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The requirements for hand protection can be found in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, under 1910.138. The General Requirements call for "appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures, chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes."

Glove Materials: No single material will provide protection from all hazards, but each material or combination of materials will provide the needed protection for specific jobs. Conney Safety Products can help you select from natural rubbers, nitrile, neoprene, PVC, leather, cotton, Kevlar and a number of successful combinations of these materials for superior protection.

Type of Work: The special requirements and conditions of your job may require a better grip, more dexterity, higher abrasion resistance or a lighter glove for more comfort. Our wide selection of gloves will handle most of your needs.

Sizing Up the Job: Selecting the right protective glove material for the hazards is only half the job. Loose-fitting gloves can be uncomfortable and get caught in machinery. Tight-fitting gloves increase hand fatigue, heat stress and and can cause circulation and hygiene problems.

Fitting You Like a Glove... To determine proper hand size before ordering gloves, simply measure the circumference of your hand around the palm, over the knuckles. This measurement, in inches, will be closest to your actual glove size. For example, if the circumference of your hand is 8", you'll need a size 8 glove. Remember, this is a general rule, since sizes may vary slightly by manufacturer. Gloves are sized according to men's hands, except where noted. Length is measured from the tip of the middle finger to the cuff edge.

A Guide to Cuff Design:

Slip-ons are designed for easy on and off with no seam attachment.

Knit Wrist style is designed to hold the glove in place and prevent debris from entering the glove.

Safety and Gauntlet Cuff are glove extensions that help protect the wrist area.

Safety Cuffs are usually 21/2" while the Gauntlet Cuffs are 41/2" or longer to protect the forearm area.

Rules of Thumb When Choosing a Glove

Straight Thumb - The basic thumb pattern, requiring the least material and cost.

Wing Thumb - For more comfort and extra wear in the thumb area, it has no exposed seams to split or wear on the working surface.

Keystone Thumb - This pattern features a separate inset thumb with a double layer of leather for protection. This provides more dexterity and comfort than other patterns.

Types of Leather:

Cowhide is the most commonly used glove leather. Features include excellent abrasion resistance, comfort, durability and breathability.

Pigskin has a porous texture which offers the best breathability. Pigskin tends to become softer with use and withstands moisture without stiffening. Launders better than other leathers.

Goatskin has the highest natural lanolin content, making it the softest, most abrasion-resistant leather. Use in work requiring tactile sensitivity.

Deerskin is soft, warm and long-wearing. Use when dexterity is needed or in cold weather.

Cuts of Leather:

Side Split: Best wearing portion of the hide because the fibers are more dense.

Shoulder Split: A more economical leather. Hide tends to be more coarse and less durable.

Grain Leather: Smooth, pliable, external side of the hide. Provides superior dexterity and flexibility. Repels liquid.

How do I decide which disposable glove to go with? The answer depends on your application and frequency of use. Here are some issues to look at:

Latex (Natural Rubber) Disposable Gloves

1) Natural Rubber (latex) has protein in it which can cause allergic reactions from prolonged use (sometimes allergic reactions can occur even after short-term use).

2) Some brands of latex gloves are labeled "Low-Protein", indicating that much of the allergy-causing proteins have been manufactured out of the glove.

3) Natural Rubber is the most elastic material found anywhere. The fingertip dexterity and flexibility of such gloves is difficult to match.

4) Natural Rubber gloves are excellent barriers for viral penetration from blood and other bodily fluids. They had been the glove of choice for many decades in the medical field (must be labeled as an "exam" glove).

5) Natural Rubber is not very chemical resistant. Some of the chemicals that mix well with waters (such as alcohols) are easily blocked out by Natural Rubber. Rubber has extremely poor resistance to petroleum based products.

Latex Free Disposable Gloves

1) Such disposables are available in nitrile, vinyl, polyethylene, and other synthetics.

2) Certain varieties, such as nitrile, will offer greater chemical protection, while still being safe for use around blood (if listed as an "exam" glove).

3) Through latex free gloves do not have the proteins found in natural rubber, there is a very small percentage of the population who are allergic to some of the compounds found in various latex free gloves.

4) Vinyl gloves are not nearly as stretchable as latex disposables, however, this is sometimes looked at as an attribute for certain applications. While vinyl still provides very good fingertip dexterity, the lack of stretchability allows vinyl gloves to be taken off and on easier (provided they are powdered gloves).

5) Some synthetic gloves are difficult to tell the difference from a latex (natural rubber) glove. Special formulas are allowing glove manufacturers to begin more closely simulating the attributes of a natural rubber glove (stretchable, tight fit), while keeping the allergy containing proteins out.

Talk to a Conney Technical Support Representative to help you determine which type of glove is best for you and your company.