| One complaint in many industrial environments | | | | end up with safety gloves that were too weak |
| ranging from construction to package handling to | | | | for the needs of the job. |
| food processing is, "These gloves are annoying" in | | | | Current standards for safety gloves are specified |
| reference to work gloves. But regardless of | | | | by ANSI/ISEA 105-2000. The standards require |
| whether you call them work or safety gloves, | | | | manufacturers to test work gloves according to |
| hand protection is a must in many work | | | | OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138, and, after tests, the |
| environments. Although a pair of gloves might not | | | | gloves are given a rating of one to five. This |
| always give you full dexterity, having your hands | | | | covers all types of gloves, whether you need |
| unprotected leaves them open to any injuries, | | | | neoprene or PVC gloves for handling chemicals or |
| from punctures to abrasions. After 2000, work | | | | thicker leather gloves for welding. The grades are |
| gloves are seen as a necessity according to | | | | based upon tests for abrasion and heat |
| OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138. The type of glove may | | | | resistance. For example, a grade of "one" indicates |
| vary with work environments, but, in any | | | | that the pair of gloves is for light work, no matter |
| workspace that might damage hands even | | | | the industry. On the other end of resistance, a |
| slightly, safety gloves are a requirement. | | | | "five" grade indicates that the gloves should stand |
| Prior to 2000, no safety regulation covered work | | | | eight pounds of impact. Gloves for general |
| gloves. Instead, the quality of hand protection | | | | construction jobs typically fall in the "two" to |
| offered by gloves was classified as "poor," "fair," | | | | "three" range. |
| and higher descriptive grades. The grades, | | | | If you don't know which kind of safety gloves |
| however, were given by manufacturers and the | | | | you'll need for a job, asking a supervisor before |
| gloves didn't need to go through a series of tests | | | | you start work is recommended. Otherwise, think |
| to determine their durability for certain work | | | | of the duties for the job and any possible |
| conditions. As a result, workers, no matter if they | | | | accidents, such as chemical burns, punctures, or |
| worked in construction or chemical handling, could | | | | abrasion, that could happen while working. |