Work gloves for optimal protection!

Depending on the type, work gloves are part of PPE or Personal Protective Equipment. They are necessary and, in some cases, imposed by the labor code. The role of work gloves is to equip the hands.

The usefulness of men's and women's work gloves

In general, work gloves cover the hands, part of the hands and up to the arms and forearm of a worker. Their main role is to protect the �dressed� part from any danger. These types of gloves are part of PPE.

Although not part of PPE, gloves used by healthcare professionals are classified as work gloves.

Handling, anti-cut, winter, waterproof: the specificities of professional safety gloves

There are different types of gloves designed according to the field in which a worker operates, specially adapted to the risks incurred by the latter. We can name at least 8 of them.

• The handling gloves are designed to minimize the risk of abrasion and crushing. They are usually made with either metal gauntlets or thick leather.
• The protective gloves against chemical or bacteriological risks are made of nitrile, latex or even PVC. They are mainly used in laboratories, in the health professions and in the chemical industries.
• Thermal protective gloves are used by anyone working in high heat or intense cold. This is the case for firefighters, welders, refrigeration mechanics or people handling liquid helium or nitrogen.
• The anti-vibration gloves are designed for any worker using devices emitting strong vibrations such as sanders, drills, etc., for more than 10% of their working time. They are used to prevent loss of precision of the fingers or discomfort in the joints and the hand.
• Dielectric gloves are made to protect electricians when working under voltage. It is sometimes necessary to combine these gloves with a so-called overglove (in leather) for optimal protection.
• The protective gloves against mechanical risks prevent the risk of cutting, tearing, abrasion and perforation. The field of use of these gloves is very wide.
• The cut protection gloves are made with a kind of chain mail or metallic scale to equip butchers for example.
• Medical gloves are used in the health field: surgeons, doctors and nurses, among others, are equipped with them. They are usually made with natural rubber. In case of allergy, plastic polymer or synthetic rubber is used instead.

How to choose work gloves?

It is important to choose the right gloves, beyond opting for gloves adapted to the working conditions, you must ensure that your pair of gloves are standardized, thus making it possible to certify the protection of your hands . The standards governing the work gloves included in the PPE.

With more than a quarter of work accidents involving the hands, it is vital to follow the established standards to ensure the best protection of the worker. Each area having specific constraints, the standards have been put in place to respond adequately to these various constraints. So far there are six main standards that govern the design of protective gloves.

• The EN 388 standard is divided into 2: the first covers all mechanical risks and the second covers impact cuts.
• The 511 standard concerns protection against cold: resistance to convective cold, contact with cold and permeability.
• The 407 standard refers to protection against heat or fire.
• The standard 374 revised in 2004 refers to chemical (complete and simple) and bacteriological protection.
• The EN 1082 standard deals with protection up to the forearm against cuts and stab wounds.
• The 13998 standard divided into 2 levels concerns protection against the fall of a mass of 1 kg over 250 mm (level 1) and 500 mm (level 2).

Where can I find work gloves?

Do you work in a trade (construction worker, electrician, etc.) requiring you to wear a professional work glove? To avoid any accident at work in your professional environment, it is important to be equipped with gloves corresponding to the standards in force. Specialists in Professional PPE, we offer a complete selection of work gloves (heat resistant gloves, cut resistant gloves, etc.) on our Oxwork online store. Need help ? A question ? Do not hesitate to call our customer service to make the right choice.