About 110,000 cases of hand injuries are reported every year, across different industries, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In 2018, 123,990 hand-related injuries resulted in lost workdays, second only to back injuries (142,230).

The sad news is that those injuries could have been prevented with the use of protective gloves.

OSHA reported that seventy percent of hand and arm injuries wouldn’t have happened if the workers were wearing gloves. The remaining thirty percent is due to wearing the wrong kind of gloves!

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when it comes to hand protection.

Different work situations create different hazards for your hands. A glove that shields you from chemicals may not protect against cuts or burns.

Let’s take a look at the different types of gloves and their appropriate application.

Fabric or Coated Fabric Protective Gloves

These are your general-purpose gloves that pretty much just serve as a barrier between your hands and potential hazards. They can protect against dirt, scrapes, chafing, and the occasional splinter.

Coatings can improve the level of protection as in the case of lens coating for eyewear. Different coatings include latex, nitrile, polyurethane, and PVC. They offer improved chemical resistance and improved grip for certain tasks.

Durable Work Gloves

These are made of leather, heavy canvas, or woven with synthetic fibers. Leather, in particular, is a very versatile and strong material that can resist cuts, punctures, and sparks from welding. It can also prevent rope burns and injuries from moderate levels of heat.

A Kevlar lining provides excellent protection for heavy industrial use. It’s lightweight, durable and displays remarkable resistance versus sharp objects.

Chemical-Resistant Gloves

These are the gloves that you’ll see in laboratories and medical settings. They are usually form-fitting for use in work that requires dexterity and a delicate touch.

They are usually made of rubber, plastic, or synthetic rubber. They can guard the user from infectious and biological dangers, as well as from grease, acids, and other chemicals.

Keep in mind that a single type of material can’t protect against all chemicals. Here are examples of material types and the chemicals they provide protection for:

• Butyl rubber: nitric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acid, alkalis, and peroxide
• Natural latex: water-based liquids and bio-hazards
• Neoprene: organic acids, alcohols, alkalis, gasoline, and hydraulic fluids
• Nitrile rubber: greases, solvents, and petroleum oils

Heat-Resistant Gloves

These gloves are also known as aluminized gloves. They are the best type of gloves to wear in extreme heat conditions. They can resist up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The insulating and reflective properties of aluminized gloves make it ideal for use in welding, foundry, or furnace work.

Impact and Vibration-Resistant Gloves

Repeated vibration and impact from the use of machinery such as a jackhammer are detrimental to our bodies. These injuries are collectively known as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).

HAVS can affect our neurological, musculoskeletal, and vascular systems. A common symptom is the appearance of white fingers.

Vibration damper materials (Sorbothane) are incorporated into the gloves to prevent HAVS. These can absorb the frequencies of vibration to reduce the transmission to the hands of the worker.

Keep Your Hands Safe!

For most of us, our hands are our livelihoods. It’s important to keep them safe by choosing the right protective gloves that are suited for the task at hand.

Regardless of what type of gloves you need, at Safety Source LLC, we’ve got you covered! Check out the different varieties of gloves that we have in our store.