The Science Behind Safety Gloves: 5 Factors That Make or Break Hand Protection

The right safety gloves can mean the difference between safety and costly risks. These five critical factors will help you make the best choice for protecting your workforce.

• By Patrick Icasas
• Mar 14, 2025

Issuing safety gloves to your team doesn’t automatically mean that they’re adequately protected. The cheapest, low-cost option may not be durable or tough enough to stand up to the rigors of the task. By the same token, splurging on premium gloves can be wasteful — or even risky — if they’re not used for specific hazards.  

There’s a process to selecting safety gloves. You must carefully balance multiple factors to find the most practical option for your employees, your company, and your hand safety program. 

No. 1: Task-appropriate protection 

The wrong glove for the job leaves workers exposed. 

As a company, we’ve encountered many situations where a safety manager buys one universal set of gloves for all employees. This can only work if everyone is doing the same task or faces similar hazards.  A one-size-fits-all approach almost never works for hand protection. Some safety managers opt for a single glove style for every employee, assuming it covers all hazards.  

It doesn’t. 

Instead, safety managers should conduct separate risk assessments for every task, noting the types of hazards involved and the level of danger — then find a glove with that provides the level of cut, impact, or abrasion resistance necessary to handle the threat. Those gloves will then be used exclusively by those workers and not issued to anyone else.  

No. 2: Comfort 

Uncomfortable PPE is often left unused — and that puts workers at risk. 

Comfort is one of the biggest and most underestimated factors when it comes to selecting hand protection. Working a full shift in ill-fitting gloves can be incredibly frustrating for the wearer and is dangerous. There are documented cases of workers taking off their bad gloves and getting injured as a result. 

Gloves that fit and are breathable (to prevent swamp hands) are less distracting to workers, which means that they can focus more on their task and not their discomfort. A proper glove safety program should offer gloves in a range of sizes to accommodate different body types. 

No. 3: Dexterity 

Bulky gloves slow workers down — and speed up accidents. 

Safety gloves are built to protect workers, but not at the expense of productivity. They should offer enough finger dexterity, tactile sensation/touch sensitivity, and range of motion for workers to perform tasks. In fact, clunky gloves can pose a danger of their own and lead to accidents. 

When reviewing a glove for purchase, give a sample pair or two to the workers who’ll be using them. Let them test the glove over the course a few shifts and ask their opinion on its fit and function. That’s the best way you can ensure you’re getting the right pair. 

No. 4: Durability 

Short-lived gloves lead to long-term problems. 

How long should a safety glove last? That partially depends on the application. Some tasks, like handling steel I-beams, rip up gloves in a matter of hours, while gloves used for lighter tasks can last months at a time.  

That said, some gloves can be tougher than others. Select gloves designed for long-lasting durability in demanding tasks. Not only will your glove program save on replacement costs, but you’ll also reduce waste and increase worker productivity (since they won’t have to change gloves as often). 

No. 5: Cost 

Low-cost gloves usually come with a high price. 

The budget is an inescapable part of any safety program, and you’ll want to pick gloves that offer the biggest value for money. 

But “value” isn’t just limited to sticker price. “Value” also relates to potential gains in productivity (glove function and comfort), the confidence and morale of workers (from having gloves with the right protection levels), and long-term savings (from glove durability).  

Sticker price is important, but not at the expense of the value the glove should bring to your operations. When possible, safety, comfort, and practicality should take precedence over cost. 

Remember, a single safety incident can cost more than your entire annual glove program. 

If I can leave you with one thing, it’s this: Your team deserves the best — and the best is closer than you think. 

This article originally appeared in the February/March 2025 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.