The PPE Glove Mistake That's Costing UK Trade Businesses in Downtime

A bad pair of work gloves can slow down a job before you even realise it.

For UK trade businesses, getting that choice wrong can mean poor grip, uncomfortable hands and interruptions during the working day. Harveys Workwear supplies work gloves for different workplace needs, giving businesses options to consider alongside the demands of the job.

So, what are the types of work gloves, and how do you know which ones your team actually needs? The answer starts with the hazards involved, the work being carried out, and the protection workers actually need.

Key Takeaways

1. The right work gloves should match the hazards, tasks and working conditions employees face.

2. Cut, abrasion, tear and puncture resistance provide different types of protection and should not be treated as the same thing.

3. A higher protection rating does not automatically make a glove more suitable for every task.

4. Fit, grip and dexterity can all affect how well workers are able to carry out their jobs while wearing gloves.

5. The UK PPE regulations indicate businesses have to provide proper protection where there are risks in the workplace that cannot be satisfactorily mitigated in other ways.

What Is PPE and Why Do Work Gloves Count?

So, what is PPE?

Personal protective equipment is equipment worn or held to protect a person from one or more workplace health and safety risks. Gloves can therefore be PPE when they are selected to protect the hands against identified hazards.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says PPE should be considered after other ways of controlling risk have been considered. Where a risk assessment shows PPE is required, employers must provide suitable equipment and give workers appropriate information, instruction and training.

For trade businesses, this means a box of general-purpose gloves is not necessarily enough. The protection needs to match the work. This is especially important when choosing PPE gloves for tasks with specific workplace hazards; the level and type of protection need to match the risk that's been identified.

What Are the Main Types of Work Gloves?

There is no single glove that suits every trade. The types of work gloves you choose should reflect the hazards workers may encounter.

• General handling gloves work well for everyday tasks where grip and basic hand protection are the main concern.

• Cut-resistant gloves are built for jobs involving sharp edges or materials that pose a cutting risk.

• Chemical-resistant gloves are often necessary when workers are handling chemicals; just keep in mind the right material depends on the specific substance and how workers are exposed to it.

• Cold-weather gloves help keep hands warm and dexterous when working in low temperatures.

• Impact-resistant gloves are a good fit for tasks where hands may be exposed to impact hazards.

Other options may focus on grip, flexibility, touch-screen use or specific industrial requirements. The important point is to start with the risk rather than the glove itself.

Glove Cut Resistance Levels Explained

Cut resistance is one area where choosing by appearance can be particularly misleading. Under BS EN 388, protective gloves against mechanical risks are assessed for properties including abrasion, blade cut, tear and puncture resistance. Impact protection can also be included where applicable.

This is where glove cut resistance levels explained can help when you are comparing glove specifications.

The marking on a glove can show how it performed against different mechanical hazards, with separate results for abrasion, blade cut, tear and puncture. The cut result should be considered alongside the other ratings rather than viewed on its own.

A cut-resistant glove is not automatically suitable for every job involving sharp materials. Different levels of protection are available, and the appropriate level depends on the risk involved.

It is also important to consider dexterity.

A glove made for a higher level of protection may not feel like the lighter glove you are used to. Too much bulk might add to the difficulty of the operation if workers are required to handle small parts or perform fine work.

This is worth keeping in mind when looking at glove cut resistance levels explained, as the highest rating is not automatically the most suitable choice for every task.

Why Grip and Fit Matter More Than Businesses Expect

Protection is only one part of choosing a suitable glove. Workers also need gloves that allow them to grip tools, handle materials and get on with their work comfortably.

A glove that is overly loose can make your hand awkward. If it is overly tight, it can get irritating during a long shift. Poor grip can also make it more difficult to grasp tools, materials or components securely, which can make ordinary tasks more difficult.

When selecting gloves, consider:

• Whether the fingers are comfortable and not tight

• Whether there's adequate area for natural hand movement

• Whether the palm provides a good grip on tools and material

• Whether the gloves are comfortable to wear all day at work

• How well you can do small jobs while wearing gloves

A good fit should support the task rather than get in the way of it.

What Do PPE Glove Regulations Mean for UK Businesses?

Understanding PPE glove regulations is essential when it comes to supplying gloves to employees.

Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended in 2022), employers in Great Britain have a duty to provide suitable PPE whenever workers face health or safety risks that can't be adequately controlled by other means. Since 6 April 2022, this duty has also been extended to cover limb (b) workers.

PPE should be suitable for the risk, appropriate for the workplace and suitable for the person wearing it. It should also be compatible with other PPE where more than one item is needed. 

Employers also have responsibilities around maintenance, storage, information, instruction and training.

In practice, glove selection should therefore follow the workplace risk assessment rather than being based on price or general-purpose descriptions.

How Should Businesses Choose Gloves for Different Jobs?

Start with the work rather than the product. Ask:

What could injure the worker's hands?

Consider sharp edges, rough surfaces, chemicals, machinery, impact, temperature and other hazards.

What does the worker need to do while wearing the gloves?

If the task requires precision, dexterity and frequent handling, the glove needs to allow those movements.

How long will the gloves be worn?

Comfort becomes increasingly important when workers wear gloves for extended periods.

What do the manufacturer's specifications say?

Look at the protection ratings, purpose and criteria that are relevant rather than appearance or general description of the goods.

You may come across brands such as portwest gloves and ansell gloves when comparing workplace options. However, the brand itself should not be the deciding factor. The important question is whether the particular glove is suitable for the identified task and risks.

Product specifications are worth checking too. When looking at ansell gloves, for example, the individual product details can tell you more about the intended use, protection characteristics and materials than the brand name alone.

What About Gloves for Outdoor and Cold Conditions?

Another easy one to forget is temperature.

Working outside in the colder months may affect your comfort and ability to move your hands. In some cases, insulated gloves may be helpful in keeping employees warm while they do their work.

However, warmth should not be considered separately from protection.

Even in cold conditions, protection still needs to match the task. Grip, flexibility, fit and resistance to the relevant hazards should be considered alongside warmth.

Keep Your Team Protected Without Slowing Them Down

Work gloves are easy to overlook until they start getting in the way. A poor fit, weak grip or unsuitable level of protection can interrupt routine tasks and leave workers adjusting or changing gloves during the day. Looking at the task and the hazards first can help reduce those avoidable problems.

Harveys Workwear supplies work gloves for a variety of trade and workplace applications. If you are replacing worn gloves or reviewing the hand protection your team currently uses, you can browse the range and check the specifications against the work your team carries out.

FAQs

How Do You Know When Work Gloves Need Replacing?

Check gloves regularly for visible damage, worn areas, loose stitching, loss of grip or changes in the material. Gloves that have become damaged or are no longer providing the protection they were selected for should be replaced. The replacement point will vary depending on the type of glove, how often it is used and the conditions it is exposed to.

What do glove cut resistance levels mean?

Cut resistance is one of the performance properties assessed under BS EN 388. The rating provides information about how a glove performs against blade-cut hazards, alongside other mechanical protection properties.

What are PPE glove regulations in the UK?

The PPE glove regulations form part of the wider Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, as amended in 2022. Where workplace risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means, employers must provide suitable PPE and meet the associated requirements around assessment, maintenance, information, instruction and training.

Are thicker work gloves always better?

Not necessarily. A more substantial glove could provide greater protection but may come at a cost of comfort and dexterity. The right choice really depends on what you’re doing, the hazards and the level of protection required.

Can one type of glove be used for every task?

Not all the time. Different jobs have different risks, so different types of protection will be required. A pair of gloves that will do the job for ordinary handling might lack the proper protection when handling chemicals, sharp items, impact or cold temperatures.