12 Types of Hand Protection Gloves (and How to Choose the Right ...

Safety gloves are an integral part of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that protects workers from injuries across various industries. These gloves are a kind of second skin that allows them to handle hazardous materials, chemicals, and tools without sacrificing the dexterity they need to perform their work skillfully.

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Like all other safety equipment, however, gloves are not a generic product. For workers to be safe, they must be equipped with the right type of glove for the job they will be performing and the specific hazards they might encounter.

There are a number of factors that go into selecting the right safety glove. But arguably the most important is the material that the glove is made from and the protection that material provides.

This article will go over 12 common types of safety glove to help you find the one that will meet your needs.

OSHA Hand Protection Requirements

Adequate hand protection is not optional. Employers have a duty to provide their workers with all the PPE required to carry out their jobs safely. And this, of course, includes stocking every type of glove that is needed to protect every employee’s hands.

OSHA Standard .38 states:

• .138(a). General requirements. Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees’ hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.
• .138(b). Selection. Employers shall base the selection of the appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified.

Types of Hand Protection Gloves

Fabric or Cotton Gloves

These gloves act as a thin, breathable layer between the worker’s skin and the tools and materials they’re handling. Fabric gloves provide minimal protection against puncture hazards, jagged materials, open flames, and hot surfaces. However, they’re good for keeping hands clean and can prevent minor scrapes and abrasions.

Fabric gloves are sometimes used as liners worn inside larger safety gloves to provide additional warmth.

Coated Fabric Gloves

These are general-purpose gloves that offer a higher level of puncture and cut resistance, protection from the alkalinity of concrete products, and improved chemical resistance compared to standard fabric gloves.

The coatings can be made from a variety of materials, including latex, nitrile, polyurethane, and PVC. The right coating for a given job can be determined by conducting a risk assessment.

Although this style of glove is widely used, some coatings are known to become less flexible in colder work temperatures. They also provide less insulation than uncoated gloves.

Moreover, while coated fabric gloves offer some chemical resistance, they are not a substitute for a dedicated chemical glove when one is needed.

Latex and Nitrile Gloves

Gloves made of latex and nitrile are widely used in laboratories and healthcare settings and protect against:

• Biohazards
• Oils
• Solvents
• Grease
• Chemicals

These gloves are form-fitting (when the correct size is worn), allowing for greater dexterity to manipulate small items and do work that requires precision. Latex and nitrile gloves, however, do not provide adequate protection against punctures or sharp and abrasive surfaces.

Leather Gloves

Leather gloves offer good grip, spark resistance, and protection against sharp or abrasive surfaces. They also protect the wearer from moderate levels of heat, such as the heat produced from welding or the friction from a rope sliding across the palms.

Leather gloves are highly durable when properly taken care of, but can harden or shrivel when exposed to excess heat. They can also dry out hands when they’re not worn with a liner.

(Learn more about Cut-Resistant Leather Gloves)

Aluminized Gloves

Aluminized gloves are built for heat resistance. They are suitable for welding operations, furnace and foundry work, and in laboratories that use high-heat ovens. Their insulating and reflective properties can provide heat protection up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kevlar Gloves

Kevlar is a heat-resistant para-aramid synthetic fiber with a molecular structure of many inter-chain bonds that gives it its strength. This material has had a considerable impact on industrial hand protection, since it allows for the creation of lightweight and durable gloves with remarkable resistance to cuts and abrasions.

Kevlar is also used to make cut-resistant liners to support a variety of other glove styles.

Puncture-Resistant Gloves

These gloves are dedicated specifically to preventing a puncture to the hands. These can be woven Kevlar gloves or gloves which have been manufactured to emulate fish skin. The latter uses a scale- or flake-like structure to deflect penetration from needles, shards, and other puncture hazards.

Impact-Resistant and Vibration-Resistant Gloves

Vibrations may seem harmless, but prolonged exposure to them can cause harm. Safety professionals are becoming more and more aware of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and the need to protect workers from it.

Some of that protection comes in the form of personal protective equipment. Specifically, gloves that absorb impact and reduce the hand’s exposure to vibrations.

Vibration-resistant gloves are used in fabrication work, where workers might make frequent use of grinders over the course of a shift. They are also prevalent in the construction and automotive industries, where jackhammers and other pneumatic tools might be used for extended periods of time.

Check out our free whitepaper on Redefining Hand Protection!

Chemical and Liquid-Resistant Gloves

Chemical absorption through the skin can lead to serious immediate or long-term health effects. Referring to a product’s safety data sheet (SDS) will help you identify the proper level of protection required to keep workers safe while handling chemical products.

Below are a few examples of chemical- or liquid-resistant glove materials and their various applications.

Butyl Rubber

These are typically used when workers will be in extended contact with a chemical substance. They also offer resistance to water and steam permeation.

Butyl rubber is also used for protection against materials such as:

• Ketones, esters, alcohols
• Alkali
• Nitric acid
• Sulfuric acid
• Hydrochloric acid
• Peroxides

Natural Latex and Rubber

Latex and rubber gloves are intended for incidental contact situations. They are suitable for biological hazards and water-based liquids.

Neoprene

Typically used in extended contact situations with materials such as:

• Acids
• Bases
• Alcohols
• Fuels
• Peroxides
• Hydrocarbons
• Hydraulic fluids
• Gasoline
• Organic acids

Nitrile Rubber

Nitrile rubber is used to manufacture versatile, general-use gloves and can be suitable for incidental contact (such as disposable exam gloves). Thicker nitrile gloves are used in situations where extended contact is intended.

Nitrile gloves can protect the wearer from:

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• Solvents
• Petroleum oils
• Gasoline
• Greases
• Some acids and bases

Safety Glove Selection Criteria

Selecting the right glove for the job begins with an assessment of the specific risks and hazards the user is likely to encounter. This includes those that may appear minor – even a scrape or a cut could lead to an infection requiring medical intervention and days away from work.

Further considerations include:

• Size and fit: small gloves may tear while large gloves can affect dexterity
• Protection versus dexterity: sometimes a trade-off between these two factors is unavoidable and you will need to determine how to prioritize them
• Protection levels: gloves offer varying levels of protection against a given hazard and you must ensure that the glove meets the required level for the task
• Wear and tear: always check gloves for signs of physical damage, such as tears, discoloration, or swelling
• Expiration: never use a safety glove past its expiration date

Ready to learn more? Check out our free webinar on How to Use Assessment & Wear Tests for Validating Your Glove Choice!

What is PPE Safety?

PPE safety is the practice of ensuring a safe, working environment for employees and visitors through the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Safety is paramount to all businesses across industries, from those present in daily life to niche ones such as embalming and death care. Using PPEs, paired with inspections such as workplace and restaurant inspections, assessments like health and safety risk assessments, and analysis such as gap analysis—is essential to protect employees from risks and hazards.

Why is it Important?

According to the hierarchy of controls by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), PPE (sometimes also referred to as PPE equipment)—is recommended to be the last level of defense to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, but some businesses combined it with other control measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their workers. Here are some benefits of using PPEs:

• prevent unnecessary injury in the workplace;
• protect employees from excessive chemical exposure;
• prevent the spread of germs and infectious diseases including COVID-19;
• help businesses comply with regulatory requirements(e.g., The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations that’s recently been extended to limb workers); and
• improve employee productivity and efficiency.

The 4 Basic Types of PPE and Their Examples

However, even the strictest controls will not necessarily eliminate all the risks associated with most job tasks and this is where the need for PPE must be evaluated. A hazard assessment can help identify which specialized PPE will be required. There are numerous types of workplace safety equipment available depending on the hazard exposure and work conditions. The following are basic PPE that can help protect employees:

Face and Eye Protection

Face and Eye Protection includes safety goggles and face shields and should be used for tasks that can cause eye damage or loss of vision, sprays of toxic liquids, splashes, and burns.

Safety Tips:

• Check if safety glasses comply with the ANSI Z87.1 eye protection standard.
• Ensure that there are no cracks or deformities on the lenses.
• Ensure the strap is in good working condition and is firmly sealed to the cheek and forehead.
• Clean and disinfect after use.

Respiratory Protection

PPE includes full-face respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, N95 respirators, and surgical masks are used for a task that can cause inhalation of harmful materials to enter the body. This includes harmful gas, chemicals, large-particle droplets, sprays, splashes, or splatter that may contain viruses and bacteria such as COVID-19, viral infections, and more.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure that the equipment is fit-tested and the employee has undergone proper training before wearing one.
• Carefully read the instructions to determine if it is designed to help protect against the hazards you may face.
• Change filters on half-mask or full-mask respirators frequently.
• Replace disposable respirators with every use.
• Surgical masks are not to be shared with anyone.
• Avoid touching the surgical mask after wearing it.
• Change surgical mask timely and should be disposed of after use.
• Replace the mask immediately if it is damaged or soiled.

Skin and Body Protection

Skin and Body Protection PPE includes the following categories to protect employees from physical hazards:

Head Protection

Head Protection includes hard hats and headgears and should be required for tasks that can cause any force or object falling to the head.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure that there are no dents or deformities on the shell and connections are tightened inside.
• Do not store in direct sunlight as extreme heat can cause damage.
• Choose appropriate cleaning agents as it can weaken the shells of hard hats and may eliminate electrical resistance.
• Always replace a hard hat if it was used for any kind of impact, even if the damage is unnoticeable.

Body Protection

Body Protection PPE includes safety vests and suits that can be used for tasks that can cause body injuries from extreme temperatures, flames and sparks, toxic chemicals, insect bites and radiation.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure that they are clean and free from cuts and burns.
• Always get a good fit to ensure full body protection.
• Ensure bodysuit is heat-resistant clothing when working with high-temperature hazards.

Hands Protection

Hands Protection PPE includes safety gloves and should be used for tasks that can cause hand and skin burns, absorption of harmful substances, cuts, fractures or amputations.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure hand protection fits perfectly with no spaces and is free from cuts, burns, and chemical residue.
• Always replace them if any sign of contamination was observed.
• Use rubber gloves when working with heat and electricity to reduce the risk of burn or electrical shock.

Foot Protection

PPE includes knee pads and safety boots and should be used for tasks that can cause serious foot and leg injuries from falling or rolling objects, hot substances, electrical hazards, and slippery surfaces.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure boots have slip-resistant soles that can protect against compression and impact.
• Ensure the sole plate is in good condition to prevent punctures.

Fall Protection

PPE includes safety harnesses and lanyards and should be strictly used for tasks that can cause falling from heights and serious injury or death.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure that the straps are free from tears, deformities, and burn marks.
• Check the buckles if connected securely and tightly.
• Dispose of the equipment if used after a falling incident.

Hearing Protection

PPE includes ear muffs and plugs and should be used for tasks that can cause hearing problems and loss of hearing.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure the equipment fit the ear canal perfectly.
• It is recommended to use formable earplugs to fit different sizes of ear canals.
• Use protectors that reduce noise exposure to an acceptable level to have room for communication.
• Ensure earplugs are clean and in good condition.

Learn more about hearing protection.

Other examples of PPE include:

• safety glasses or goggles
• safety shoes
• high-visibility clothing or vests
• heat-resistant gloves
• anti-vibration gloves
• welding PPE such as helmets and and flame-resistant clothing
• chemical-resistant suits or aprons
• safety harnesses and lanyards

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Toolbox Talk for PPE

Workplace safety should begin with a hazard assessment. Once the hazards and risks have been identified, a plan can be put forward to prioritize and reduce the risk of injury. Useful systems and tools to perform hazard assessments include performing a risk assessment and a Job Safety Analysis (JSA).

The hierarchy of controls is a proven safety approach that helps protect employees. If elimination, substitution, engineering, and administrative controls are not enough to eliminate the risk, it is vital to choose the appropriate PPE carefully. Ensure employees are properly trained to use the safety equipment and be able to detect and report any damages before commencing work.

A toolbox talk about PPE is recommended to discuss the different kinds of PPE that can be used to minimize the likelihood and mitigate the effects of hazards. A toolbox talk template can help in assessing the sufficiency and availability of safety equipment for all employees.

PPE Safety Requirements

Safety Officers play a crucial role in maintaining workplace safety by ensuring proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This includes assessing worksites for PPE requirements, providing well-fitted equipment, and training employees on safety standards. 

Learn more about PPE Safety Requirements.

PPE Safety Examples

These examples of PPE safety are based on a free PPE checklist provided by SafetyCulture for anyone to download and use for free.

To give you a better idea, we’ve created a PPE checklist sample pdf report below:

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PPE Safety Training

To make sure that PPEs are properly used and fully serve their functions, it’s important that your workers understand their proper use, maintenance, and disposal of PPE to protect themselves and the people around them. One of the most effective and efficient ways to do this is through hand-crafted courses that allow employees to do their PPE safety training even on mobile. SafetyCulture Training includes highly recommended premade courses that will cover the different types of PPE and demonstrate when and how to use them properly. 

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