Safety gloves at work
Our hands do a lot of hard work, and as such, they're at high risk for on-the-job injury. People who handle sharp implements, electrical equipment, and chemicals absolutely must protect their hands before working.
Additionally, in some professions, such as the medical profession and the food service industry, hands can be vehicles for dangerous contaminants and bacteria if not suitably protected with safety gloves.
Before buying a pair of safety working gloves from us, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the various kinds of safety gloves available and their many different applications; this will ensure that you are outfitted with the right kind of glove for each task you handle while on the job. Types of safety glove include:
Cotton and fabric gloves: These gloves are suitable only for very light work as they are not strong enough to protect against punctures or chemical exposure. Fabric gloves are most commonly used for tasks like gardening work, to provide hands with lightweight protection against dirt and abrasions.
Coated fabric gloves: These gloves are usually used in laboratory work as they provide moderate protection against chemicals. Note that you should always verify a chemical's strength before attempting to handle it while wearing coated fabric gloves; if the chemical is potent you may need to upgrade to rubber or synthetic gloves.
Rubber, plastic and synthetic gloves: These gloves are used in industries where workers must handle oils, solvents, and other potent chemicals as they are completely non-absorbent. Some examples of synthetic gloves include butyl rubber gloves (useful for handling acids), neoprene gloves (for use with oils and chemical fluids), and nitrile rubber gloves (ideal for work with chlorinated solvents and for medical and food service applications).
Leather gloves: Leather gloves are often used by welders as they are spark and heat-resistant. They may also be used for tasks where very rough materials are being handled (as they provide better protection against abrasion than fabric gloves).
Aluminized gloves: These gloves are another popular choice for welders and furnace and foundry workers due to their reflective, heat-resisting qualities.
Kevlar gloves: Kevlar gloves are used across a wide range of industries thanks to their extreme resistance to cuts, punctures, and abrasions.
Medical professionals and police officers (who must frequently perform searches, exposing their hands to risk of injury) are especially fond of Kevlar gloves because they offer a great deal of protection while still being very lightweight. Kevlar also has temperature-resistant properties. Kevlar gloves are probably the most “multipurpose” safety gloves available on the market today.
If you still have questions about the different kinds of safety gloves and their various uses after reviewing the above information, don't hesitate to contact us; we'll be happy to help you select the perfect pair of gloves to keep your hands safe.
