Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a grip on the basics of safety gloves

It's pretty rare for a business owner to do a lot of investigation before purchasing or using safety work gloves. Usually, a certain type of glove has always been used, and that's the one the owner keeps on using. But prior use is not a guarantee that you're using the right gloves. Take the time to start from scratch and choose the best work glove for you.

I recommend: Start with federal requirements for safety work gloves at the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA glove safety site "A Basic Guide for Selecting the Proper Gloves." MAPA Spontex has a Glove Selection Guide for many industries that lets you narrow down your options to very specific jobs. No work glove will do its job if your employees don't use it correctly; see the New York Times for an article on safety glove use and abuse.

Choose a side when it comes to latex or vinyl gloves and safety

For years, latex safety gloves were the norm for workers who needed maximum dexterity, such as food service and medical workers. Then latex was discovered to cause allergies and vinyl was substituted, but within the last few years problems were discovered with the phthalates in vinyl. You'll find arguments in support of each side: make your decision as informed as possible.

I recommend: Get an FAQ on Vinyl's Health, Safety, and Environmental Performance at OMNOVA Solutions. MarketWatch from the Wall Street Journal has an article on the vinyl shortage and its effect on safety glove prices, as well as a list of the pros of using latex safety gloves.

Eliminate cut injuries with the right cut-resistant industrial work gloves

Cuts are a particular issue for users of industrial safety gloves (from automotive manufacturing to meat processing), oilfield safety gloves, and mechanics' safety gloves. The name 'cut-resistant glove' can lead workers to a false sense of security, but no glove can prevent all cuts. Get the right glove and use it properly to keep your workers safe.

I recommend: Read a thorough presentation of Cut Resistant Glove Selection and Use from Lab Safety Supply. Ask the Meatman has a video of cut-resistant work gloves in action, which shows exactly the kinds of cuts this type of safety glove protects against.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your employees are using gloves to protect against contamination, whether biological or chemical, schedule regular training updates on how to remove and dispose of contaminated safety gloves.

1. OSHA glove safety regulations require work gloves on some job sites.
2. A safety glove can make your employees' jobs more comfortable in cold weather.
3. OSHA safety gloves can protect hands from harmful chemicals or materials.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check OSHA glove safety regulations

Some jobs will require particular types of gloves. Some employers may provide the gloves or have established vendors for glove purchase already in place for their employees

I recommend: Try MCR Safety for the safety gloves you need for your job. Cryo-Industrial Gloves protect hands in cold, hazardous environments. Read the OSHA regulations for your particular industry.

Consider what protection you need in a safety glove

You may need electrical safety gloves or gloves that offer chemical protection. Assess the conditions on your job and choose gloves accordingly.

I recommend: Discount Safety Gear has protective gloves for welding, handling chemicals and working in cold weather. Northern Safety Company, Inc. offers a wide variety of industrial gloves for safety.

Try on the work gloves to make sure they fit properly

Part of ensuring a glove's safety is making sure that the glove fits well. If you can, order a range of sizes for your employees to try.

I recommend: Order a pair of safety gloves from Utility Safeguard to ensure a proper fit. DiscountSafetyGear.com offers low prices so you can sample a variety of gloves to make sure they fit well.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Insider safety gloves can offer extra protection for hands. These gloves are worn inside other protective gloves. If you plan to order both, make sure you have enough room in the outer glove for your hand and the inside glove.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find resources on industrial safety gloves

The web offers a lot of training pages related to using safety gloves in trades like electrical work, carpentry, foundry work, chemical plant work and lots more. In addition to providers offering these products, safety agencies work to educate workers on when to use safety work gloves.

I recommend: On the OSHAcademy Online Safety Training Network, readers can find programs on hand protection detailing the use of safety gloves and other tools for workplace OSHA glove safety. Get industrial case histories on hand safety with industrial safety gloves from SafTek. Find a large library of training materials on gloves and hand safety from Business & Legal Reports (subscription required).

Look for info for medical safety gloves

The medical environment is one place where safety gloves act as a bulwark against disease and contagion. Medical safety gloves protect the health care workers and patients in a medical facility, and along with other basic ideas like hand-washing, safety gloves help bring down mortality rates in a surgical center or other intensive care area, or anywhere where patients can be prone to infection.

I recommend: The Occupational Health and Safety page online outlines issues with the use of medical work glove types and "superbug" conditions like MRSA that threaten health care workers and patients alike. Get more information on safety gloves and safety training options at RM Library.

Locate other safety glove training pages for food service

There's more on the web about how safety gloves protect customers in food service establishments, along with correct use and guidelines. These are just some of the extended resources on safety gloves available over the net for those who want to learn more about comprehensive safety in any workplace.

I recommend: Get food safety and safety glove training online from San Diego State University's Environmental Health and Safety Dept. Get more from Eastern Mass Food Safety.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For any kind of safety gloves education and training, make sure the program or material is pertinent to your field. Because safety gloves are used in so many different roles, each resource will probably be tailored to just one of them. Be judicious in your search.