Correct Hand Protection: A Complete Glove Selection Guide

Last edited: 2024-06-21

In this complete glove selection guide, we will delve into the intricacies of choosing the right hand protection for your specific needs.

The Categories of Hand Protection

Disposable Gloves

• Disposable gloves are typically made of latex rubber, nitrile, vinyl or polyethylene.
• Disposable gloves vary in thickness from 1 to 9 mil (1 mil = 1/1,000").
• When working around blood, FDA-approved exam gloves are required.
• Powdered gloves aid in donning and doffing.

Leather Gloves

• Cowhide is known for its durability and resistance to abrasion, making it suitable for heavy-duty tasks.
• Goatskin offers superior dexterity and flexibility while still providing good abrasion resistance.
• Deerskin is soft and supple, providing excellent dexterity and comfort.
• Pigskin is resistant to oil and water, making it suitable for outdoor work in wet conditions.

Chemical-Resistant Gloves

• Chemical-resistant gloves are typically made of latex rubber, nitrile, neoprene, PVC or butyl.
• Supported gloves have a liner that provides additional cut/puncture protection, helps with temperature extremes and absorbs sweat.
• Unsupported gloves have no liner, but generally offer better dexterity.
• Some chemical gloves are cotton flock-lined to make the glove easier to slide on/off and provide more comfort.

Cut-Resistant Gloves

• Common materials used in making cut-resistant gloves include Kevlar®, high-performance polyethylene HPPE (sometimes referred to by the brand names Dyneema and Spectra), stainless steel strands, synthetic/composite fiber yarns and steel/metal mesh.
• ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 is the US standard for glove testing. This standard measures cut resistance for industrial work gloves on a 9-level scale from A1 through A9.
• The European standard (EN388:2016) is used in Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, Mexico and even parts of Canada and the United States. EN388 ranks cut resistance from A through F; where A is the lowest indicator of cut resistance and F is the highest.
• Many cut-resistant gloves are coated with nitrile, latex, PVC or polyurethane. These coatings not only improve grip, abrasion resistance and overall durability; but also provide an additional layer of cut resistance.

Puncture-Resistant Gloves

• Common materials used in making cut-resistant gloves include Kevlar®, high-performance polyethylene HPPE (sometimes referred to by the brand names Dyneema and Spectra) and steel/metal mesh.
• Puncture-resistant gloves are often designed with multiple layers or reinforced areas to provide enhanced protection where it's most needed. This can include reinforced fingertips, palms or TPR rubber on the back of the hand.
• Similar to cut-resistant gloves, puncture-resistant gloves are ANSI/ISEA or EN388 tested and rated based on their ability to withstand puncture forces.

Impact-Resistant Gloves

• Impact-resistant gloves are typically reinforced with thermoplastic rubber (TPR) on the back of the hand, knuckles and fingers for impact protection.
• The shell of the glove is typically leather or reinforced fabric to enhance durability and grip.
• Oftentimes, the palms are also padded to absorb shocks and protect against vibrations.

Anti-Vibration Gloves

• Anti-vibration gloves are made with materials specifically designed to absorb and dampen vibrations such as gel pads, foam padding or rubber.
• This padding is strategically placed in areas where vibrations are most likely to be transmitted.
• Another feature of anti-vibration gloves is an enhanced grip, providing better control over tools and reducing the risk of accidents.

Mechanics Gloves

• Mechanics gloves are constructed of durable and flexible materials such as leather, spandex or Lycra®.
• Mechanics gloves are oftentimes reinforced with additional layers of padding in the palms, fingers and knuckles for extra protection and durability.
• Some mechanics gloves feature conductive fingertips, enabling the use of touchscreen devices without removing the gloves.

Ergonomic Gloves

• The anatomical design typically includes pre-curved fingers and a flexible shell material such as spandex or Lycra®.
• Gel or foam padding is strategically placed to reduce pressure on key areas of the hand.
• Silicone or rubber are used on the palm and fingers to improve grip and control.
• The wrists are typically adjustable for a secure fit.

Coated Gloves

• The most popular coatings for gloves include: nitrile, latex, polyurethane, PVC and rubber.
• Palm coating is applied only to the palm area to provide grip and protection while maintaining flexibility in the fingers.
• Finger coating is applied to the fingers, offering enhanced grip and dexterity.
• Full coating covers the entire glove providing maximum protection against liquids, chemicals and abrasions.
• Coated gloves are typically available with your choice of either a breathable knit or enhanced cut-resistant shell.

Cotton Gloves

• Cotton gloves are gentle on the skin and allow air circulation, keeping hands cool and comfortable.
• Cotton provides good tactile sensitivity and dexterity.
• Cotton gloves are both inexpensive and widely available.

Knit Gloves & Liners

• Knit liners are simply thinner knit gloves designed to be worn underneath another pair of gloves.
• Many knit gloves and liners are seamless, providing a smooth interior.
• Most knit gloves feature an elastic cuff to keep the gloves in place.

Thermal Gloves

• The insulation is typically made of Thinsulate™ or fleece.
• Thinsulate™ is made from synthetic fibers woven together in various thicknesses to keep your hands warm at a range of temperatures. Thinsulate works by trapping more air in less space, due to its lightweight microfibers.
• The shell of a thermal glove is typically made of waterproof and windproof fabrics such as Gore-Tex®. Thermal glove shells can also be made of leather or other synthetic fabrics.
• Extended cuffs and moisture-wicking linings are other common features.

Heat-Resistant Gloves

• Heat-resistant gloves are made from materials such as Nomex®, Kevlar®, leather or aluminized fabric that can withstand high temperatures without melting or degrading,
• Heat-resistant gloves feature longer cuffs that extend past the wrists to provide added protection to the lower arms.
• Reinforced seams prevent heat from penetrating through the seams.

Flame-Resistant Gloves

• Heat-resistant gloves are primarily designed to protect against high temperatures and thermal hazards such as heat, radiant heat and contact with hot surfaces.
• Flame-resistant gloves, on the other hand, are designed to protect against flames, sparks and direct exposure to fire. They are intended to prevent burns and injuries caused by contact with flames and thermal hazards.

Arc Flash Gloves

• Arc flash gloves are made from materials that resist ignition and do not continue to burn such as aramid fibers, modacrylic fibers and leather.
• Arc flash gloves often include multiple layers of materials to provide both flame resistance and insulation against heat.
• Arc flash gloves are rated based on their ability to protect against arc flash energy, measured in calories per square centimeter (cal/cm2). This rating indicates the level of protection provided against heat and energy from an arc flash.
• The NFPA 70E standard requires employees to wear arc rated (AR) gloves that meet the requirements of ASTM F1959 whenever there is a possibility of an arc flash.

Electrical Gloves

• There are six classes of rubber electrical gloves. Typically, low-voltage gloves refer to class 00 and class 0 gloves and medium/high-voltage refers to classes 1-4. Low voltage gloves are thinner, while medium/high voltage gloves get thicker as the voltage rating increases.
• Leather protector gloves are engineered with a specific purpose in mind – to enhance the safety of individuals working with electricity. They are designed with added reinforcement in high-wear areas and enhanced sizing/dexterity that accommodates the underlying rubber electrical gloves.

Welding Gloves

• MIG Welding Gloves provide maximum heat protection and are a good general purpose welding glove. Because of the higher level of protection, you do sacrifice some flexibility with MIG gloves. MIG welding gloves are typically made of cowhide, pigskin or deerskin.
• TIG Welding Gloves are made of much thinner, softer leathers. They provide adequate protection, but increased finger sensitivity and dexterity. They do provide reduced heat protection, when compared to MIG welding gloves. The gloves fit snugly to allow for more precise manipulation of your torch. MIG welding gloves are typically made of cowhide, pigskin or goatskin.
• Stick Welding Gloves are constructed of thicker cuts of leather. The straightforward stick welding process means that you won't need a very flexible glove. Stick welding gloves are typically made of elkskin, cowhide, goatskin or pigskin.
• Welding Mittens are for jobs where protection is your main priority and dexterity is not a concern. Mittens typically don't provide sufficient dexterity to control welding equipment. We offer welding mittens made of cowhide.