Work gloves are one of those things that many people take for granted, but when it comes time to buy a new pair, what sort of qualities differentiate a good, durable pair from a bad pair of work gloves?
Price is not always the best indicator of quality. There are many expensive work gloves that offer poor protection, aren’t made of the best quality materials, and won’t last as long as many more affordable work gloves. So don’t expect to get the best just because you paid the most.
How Will the Work Gloves Be Used?
When considering which work gloves to buy, it’s important to think about how you will be using them:
- What sort of substances will you be handling?
- Are there any specialized hazards you may be facing (such as open wiring, wet conditions, etc.)
- What will be the contact duration and how will it occur?
- Are there any physical details of the wearer that need to be considered (such as hand size, allergies, deformities and so on)?
Work gloves, such as those offered by Bahrns, are available in both natural and synthetic materials. While some work gloves are designed to prevent the wearer from coming into contact with harmful substances, in some cases the gloves themselves may be harmful to the wearer, such as when they are the incorrect size or are made of a material to which the wearer is allergic.
Getting the Right Glove for the Job
Different work gloves are manufactured for different purposes. For hand protection during general handling, construction, agriculture, and maintenance under dry conditions, you might consider rigger gloves, which are the most common type of work glove. Rigger gloves often will include a safety cuff, palm lining, elastic tensioner and knuckle straps. They usually are made from a combination of cotton and leather.
Safety gloves for special purposes — such as baggage handling, refuse collection, and some more potentially dangerous construction and maintenance applications — are designed not only to provide protection from harmful substances, but also to be worn for longer periods.
Other work gloves that are designed for use in warehouses, fabrication plants, assembly lines, material handling and general plant use are often made of a special type of nylon that is dipped in a nitrile foam for enhanced gripping action. They tend to be highly dexterous, come in multiple colors, and are washable. Most are also cut and abrasion resistant.
Getting the right work glove for the job is critical for the safety and protection of the employee. While the wearing experience should be comfortable, especially if they need to be worn for long periods of time, they also need to fit and be used properly.
It’s also possible to prolong their useful life by keeping work gloves clean and well maintained according to their manufacturer’s recommendations.