EN 374 standard: protective gloves against chemicals
The first work tool that man has is undeniably the hand. It is therefore essential to protect it. The objective of the EN 374 standard is to protect the worker from chemical risks in the performance of his task. It is therefore important to choose the right protective glove material according to the chemicals you plan to handle. Should these gloves be leather, latex, textile, PVC, nitrile or neoprene? Should they be anti-cold or anti-heat? These are the questions that come to mind when choosing this PPE.
A standard for protective gloves against chemicals
The EN 374 standard relates to protective gloves against chemicals . To obtain certification, permeation tests are carried out when a manufacturer claims protection against a chemical product.
Certain modifications were made in 2016. Thus, a degradation test is also carried out which should make it possible to describe the physical transformation of the glove when it is in continuous contact with the chemical product tested. . In addition, 6 new chemicals are now included in the list of letter-coded hazardous components.
The EN iso 374 standard for the protection of various trades
Various professionals working with their hands are affected by protective gloves. The work environment has its specific risks depending on the tasks to be performed. These risks are of various natures: chemical, thermal or mechanical. Even if professional chemical gloves (in neoprene, PVC or other) must comply with the EN 374 standard, it goes without saying that each material reacts differently to a chemical product, so that the protective glove against chemical risk universal does not exist.
The EN 374 standard alone is not enough to effectively protect the user who may be exposed to mechanical risks. If the glove is not mechanically resistant, the protection against a chemical product may present a failure, for example with the perforation or tearing of the glove.
A standard that comes in different parts
The EN 374 standard classifies gloves into 3 types:
- Type A: 30-minute permeation test carried out for at least 6 products from the new list of dangerous products.
- Type B: 30-minute test performed for at least 3 products.
- Type C: 10-minute test for at least 1 product.