Selecting Work Gloves and PPE by Task
Key Takeaways
- What is this about? Selecting Work Gloves and PPE by Task
- Who should read it? Procurement managers and industrial buyers sourcing from China.
- Why it matters? Industry insight helps buyers make better sourcing decisions.
Key Takeaways
- Identify the hazard first — abrasion, cut, chemical, heat, impact or visibility — before choosing any glove.
- Read the EN 388 digits for the specific mechanical hazard you need to control, not just the overall rating.
- For chemical protection, request the manufacturer’s chemical resistance table — one glove can protect against one solvent but fail against another.
- Specify the task, the hazard, the standard (e.g., EN ISO 20471, EN ISO 20345, ANSI Z87.1), plus colour, size range and quantity.
Start From the Hazard, Not From the Catalogue
The same glove is wrong for three different tasks in one workshop. Identify the hazard first — abrasion, cut, chemical, heat, impact or visibility — and choose the product against that hazard.
Hand Protection
- EN 388 rates mechanical protection as five digits covering abrasion, cut propagation, tear, puncture and cut resistance. Read the level for the hazard you are actually trying to control.
- EN ISO 21420 is the umbrella requirement for protective gloves and applies to every glove.
- Cotton yarn and knitted cotton — light handling, dry work, and jobs where touch feel matters.
- PU or nitrile coated — wet, oily or slippery work, where a grip coating matters.
- Cowhide or goatskin leather — mechanical abrasion, handling of sharp edges.
- Welding leather — heat and sparks at the arc.
For chemical tasks, ask for the manufacturer’s chemical resistance table rather than a single rating — the same glove protects well against one solvent and poorly against another.
Visibility, Foot and Eye Protection
- EN ISO 20471 — high-visibility clothing in Class 1, 2 or 3. The class comes from how much fluorescent and retro-reflective material the garment carries, and the requirement depends on where people move and how much vehicle traffic is around them.
- EN ISO 20345 — safety footwear, with the toe cap impact rating marked on the product.
- ANSI Z87.1 — industrial eye and face protection, the specification used in North American projects.
What to Specify
- The task and the hazard being controlled.
- The standard you want the product made to.
- Colour, size range and quantity.
- Whether you need the product made to a specific standard or to your own requirement.
Send the hazard and the standard you want and we will confirm the grade, the standard and the documents your order needs before production. Test and documentation are supplied on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which standard applies to all protective gloves as an umbrella requirement?
EN ISO 21420 is the umbrella requirement for protective gloves and applies to every glove.
How do I choose between cotton, PU/nitrile-coated, and leather gloves?
Cotton is for light dry work; PU or nitrile coating suits wet, oily or slippery work; cowhide or goatskin leather handles mechanical abrasion and sharp edges.
What standard covers high-visibility clothing, and what do the classes mean?
EN ISO 20471 covers high-visibility clothing in Class 1, 2 or 3 — the class depends on the amount of fluorescent and retro-reflective material, and the requirement depends on movement and vehicle traffic.
What information should I send to get the right PPE made?
Send the hazard and the standard you want (e.g., EN ISO 20345 for safety footwear), and the supplier will confirm the grade, standard and required documents before production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this article about?
This article covers selecting work gloves and ppe by task. Written for procurement professionals sourcing fasteners and wire mesh from China.
How does this help me as a buyer?
Understanding industry trends helps you negotiate better terms and reduce sourcing risk.
Can AiQi Nova manufacture to our drawing?
Yes. We manufacture non-standard bolts and custom wire mesh to customer drawings, with pre-shipment inspection and documents on request.