Standards hub · Work gloves
The wrong glove doesn't just wear out fast — it gets taken off, and a glove in a pocket protects nothing. Choosing well means matching the coating, the cut level and the fit to the actual task. This hub covers the types and the decision; the EN 388 guide decodes the ratings.
The short version
Glove choice starts with one question: what actually threatens the hand? Abrasion from block and brick, cuts from sheet metal or glass, cold from a winter scaffold, oil killing your grip — each points to a different glove, and the ratings system that sorts them is EN 388, the standard for mechanical risks.
The second question is comfort, and it isn't soft: studies of hand injuries keep finding the same thing — gloves that are clumsy, sweaty or badly sized get removed, and the injury happens bare-handed. A slightly less protective glove that stays on beats a bulletproof one in a back pocket.
That's why the modern default for general site work is a thin coated glove — a knitted liner dipped in nitrile or polyurethane — rather than the old leather rigger: near-bare-hand dexterity, real abrasion numbers, and cheap enough to replace the moment it's torn.
The types
Coating and liner decide what a glove is for. These five families cover the overwhelming majority of tasks.
The everyday site glove — dexterity, abrasion resistance and grip, dry or lightly oily. Buy by the box.
HPPE or steel-fibre liners under the same coatings. Pick the cut letter to the hazard — the EN 388 guide shows how.
Cold, numb hands drop things. Lined and often water-repellent for outdoor winter work.
Cleaning, concrete additives, fuels — a different standard (EN ISO 374) and a different glove entirely.
Catering, healthcare, paint prep, inspection. Protection for the product as much as the hand.
Heavy hauling, hot works and welding sit outside the thin-coated world — leather and heat-rated kit still earn their place.
Quick reference
| Task | Sensible glove | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| General site work, materials handling | Coated grip glove | EN 388 abrasion 3–4 |
| Sheet metal, glazing, blade work | Cut-resistant coated glove | Cut level C or above |
| Winter outdoor work | Winter-lined grip glove | EN 511 + EN 388 |
| Concrete, cleaning chemicals, fuels | Chemical gauntlet | EN ISO 374 |
| Food prep, healthcare, inspection | Disposable nitrile | Food-contact approved where needed |
| Hot works, welding | Leather / heat-rated glove | EN 407 (welding: EN 12477) |
The bit people miss
Go deeper
This hub is the overview. Each guide takes one part further — and links back here.
Questions
They're the EN 388 rating for mechanical risks: four digits for abrasion, cut (coup test), tear and puncture, then optionally a letter A–F for the ISO 13997 cut test and a P for impact protection. Higher is better in each position; X means untested.
A nitrile- or PU-coated knitted glove with EN 388 abrasion level 3 or 4 covers most general site work — good grip, enough dexterity that it stays on, cheap enough to replace when torn. Move to a cut-rated version (level C+) when handling sheet metal, glass or blades.
Snug across the palm without pressure at the fingertips — measure around the knuckles and use the maker's size chart rather than guessing. Too big ruins grip and dexterity; too small fatigues the hand. Both end the same way: the glove comes off, and protection with it.
When the coating is holed or peeling, a seam splits, cut-resistant fibres are exposed, or the glove is soaked in oil that won't wash out. Damage removes the rated protection even if the glove still feels wearable — that's why site gloves are bought boxed.
EN 388 rated general-handling, cut-resistant and winter gloves in boxed quantities, with trade accounts for regular ordering.