Work Gloves Explained: Matching Hand Protection to the Hazard
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Hand injuries are among the most common workplace injuries in Australia, and one of the most preventable. The fix usually isn't a better glove. It's the right glove for the hazard in front of you.
Most glove problems come down to a mismatch. A cut-resistant glove doesn't stop a chemical splash. A chemical glove offers next to nothing against a blade. And a glove that's too thick for the job often gets taken off altogether, because it kills the dexterity needed to actually do the work. Matching the glove to the hazard, not the job title, is where selection starts.
Before gloves even enter the conversation, it's worth remembering where hand protection sits in the bigger picture. Gloves are PPE, and PPE is the last line of defence, used after you've looked at removing the hazard, guarding the machine, or changing the way the task is done. Where the hazard can't be designed out, the right glove is what stands between a hand and an injury, and the responsibility for making sure workers have the right one sits with the employer.
Start With the Hazard, Not the Catalogue
Work through what the hands are actually exposed to during the task. Most jobs involve one dominant hazard, though some involve two or three at once (handling glass near a chemical bath, for example). Here's how to think through the common ones.
Cuts and Abrasion
Sharp edges and repetitive contact with rough or abrasive surfaces. Common in metal fabrication, glazing, general trades and warehousing. Look for a glove marked against AS/NZS 2161 for cut and abrasion resistance, and match the level to how sharp and how frequent the contact is. Light handling and packaging need far less than glass or sheet steel.
Impact and Crush
Dropped tools, pinch points on machinery, and heavy material handling. Common on construction sites and around mechanical plant. Padded knuckle and back-of-hand protection matters here as much as palm coverage, since a lot of impact injuries land on the back of the hand rather than the palm.
Heat
Hot work, foundry and kitchen environments, and anywhere there's contact or radiant heat. Leather and aramid-blend gloves are the standard here. Check the cuff length too. Short cuffs leave the wrist exposed on tasks where spatter or splash travels upward.
Chemical Splash
Light contact with solvents, cleaning chemicals or mild corrosives. This is the one area where a general-purpose glove genuinely isn't good enough, since chemical resistance is material-specific. Check the Safety Data Sheet for the substance in question and choose a glove rated for that chemical family, not just a glove marked "chemical resistant."
Cold and General Handling
Cold storage, outdoor work in winter, and general handling where the main risk is comfort and grip rather than injury. Insulated or lined gloves keep dexterity up in the cold, which matters more than it sounds. Cold hands are clumsy hands, and clumsy hands cause the next injury.
Fit and Dexterity Aren't Optional Extras
The best-rated glove on the market is worthless if it's left in a locker because it's too bulky to work in. A glove that's too tight causes hand fatigue over a shift. One that's too loose catches on machinery and reduces grip. Sizing and dexterity should be checked against the actual task, not assumed from the packaging.
It's also worth rotating gloves out. Cut and chemical resistance both degrade with wear, and a glove that's done its job for six months doesn't necessarily still meet the rating printed on the cuff.
Before You Order
- What's the dominant hazard for this task? Cuts, impact, heat, chemical or cold. Most tasks have one clear answer.
- Does the glove carry the right AS/NZS 2161 marking for that hazard? Check the cuff or packaging, not just the product name.
- Is there a secondary hazard to plan for? Glass handling near solvents, or hot work near sharp offcuts, often needs a combined rating.
- Can the worker still do the task wearing it? A glove that gets taken off protects no one.
- Is there a replacement schedule? Worn gloves quietly lose the protection they were bought for.
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