You may not worry about minor cuts, bruises or burns on your hands caused by work. But we do! It's a security breach - and it's definitely an unnecessary risk . In some industries, work gloves are a standard and mandatory part of employees' personal protective equipment (PPE).
When you need gloves for the job, you can't just grab a pair. There are factors to consider based on your needs, especially if you work around safety risks and want to make sure you protect your hands.
What to look for in safety work gloves
The best work gloves aren't always the most expensive pair. Sometimes a lower priced pair can be more effective at protecting your hands . It all depends on your specific occupation and how the gloves are constructed. Here are some factors to consider when buying a pair of work gloves:
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Power Tool Safety Work Gloves: Resistance
to drilling If you work with power tools, you want a pair of work gloves that protect your hands from punctures and cuts. Leather gloves are tough, puncture resistant and ideal for landscapers, metalworkers and carpenters.
Padded fingers, reinforced palms and knuckle guards offer additional protection. High-quality roofing work gloves are often made from leather due to its durability and protective qualities.
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Safety Work Gloves for Heavy Tools and Machinery: Protection from
blisters and bruises Construction work and other jobs that require the use of heavy tools can leave hands bruised and blistered. You need heavy padded work gloves to protect your hands from power tool vibration and to absorb shock. The padding also protects against blisters from repetitive motion.
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Safety work gloves for hazardous materials and liquids: chemical and water protection
If working with chemicals, hands MUST be protected . This one's easy: Even if the chemicals don't burn you right away, they can be transferred to another part of your body and can make their way into your bloodstream through your skin. Gloves are also essential for jobs where your hands are constantly in contact with or submerged in water, to keep your hands from getting soaked and to be able to keep your grip on things when needed. Liquid resistant gloves are often coated with rubber or made with a waterproof synthetic material.
If full protection isn't a necessity in the workplace, there are inexpensive safety gloves that are coated to help wick away moisture instead of absorbing it. Construction workers can also find liquid-resistant gloves designed specifically for handling tar, mortar, and concrete—all of which you want to protect your hands from!
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Safety work gloves for extreme temperatures: resistance to cold and heat La
welding and metalworking require extreme heat and hands must be protected. This also applies if you work at lower temperatures.
Heat resistant gloves are durable and made with a flame retardant material. Some are even lined with a fire retardant for added protection. If you work in very cold or sub-zero temperatures, look for insulation with the level of protection that matches the temperatures you come into regular contact with. These will protect your hands from freezing while allowing you to get a grip on items.
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Electricity Safety Gloves: Protection
Shocks Good quality electrician work gloves are critical to employee safety. Safety gloves must be made from a non-conductive material such as leather or rubber. You also want to make sure the gloves don't have any metal parts on them. This would violate safety protocols, creating unnecessary electrocution hazards. Electric gloves must meet many specific safety standards and must be rated according to the voltage you are working with. Make sure you are familiar with these standards and that your gloves are compliant.
Safety Gloves: Make sure they fit… like a glove
Even the best work gloves can be ineffective at providing protection if the fit is not right. Gloves that are too small leave areas exposed to risk and can also restrict movement or reduce blood flow to the wrists or fingers. This can be another danger if an employee cannot move their fingers and hands properly.
Gloves that are too large can move and allow chemicals and other liquids to enter. They will not be effective in cold or hot temperatures. Additionally, they can create unnecessary risk when there is too much extra tissue at the end of your fingertips, making it difficult to grip objects or easy to get caught.
To find a pair of work safety gloves that fit perfectly, you may have to try on a few pairs.
Do you shop online and can't try them first? Order several sizes at the same time and return the pair that doesn't fit perfectly so you can start wearing them to work right away. Make sure the store you are buying from allows this in their return policy. You can also narrow down your size choices by measuring the length and width of your hands, following the size guide in the product description.
