Choosing the right gloves for your workforce is crucial to ensuring that they’re both protected and able to carry out their job/task efficiently. 

Getting the right type of glove is an important first step in selecting the best hand protection. 

There are a number of different “types” of gloves: 

• Minimal Risk – These are mainly liner gloves designed to provide another level of comfort or insulation to workers.  They can also be gloves designed to protect the products/materials being handled like low-lint liner gloves or ESD gloves. 
• Disposable – These are either medical or industrial products.  Medical gloves are manufactured to exacting quality standards to ensure the wearer and patient are protected whereas industrial options are designed with durability and chemical protection in mind.  Check out our guidance on the different standards for disposable gloves here. 

• Knitwrist – The most common option. Knitwrist gloves are the design everyone thinks of when you say “Safety Gloves”.  When wearing the correct size these gloves are close fitting and secure. Available in a variety of liners and coatings as well as different protective properties/purposes.  Check out our blogs on coatings, liners and standards for Knitwrist gloves here. 
• Open Cuff – Designed for quick and easy donning and doffing, these gloves also provide a little more breathability although they are not as secure as knitwrist options. Open Cuff gloves are available in a slightly smaller range of liners, coatings and standards as they are not as popular as knitwrist gloves. 
• Gauntlets – Gauntlets are usually liquid and chemical resistant, particular care is needed to ensure that the model with the correct grip and mechanical protection is selected for whatever task the operative is performing.