4 tips for choosing the right work gloves
Work gloves are important protective equipment used across many industries and professions to protect hands from injuries in workplace accidents. However, there are many types of gloves, each meeting specific needs. Before buying gloves, make sure you are buying the right ones.
Categories
Gloves can be categorized according to various criteria - by the materials used, intended use, durability, etc. In the CERVA catalogue, for example, gloves are divided into 6 categories:
- Mechanical
- Cut and puncture resistant
- Chemical
- Welding
- Against thermal hazards
- Against special hazards
You can also see a similar or slightly different categorization elsewhere. With so many choices, though, you may be a little confused about exactly what to buy. This article should help you decide.
So, what to do when buying work gloves?
The primary step when choosing the right work gloves is to get to know the nature of the potential risks you may encounter at your workplace. Based on the potential risk, of course, you choose the appropriate personal protective equipment. Let us make it easier for you and list the individual risks:
1. Working with light and blunt objects
Seamless gloves dipped in polyurethane, nitrile, PVC or latex are the best option, unless you work with rough, sharp or heavy objects. However, there are also puncture-resistant seamless dipped gloves. Or cotton gloves dipped in nitrile for work in an oily environment. Instead of the drawbacks, I would rather focus on "flexibility while maintaining good sensitivity in your hands".
They provide adequate protection against dirt, abrasion and attrition and therefore can be considered to be one of the basic safety components. We should also remember that dipped gloves provide slip resistance when handling slippery objects.
2. Working with hot (cold), sharp objects
Workers who are exposed to extreme danger due to heat (cold) or impact when working with materials and assembling products should look for gloves that will protect them from these particular risks.
They will need gloves that provide protection against high and extremely high (or low) temperatures, as well as protection against puncture and cuts. The best choice for these situations are gloves made of aramid fibres - a synthetic fibre with interesting properties. It is very flexible and resistant to cuts and heat. That is why it can protect your hands when they are exposed to extreme temperatures.
3. Working with toxic and otherwise dangerous chemicals
Does your work involve handling chemicals, exposing yourselves to chemical risks? Can your hands be exposed to light spraying or full immersion in a chemical? These are the two basic questions you need to ask before choosing work gloves.
A material that feels stronger may provide better protection, but not necessarily. When working with toxic and otherwise dangerous chemicals, always choose gloves for this purpose. Standards divide them into three types:
| Type A | Protection against high chemical risks. These gloves protect against at least 6 chemicals for more than 30 minutes. |
| Type B | Protection against medium chemical risks. These protect your hands against at least 3 chemicals for more than 30 minutes. |
| Type C | Protection against low chemical risks. They protect against at least 1 chemical for more than 10 minutes. |
Pay attention to the toxicity of the substance you are going to work with before choosing any gloves. And after using them, treat them appropriately depending on whether you purchased disposable or chemically resistant gloves. Keep in mind that no gloves can be decontaminated after contact with the chemical.
4. Working with electrical equipment
Insulating rubber gloves are the best for those workers who want to be protected from electrical injury. These gloves can protect against electric shock, which can sometimes be life-threatening!
Remember that such work gloves can at least protect against serious injury, which can happen even if you are merely replacing a light bulb at home. Please do not underestimate such risks.
In addition to the above, pay attention also to the comfort and correct size of the work gloves. Regardless of the particular type of work gloves, before use, check the gloves for any defects, wear and other flaws that could impair their protective properties.
It is also important to buy work gloves from a trusted and reliable manufacturer such as CERVA, which proudly considers itself one of the trusted manufacturers that distributes work gloves for every occasion.
