Explaining gloves for different hazards
Specifying gloves that provide workers with the appropriate protection can be crucial in helping to keep their hands safe, but often wearing gloves makes tasks easier and more efficient too.
Having identified hazards in your workplace and introduced measures to reduce the risks they pose to workers, you'll have identified areas where hand protection is needed.
We can help you identify which EN standards you need your gloves to comply with so they’re effective against the risks identified during your risk assessments.
Selecting gloves will depend on a range of additional factors which we can also help with.
Gloves are assessed for their level of protection against mechanical risks according to the European Standard EN 388.
Having identified the nature of physical hazard protection you need, whether it's against abrasion, blade cuts, tears, punctures or impact, the results of this testing should be referred to when selecting gloves.
Mechanical handling gloves feature a range of coatings to suit different environments. For example:
Impact resistant gloves generally have additional, impact absorbing material on the back of the hand, knuckles and fingers.
There will be a range of other features which may be important to your workers, such as reinforced thumb crotch for additional support and protection, or brightly colour-coded cut protection gloves for more efficient identification of the cut resistance being worn in the workplace.
If you're currently using leather rigger gloves to protect against mechanical hazards, you may want to look at more sophisticated alternatives that often perform better and assist with more intricate handling tasks.
Note that specialist gloves may be required for more demanding applications such as protection against needle-like sharps, or for use with chainsaws.
Chemical protective gloves are available in a wide range of natural and synthetic materials, but are commonly made of latex, neoprene or nitrile. They can be made of a combination of these materials too. A glove's unique material and design determines its protective performance. However, all gloves will, at some stage, fail to protect the wearer from exposure to chemical agents.
Thin, disposable gloves generally provide a short-term barrier from low-hazard chemicals and resist permeation from chemical splashes. They're often used when comfort, dexterity and tactility are especially valuable, for example fine manual tasks in low risk situations.
Reusable gloves are generally required for hazardous chemicals, including corrosive or carcinogenic substances, or where exposure will be prolonged or immersive. These thicker gloves resist chemical permeation and degradation for longer. Their bulk means that the fit can be compromised compared with thinner gloves, which can increase the likelihood of accidents so think about whether they're necessary.
Selecting gloves needs detailed performance information, they can't be chosen purely on their material. Even gloves made of very similar materials won't necessarily perform the same.
Certification, according to standard EN 374, will only provide information on the level of protection against a small number of representative chemicals. By comparison, latest REACH figures show 21,500 chemicals are registered for use in Europe.
We can provide data on permeation breakthrough times and degradation information for specific chemicals and mixtures. You will then know for how long workers can wear their gloves for the exact chemicals they’re using.
Gloves that have passed EN 374 standard will act as an effective barrier against bacteria and fungi and the liquids they’re in. For protection against contact with blood and body fluids select a glove which specifically states "Virus" against the EN 374 symbol.
When mechanical protection is also needed, disposable gloves can be worn over gloves with appropriate EN 388 protection.
In order to prevent burns from thermal hazards, it is important to know the type of hazard and the temperature involved. EN 407 standard can then be used to guide glove choice.
Gloves which have achieved specific scores in EN 407 and EN 388 standard tests can be recommended for welding applications. Often synthetic gloves offer additional benefits compared to leather gloves, but when welding there are no safe synthetic alternatives to leather. If your welding operations need good dexterity, look for EN 12477 and Type B gloves or for more protection in general welding processes look for Type A gloves.
Gloves that protect against cold have insulating linings to keep hands warm in cold conditions. It is important to understand the type of cold hazard and the temperature involved, in order to select suitable protection.
By looking for EN 511 standard ratings you can select gloves which don't lose their insulative properties, so keep hands warm in wet conditions.
Gloves may also feature materials that retain their flexibility even in very cold conditions so as not to hinder dexterity for the wearer. Some will also protect against other hazards, for example if working in low lighting conditions hi-vis gloves may be needed.
Gloves in this category use different technologies all designed to help protect hands from vibrations and shocks. Look for compliance with EN 10819 and closely examine what activities the gloves are suitable for.
Antistatic gloves that are designed to prevent electrostatic build-up, as certified by EN 1149 do not insulate the hands against high-voltage electric current. Only gloves that are certified to EN standard 60903 should be used to handle live wires or for protection against electric current. It is important to know which voltage level could occur so you can select appropriately rated gloves.
If there is a risk of burns from arcing or flashover that cannot be avoided, consider the use of adequately rated (according to NFPA 70E), thermally insulating, flame-resistant gloves.
It may be that multiple hazards exist that impact your glove choice. For example, gloves may be needed that protect against both exposure to heat (EN 407 approved), and also against sharp objects (EN 388 approved). Or, for example, it may also be necessary to wear a second pair of gloves that protect against contaminants and are EN 374 approved, over an EN 388 approved cut resistant liner.
When selecting protective gloves, as well as ensuring they will offer appropriate protection, you should also consider:
In workplaces where there are multiple job roles and responsibilities, some employers opt to simplify requirements or rationalise spending by providing a generic solution. However, to get a true understanding of the needs of glove wearers, it makes sense to involve employees in assessing and selecting appropriate gloves for their specific tasks. Conducting wearer trials is a great way to get feedback on this.
Prominent unambiguous labelling makes every day glove identification easy so the correct glove is worn every time.
The right coating to give a secure grip is important, especially when working in wet or cold conditions. A secure grip, which prevents slips and decreases the grip force needed to perform a task, provides the wearer with more control. Ultimately, it can also reduce the risk of injuries, for example cut injuries when handling sharp objects.
As well as ensuring the right protection, gloves need to satisfy a range of needs, so they are accepted by users. Gloves that perform and are comfortable too, empowers workers be more productive.
Durability should be an additional factor in your final glove selection, so look for features that extend their usable life. For example, dark-coloured gloves hide dirt, meaning they are replaced less frequently.
Improvements in coating technologies have led to products that last longer than multi-purpose or generic alternatives, making them a better choice in the long run. More resistant chemical gloves will need changing less often than disposable ones. So, when deciding, consider the true cost of a purchase.
Choosing the right glove size is vital for both comfort and protection. Gloves that are too small can cut-off the blood circulation, restricting hand movement. Too tight gloves can also make hands lose their grip through fatigue. Gloves that are too big make it difficult or unsafe to handle objects and can also be a significant entanglement risk, potentially causing avoidable injuries.
Gloves are typically available in European sizes 6 to 10, based on palm circumference measurements. Make sure workers know how to select the correct size glove using a sizing chart.
When deciding which gloves to use for a particular task, it is important to select a glove that provides workers with the appropriate protection as demonstrated by the relevant European (EN) or British (BS) standard.
Whether you need validation of the current gloves in use at your workplace, help with cost down initiatives, or recommendations for new safety procedures to keep up with changing legislation, Arco can help.
Hand protection designed for a variety of industries, applications and hazards, ensuring you can find a glove that's perfectly matched to your needs.
€10.86
Pairs | Ex VAT Inc VAT
€65.68
Pack | Ex VAT Inc VAT
€15.97
Box | Ex VAT Inc VAT
