HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CUT-RESISTANT GLOVES

When it comes to PPE safety equipment a good pair of cut-resistant gloves go a long way. In any physical hands-on job, you are likely to come into contact with a number of hazards that could leave your hands bruised, bloodied, or even missing fingers. From whittling wood to julienning jalapeños there are countless risks that we expose our hands to when working with tools. Having a strong pair of cut-resistant work gloves can be the difference between a very good or very bad day at work.

But with so many different gloves on the market designed for a variety of specific tasks and jobs, it can be hard to know which to purchase for your purpose. Can the best gardening gloves really be perfect for use on a sanding belt? To know for sure first you have to understand what it is you are looking for from a good pair of work gloves.

What Makes a Good Glove?

When looking for a pair of cut-resistant work gloves there are a number of different facets that come into play before you make your decision on which to go home with. Different forms of safety gloves can be better used in different workplaces, and things like fabric, comfort, and style also come into play.

6 features that should be found in cut-resistant safety gloves include:

• Cut resistance: A good pair of cut-resistant gloves should be just that… cut resistant! When working with sharp tools there are countless opportunities in which you can injure yourself, wearing gloves that can deflect blades is a great way to stay safe. Gloves can be made cut-resistant with a variety of linings and materials, with leather gloves offering some protection from sharp objects, while other gloves are lined with materials such as kevlar for heavy-duty protection.
• Comfort and good fit: Wearing a pair of safety gloves that hang loose on your hands, or make it uncomfortable to work is an easy way to shoot yourself in the foot (or in this case, hand). A good pair of safety gloves should conform to the shape of your hands and feel natural to wear whilst completing work.
• Durability: These gloves need to last. It’s no good having a pair of safety gloves that expire within a couple of weeks, as they could stop offering proper protection and you may not realize until it’s too late. It may mean spending slightly more, but getting a sturdy, well-made pair of gloves will make all the difference in the long run.
• Dexterity and Grip: Often with safety gloves you’ll find yourself trading functionality for added security, which is no good in most jobs that require precise knife work. A good range of motion for grip and control of your tools is an important feature for a trusted pair of gloves.
• Food safety: This is a fairly specific criterion, but working with food often means working with knives, and when doing so day in and day out you put yourself at risk of cuts and abrasions. Having food-grade cut-resistant gloves means that you can chop away without risk of slicing yourself, while also being confident that no nasty residue will be transferred to your food.
• Easy washing: When working in these gloves regularly they’re bound to get a little bit gnarly after a while, so it’s important that you can get them cleaned easily when you need to. Some gloves aren’t machine compatible while others may degrade with too thorough washing, so keep that in mind before you make your purchase.

When & Where to Wear Cut-Resistant Gloves

Cut-resistant touch screen gloves are perfect for a multitude of workspaces, but there are also many other forms of safety gloves out there that work for different contexts. Here are a few contexts in which other forms of gloves are a better call.

• Handling chemicals – Synthetic rubber or latex gloves are the right choices in this case.
• Dealing with heat and sparks – Heat-resistant foundry gloves are perfect for this.
• Working in dirty environments – Cotton, fabric, or latex gloves should be enough in this context.

Cut-resistant gloves however are extremely useful in these settings.

• Gardening – Especially when working with shears, hedge trimmers, secateurs, and pruning knives.
• Whittling – This is a fiddly vocation with an emphasis on knife work, so cut-resistant gloves are a must-have.
• Working in a kitchen – If you have a passion for food but are prone to a little slip up these touch screen gloves are very handy. 

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