Glove Safety Standards
Many workplaces require employees to wear safety gloves on a daily basis, yet understanding glove ratings and levels of protection is often overlooked.
Choosing the wrong glove for the task can leave workers exposed to hazards and serious hand injuries.
Our simple guide highlights everything you need to know to get started.
Cut & Mechanical Protection: EN 388
Look for: Hammer symbol + four numbers + two letters
Higher numbers = more protection
- 1st number: Abrasion resistance
- 2nd number: Blade cut resistance
- 3rd number: Tear resistance
- 4th number: Puncture resistance
- 1st letter: Straight blade cut resistance (A = lowest, F = highest)
- 2nd letter: Impact resistance (P = pass)
Heat Protection: EN 407
Look for: Flame icon + six numbers
Higher numbers = more protection
- 1st number: Flame spread resistance
- 2nd number: Contact heat resistance
- 3rd number: Convective heat resistance
- 4th number: Radiant heat resistance
- 5th number: Molten metal splash resistance
- 6th number: Molten metal volume resistance
Cold Protection: EN 511
Look for: Snowflake icon + three numbers
Higher numbers = more protection
- 1st number: Convective cold resistance
- 2nd number: Contact cold resistance
- 3rd number: Water penetration resistance
Chemical Protection: EN 374
Look for: Flask symbol + list of letters
More letters = broader protection
- Letters: The chemicals tested against
Disposable Gloves
If your workplace requires disposable gloves, always ensure correct donning and doffing to avoid contamination risks. Do not reuse or wash disposable gloves, and always ensure wearers are not allergic to the glove material.
Finding the Right Fit
Gloves should never hinder your job and should fit the wearer without being too tight or loose. Our core PPE and workwear catalogues contain an on-page size chart which allows you to easily measure your hand for the right glove fit. Simply align the base of your hand and your index finger to the lines shown on the page.
Alternatively, you can measure the circumference of your hand at the palm using a tape measure and match your size to the chart below.
Please note this chart is a guide; sizes may vary depending on the material, style and manufacturer. For specific size guides simply contact our team.