Fit, material and testing procedures determine whether personal protective equipment provides reliable protection against injuries and hazardous substances in everyday working life

Whether it’s sharp-edged metal sheets in metalworking, rotating tools in manufacturing, corrosive chemicals in the laboratory or infectious samples in the healthcare sector – the hands are among the parts of the body that are particularly frequently exposed to hazards in everyday working life. Cuts, abrasions, burns or contact with hazardous substances remain among the typical accident and health risks in numerous sectors. At the same time, new materials, automated production processes and stricter health and safety requirements are placing increasing demands on personal protective equipment.

Protective gloves play a central role in providing protection. However, their effectiveness does not depend solely on the fact that they are worn. Rather, it is crucial that they are tailored to the specific task and the actual hazards involved. An unsuitable glove can restrict mobility, make it difficult to handle tools safely or, in the worst case, give a false sense of security. Selecting suitable protective gloves is therefore an essential part of workplace health and safety and should be based on a thorough risk assessment.

The risk assessment as a starting point

The basis for selecting suitable protective gloves is the risk assessment. Employers are obliged to systematically identify potential risks in the workplace and to derive appropriate protective measures from this. Only on this basis can it be assessed which properties a glove must fulfil for the specific application.

The VTH Verband Technischer Handel e. V. recommends that companies seek advice when making their selection. This is because the wide variety of different materials, protection classes and standards makes it clear that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Depending on the task, the requirements placed on a protective glove can vary considerably.

Jens Thome, Managing Director of NITRAS SAFETY, emphasises: “We can only recommend seeking comprehensive advice before deciding on a glove. This is because a glove should fit as well as possible and have the most precise fit possible in order to provide the best possible protection against injuries or damage to health – whilst also complying with all legal requirements.”

Standards provide the basis

The legal framework for personal protective equipment is the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425. It defines the essential requirements for the safety and health protection provided by protective equipment within the European Union.

For protective gloves, DIN EN ISO 21420 specifies the general requirements. Among other things, it covers ergonomic properties, material safety, labelling and test methods. Depending on the area of application, further standards may apply. For example, DIN EN 388 sets out the requirements for gloves protecting against mechanical risks, whilst DIN EN ISO 374 covers protection against chemicals and microorganisms. Separate product-specific standards apply to work involving heat or welding.

These standards thus form the technical basis for the assessment of protective gloves. However, which design is actually suitable always depends on the specific working conditions and the particular hazard involved.

Protection starts with the right choice of material

In addition to certification in accordance with standards, material properties play a crucial role. Depending on the task, gloves must meet different requirements. These include, for example, a high level of grip, sufficient abrasion resistance, protection against cuts or chemicals, and resistance to heat or cold.

The fit is equally important. If a glove does not fit properly, this can restrict finger mobility and make it difficult to handle tools or components safely. At the same time, there is an increased risk that employees will be reluctant to wear the gloves or will remove them whilst working.

With the increasing digitalisation of many workplaces, additional properties are also becoming more important. If employees need to operate mobile devices or industrial touchscreens, gloves are required whose materials allow for capacitive input.

Test procedures assess protective performance

To ensure that protective gloves fulfil their protective function over the long term, they are subjected to comprehensive test procedures. The focus is not only on compliance with legal requirements, but also on suitability for different operating conditions.

One example is the grip test. This assesses how securely objects can be held whilst wearing gloves. Particularly in laboratories or when working with hazardous substances, good grip can help to reduce the risk of containers or samples falling, thereby preventing contamination or injury.

Equally important is the abrasion test. This examines the material’s resistance to mechanical stress. Friction can cause micro-cracks or damage to the material, which compromises the protective effect. High abrasion resistance is therefore an essential quality feature, particularly for tasks involving prolonged contact with rough surfaces.

In the case of chemical-protective gloves, there is a further aspect to consider. Even if no external damage is visible, hazardous substances can penetrate the material at a molecular level. The so-called permeation test therefore determines how long a glove can withstand a defined chemical before substances breach the protective barrier.

Different requirements depending on the area of application

Two typical areas of application illustrate just how varied the requirements for protective gloves can be.

Assembly gloves

Assembly gloves are primarily designed to protect against mechanical hazards. In accordance with DIN EN 388, they are tested for, amongst other things, abrasion resistance, cut resistance, tear resistance and puncture resistance. The higher the performance level achieved, the greater the level of protection within the respective test procedure.

For many assembly tasks, non-slip nitrile or PU coatings are also used to facilitate the safe handling of smooth workpieces. Seamlessly knitted base fabrics also enhance comfort and prevent pressure points on the fingertips.

Chemical-resistant gloves

Chemical-resistant gloves are designed to protect workers from substances hazardous to health and from microorganisms, and are classified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 374. Depending on the protection class, they must achieve defined permeation times against a specified number of test chemicals.

For example, Level 2 means that the glove material withstands a test chemical for at least 30 minutes before it penetrates the material at a molecular level. Additional tests also assess protection against microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or fungi.

Advice remains a key component of occupational health and safety

The selection of suitable protective gloves should not be based solely on individual product characteristics. Rather, the decisive factor is the interplay between risk assessment, certification in accordance with standards and the specific requirements of the workplace in question.

Specialist suppliers in the technical trade assist companies in selecting suitable solutions whilst ensuring that legal requirements and technical specifications are met. Particularly in complex working environments, expert advice helps to avoid wrong decisions and to improve the protection of employees in the long term.

Conclusion

Protective gloves are among the most commonly used items of personal protective equipment. However, their protective effect does not depend solely on compliance with applicable standards. It is only the combination of risk assessment, appropriate material selection, standard-compliant testing and an ergonomic fit that enables effective protection in day-to-day work.

With increasing automation, new materials and rising demands on health and safety, the careful selection of suitable protective gloves is becoming ever more important. For companies, it is therefore far more than just a procurement decision – it is an essential component of modern workplace and risk management and helps to reduce accidents, health risks and absenteeism in the long term.