How to Choose the Right Safety Gloves: A Guide to Proper Glove Assessments and Fit
Selecting the correct hand protection can feel overwhelming—there are dozens of coatings, liner materials, and certification marks to go through. At Dalton Safety, we cut through the jargon every day, helping companies across the UK match the glove to the job. Below is the process our own consultants follow when carrying out a glove assessment. Feel free to use it as a checklist for your next review.
1. Start with the Hazards, Not the Catalogue
Before you look at glove specs, revisit your risk assessment. Ask yourself and your employees: “What exactly are our hands exposed to, how often and for how long?” Typical hazards include:
| Hazard Type | Real-World Examples | Key Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical (abrasion, cut, tear, puncture) | Sheet-metal handling, recycling, maintenance | EN 388 |
| Chemical | Cleaning in food production, solvent transfer, lab work | EN 374 |
| Thermal – heat | Foundry work, welding, catering ovens | EN 407 |
| Thermal – cold | Outdoor winter tasks, cold stores, refrigeration | EN 511 |
| Electrical arc | Live panel work, utilities, rail | IEC 61482 |
| Biological | Healthcare, waste, veterinary | EN 455 / EN 374 |
Knowing the hazard hierarchy lets you rule entire glove categories in or out right away.
2. Understand the Markings
Since Brexit, UKCA and CE marks live side-by-side. On mechanical-protection gloves, you’ll still see the familiar EN 388 shield followed by four digits (and sometimes two letters):
- 1st digit (abrasion): 0–4
- 2nd digit (cut – coup test): 0–5
- 3rd digit (tear): 0–4
- 4th digit (puncture): 0–4
- Letter (TDM cut test): A–F (higher = better)
- Second letter (impact): P if impact-rated
For chemicals, EN 374 now uses a three-beaker pictogram with letters identifying the challenge chemicals tested (e.g. A = methanol, K = sodium hydroxide). If your process involves a solvent that isn’t covered by the beakers on the glove, it is the wrong glove—full stop.
3. Balance Protection with Dexterity
No glove is protective if it ends up in a pocket. At the fit-test stage, we ask wearers to perform the most fiddly part of their job—tightening a small fixing, writing, touchscreen use—while wearing potential gloves. Make sure you:
- Measure the hand correctly (circumference just above the thumb-crutch).
- Try both hands; swelling or dominant-hand size differences are common.
- Check cuff length and style (knit-wrist vs safety cuff) against snag and splash risks.
A glove that feels snug without restricting blood flow encourages all-day compliance.
4. Consider Environment and Grip
-
Dry, oily or wet?
- Dry: Polyurethane (PU) gives light, tactile grip.
- Oily: Sandy nitrile or foam nitrile disperses oils and maintains hold.
- Wet: Latex crinkle or micro-foam nitrile channels water away.
- Temperature: Thermal linings add bulk, so maybe switch to a thinner liner plus a disposable chemical gauntlet when only short exposure is expected.
- Touchscreen tasks: Look for copper-thread fingertips or specialised conductive coatings.
5. Don’t Overlook Comfort & Skin Health
We’re seeing a rise in dermatological complaints linked to prolonged glove use. The latest knitted liners use HPPE blended with bamboo or recycled PET for moisture wicking. Where frequent change-out is required, powder-free nitrile disposables reduce dermatitis flare-ups compared with latex.
6. Plan for Lifecycle Costs, Not Just Unit Price
| Cost Factor | Hidden Expense if Ignored |
|---|---|
| Wear rate | Cheap gloves torn after one shift drive replacement spend. |
| Laundering | Some mechanical gloves maintain 80% of performance after five washes; others delaminate. |
| Waste disposal | Solvent-soaked gloves may be classified as hazardous waste. |
A glove at £1.80 that lasts a week is cheaper than a 60-pence option that lasts two hours.
7. Re-Assess Whenever the Process Changes
New tooling, chemical substitutions or even a seasonal temperature swing can invalidate your original selection. Schedule a formal glove review at least annually (PPE Regulations 1992, amended 2022), and document any field trials.
8. How Dalton Safety Can Help
- On-site hand-protection assessment – We identify hazard gaps and rationalise SKUs.
- Free sample programme – Trial multiple glove models before you commit.
- Training toolbox talks – We teach employees how to spot wear indicators and when to replace gloves.
- Recycling partnerships – Divert end-of-life gloves from landfill where feasible.
Conclusion
The right safety glove is the one that offers verified protection and that employees want to wear. By starting with a hazard-led assessment, decoding the relevant standards and ensuring an ergonomic fit, you’ll safeguard hands, improve productivity and cut hidden costs.
Ready for tailored advice? Contact the Dalton Safety team on 0800 987 4000 or email enquiries@daltonsafety.co.uk to book your complimentary glove hand protection assessment.
Stay safe,
The Dalton Safety Team