Wearing personal protective equipment is mandated by numerous companies. Apart from your body, your hand also needs a cover to prevent infection, burns, and punctures. However, depending on the hazards present at your site and the nature of your work, you will need a specific type. There are different types of safety gloves you can choose from. Keep reading to learn more about this!
If you’re looking for lightweight gloves that offer a thin barrier of protection against dust and minor abrasions, cotton gloves are your best option. Cotton is the most utilized form of fabric. It provides comfort to the wearer while absorbing moisture and sweat from the hand. Because of its material, it is also a hypoallergenic choice for those with sensitive skin. For this reason, it is also worn beneath heavy-duty gloves. Compared to other types of gloves, it is also easier to clean and can be reused.
But if you’re looking for additional protection against chemicals, ordinary fabric might not be enough. For this reason, there are natural and synthetic gloves made for this purpose:
A common glove material used to protect against bacteria, viruses, and body fluids is latex. It is commonly used in medical and food service industries as it protects against acid, ketone, and salt substances. It is also elastic and form-fitting, which promotes dexterity for highly detailed tasks.
If you’re allergic to latex, nitrile gloves are a good alternative. While not as flexible as latex, it offers additional protection against acids and oils in food preparation and medical applications.
Polyurethane-covered fiber gloves are commonly used in the construction industry. The additional coating on the palm increases the fabric’s resistance to abrasions while still maintaining a good degree of flexibility. Because of its grippy material that resists oil, moisture, and some chemicals, it is a good choice for handling wet tools.
Nitrile coated gloves with cotton lining are also a good option because it offers resistance to oil and water as well.
Ordinary leather gloves offer a great deal of flexibility and dexterity on the wearer. This versatility makes it suitable for numerous applications such as bricklaying, agriculture, logistics, gardening, furniture handling, warehouse work, and more.
If you’re working in the welding industry, a leather hide glove is a great choice. Leather hide gloves are manufactured specifically for heat resistance. You don’t need to worry about it drying up. Aside from that, the durable material will also protect your hands from scuffs and scrapes while providing a great grip.
Another kind of material that offers high durability in industrial applications is Kevlar fabric. Thanks to its thermal protection, it resists flames, doesn’t melt, and has an extremely high melting point (800°F) compared to nylon and polyester. Apart from that, it can resist cuts and is suitable for cold environments.
It is also comfortable and reusable. It can be laundered to get rid of oil and grease easily before reusing again.
Additionally, Kevlar fibers are used in linings and seams for reinforcement. It can be seen in other variants of gloves for its features. For example, it is utilized in leather gloves for welders for added heat protection.
Workers who deal with molten metals and extremely radiant heat need additional protection. This is where aluminized gloves come in. Aluminized gloves can act as a barrier for your hands when you’re in contact with heat of up to 2,000°F. It is suitable for foundries and welding businesses.
Depending on the hazards present at your site and the nature of your work, you will need a specific type of glove. While you need nitrile gloves for chemical resistance, they might not be enough if you’re working with heat and vice versa. That’s why before you purchase some, make sure you take a look at the specifications of each one.
If you’re interested in the different types of safety gloves offered by Dels Apparel, click here!
