How To Protect Your Digits
There is no time that you should be risking the safety of your digits with a poorly designed work glove.
To come up with a list of the best gloves for workers, we’ve scoured reviews on Amazon, performed our own analysis at our facility, and found an overarching theme amongst them:
It’s all about the fit. Find gloves that have a snug fit so they can be securely worn over your work-gloves-compatible arm or garment.
Whether you’re just at home or you’re working hard in an industrial environment, the right pair of work gloves can make all the difference in safely completing your tasks.
But whether you’re a tradesmen or a professional, it can be hard to sort through hundreds of work glove models and find the one pair that will really protect your hands from cuts, burns, abrasions, and other hazards.
