This article explains how to select, use, and maintain work gloves as part of a comprehensive PPE program. It covers hazard assessment, material selection, standards, integration with other safety equipment, and maintenance best practices.

From construction sites to laboratories, hand protection is a cornerstone of workplace safety. As part of comprehensive PPE programs, workers rely on safety equipment such as hard hats, eyewear, hearing protection, and work gloves to reduce exposure to cuts, chemicals, heat, and impact.

Selecting the right work gloves starts with a task-based risk assessment. Consider hazards—abrasion, puncture, cut, chemical, thermal, and electrical—then match materials like leather, nitrile, neoprene, butyl, Kevlar, or high-performance polyethylene to the job. Check ANSI/ISEA and EN 388 ratings, choose the correct cuff style and size for dexterity, and confirm touchscreen compatibility if needed.

Integrate gloves into a broader PPE ensemble: face shields for grinding, chemical splash goggles for handling solvents, and hearing protection in high-noise zones. Develop written procedures, provide fit testing where applicable, and train employees to recognize when gloves are the wrong choice—such as around rotating machinery where entanglement risk may outweigh benefits.

Maintain your safety equipment to extend service life and compliance. Inspect work gloves before each shift for tears, saturation, degraded grips, or compromised seams; clean according to manufacturer guidance; and replace on a defined interval or after exposure events. Store PPE away from UV, oils, and extreme temperatures, and document issuance so you can track costs and prove OSHA compliance during audits.