Choosing Work Gloves: Cut, Chemical and Heat Protection

Choosing work gloves starts with the risk assessment

In a metal workshop, on the same day there are people cutting sheet metal, machining parts on a machine tool, working at a degreasing bath and welding. Giving them all the same "knitted gloves" is the result of seeing gloves as a consumable. Choosing work gloves starts with finding out which hazard the hand is exposed to.

The Regulation on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment clearly requires this order:

• Art. 5: PPE is used when risks cannot be prevented or fully limited by technical measures providing collective protection or by work organisation.
• Art. 6: All PPE must be suitable for preventing the relevant risk without itself creating an additional risk, suit workplace conditions and the user's ergonomic needs, and fit the wearer correctly with the necessary adjustments; PPE covered by product legislation carries the CE marking and Turkish-language user instructions. PPE is provided by the employer free of charge.
• Art. 7: Before choosing PPE, the employer analyses the risks that cannot be prevented by other means, defines the required characteristics taking account of the risks the PPE itself may cause, and compares the product with these characteristics.

So the right question is not "which glove is good?" but "which hazard is the hand exposed to in this job, and what performance level is needed?". The general selection process is covered in our PPE selection guide, and the details of the regulation in our article on the PPE Use Regulation.

Reading the EN 388 marking: cut resistance and mechanical risks

On gloves for mechanical risks, you will see six characters under the hammer-and-shield pictogram. Example: 4X43DP.

Points to note when reading it:

• X shows that the test was not carried out or cannot be applied to that glove. X is not the same as "zero protection", but it gives no information about that property.
• There are two tests for EN 388 cut resistance. Highly cut-resistant materials can blunt the blade in the coup test; in that case the TDM result applies. So for jobs with a high cut risk, look at the 5th character, i.e. the letter A–F.
• The TDM letters show the cutting force: A at least 2 N, B 5 N, C 10 N, D 15 N, E 22 N, F 30 N.
• The letter P shows that the glove has passed the impact protection test; it is seen on models with impact pads on the back of the fingers.

In jobs such as cutting sheet metal, carrying glass and handling parts with sharp burrs, the TDM letter is decisive. Thin sheet with burrs usually requires a medium-high level; but the right level is determined by the risk assessment and by trying the product in your own work.

Chemical gloves: EN 374 markings

Chemical gloves are marked under the EN 374 family of standards. EN ISO 374-1 has three types:

The letters under the pictogram show the chemicals tested (standard test chemicals such as methanol, acetone, sodium hydroxide and sulphuric acid are coded with letters from A to T). Permeation performance is given in levels from 1 to 6; level 1 means at least 10 minutes and level 6 at least 480 minutes. Protection against micro-organisms is marked separately under EN ISO 374-5.

Are nitrile gloves suitable for every chemical?

Nitrile gloves are widely used when working with oil, grease and many solvents; however, their resistance to some ketones and chlorinated solvents may be limited. Thin disposable nitrile gloves mostly provide splash protection only. To find the right material, look at the personal protection information in section 8 of the safety data sheet and at the manufacturer's permeation tables; how to read an SDS is covered in our article on the safety data sheet.

Gloves against heat: EN 407

Gloves against heat and flame have a six-digit code next to the flame pictogram: burning behaviour, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes of molten metal and large splashes of molten metal. Each digit takes a level between 1 and 4. For contact heat, level 1 corresponds to brief contact with a surface of about 100 °C and level 4 to 500 °C. Welding gloves also carry markings under a welding-specific standard; for a welder's other risks you can see our article on a welder's occupational safety risks.

Choosing gloves by task

Every glove also carries size and dexterity information under the general requirements standard (EN ISO 21420). A glove that does not fit is either taken off or increases the entanglement risk; keep several sizes in stock.

Why are gloves dangerous on rotating machines?

When working close to rotating parts such as a lathe chuck, drill bit, milling spindle or sanding drum, a glove can catch on the rotating part by its fabric or a loose fibre. The glove is drawn in together with the hand; at a moment when a bare hand might slip free, the glove pulls the hand towards the rotating part. Gloves on rotating machines are therefore a separate decision.

Art. 6 of the PPE Use Regulation requires PPE not to create an additional risk itself, and Art. 7 requires risks that may arise from the PPE itself to be assessed during selection. In practice:

1. First cut off access to the rotating part with a guard; details are in our machine guards guide.
2. For jobs in which the hand must approach the rotating part while the machine is running, write the rule that gloves are not worn into the risk assessment and the machine instruction.
3. If a sharp part needs to be held, do it while the machine is stopped; remove burrs and swarf with tools and brushes, not by hand.
4. The rule must be applied without exception and visually reminded at the machine.

This decision is also consistent with the general order of choosing controls; see the hierarchy of controls.

In metal and machinery businesses in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, as part of our OHS specialist service we identify glove needs workstation by workstation and support selection through sample trials.

After selection: managing the glove programme

Choosing the right glove once is not enough; it must be used correctly on site and replaced on time. A workable programme consists of these steps:

1. Workstation list: For each workstation, write on a single page which glove is used for which task and for which task it is not used; post the list at the workstation.
2. Sample trial: Before buying, try two or three models for a week with the employees doing the work. Grip, sweating and dexterity become apparent on site.
3. Issue and replacement: Record issue against each employee with a signature. Define the replacement interval according to wear, chemical contact time and signs of damage.
4. Training: Art. 6 of the PPE Use Regulation requires practical training in the use of PPE. Show how to put gloves on and take them off, especially how to remove a chemically contaminated glove without touching the outer surface with the hand.
5. Storage: Keep gloves in sufficient quantity in a clean, dry place away from chemicals.
6. Review: Reassess glove selection after a hand injury or near miss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does X mean in EN 388?

X shows that the relevant test was not carried out or cannot be applied to that glove. It means there is no information about that property; for jobs with a cut risk, look at the TDM letter in the 5th character.

Does a cut-resistant glove completely prevent cuts?

No. Cut resistance is a resistance measured under standard test conditions; contact that is sharper or stronger than in the test can cut the glove. Gloves come after measures that eliminate the sharp edge or hold the part with a fixture.

When should I change chemical gloves?

The replacement interval is determined by the manufacturer's permeation data for the chemical used and the conditions of use. A glove showing swelling, discolouration, hardening or holes must be replaced immediately.

Are disposable nitrile gloves sufficient for chemical work?

They mostly provide only short-term splash protection. For jobs with continuous or prolonged chemical contact, a thicker, long-cuff glove tested for that chemical should be chosen.