Hand Protection
Work Gloves & Hand Protection: Cut, Chemical, Cold & More
Hand injuries are the second most common workplace injury in the United States — the Bureau of Labor Statistics records approximately 110,000 hand and finger injuries requiring days away from work each year. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 requires employers to select and provide hand protection whenever employees' hands are exposed to hazards including cuts, lacerations, chemical absorption, burns, and harmful temperature extremes. The selection standard for hand protection is ANSI/ISEA 105, which classifies gloves by cut resistance level (A1–A9), puncture resistance, abrasion resistance, and chemical permeation for specific substances.
Safe-Fast stocks a broad range of industrial work gloves across six subcategories from Global Glove & Safety, Protective Industrial Products (PIP), Seattle Glove, Eppco, and High Five:
- Cut Resistant — ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 rated gloves for handling sheet metal, glass, blades, strapping, and other sharp materials. Safe-Fast stocks cut resistant gloves from Global Glove's Samurai Glove® and PUG series in cut levels A2 through A4:
- Global Glove PUG-655 — 13-gauge seamless HPPE shell with smooth black polyurethane-coated palm. Meets ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Cut Level A4. Color-coded slip-resistant knit wrist identifies glove size at a glance. Excellent dexterity for precision assembly and light fabrication work.
- Samurai Glove® CR488 Hi-Vis — 18-gauge Tuffalene® UHMWPE shell with foam nitrile palm in high-visibility orange. ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Cut Level A4; ASTM rated. For workers requiring both cut protection and hi-vis compliance.
- Samurai Glove® CR617 — 13-gauge Tuffalene® UHMWPE seamless shell with black foam nitrile dipped palm. Excellent wet/oily grip for metalworking, glass handling, and manufacturing applications.
- Hot Rod Gloves® HR8200KEV — AireFlex® synthetic leather mechanics-style palm with TPR impact protection on the knuckles; Kevlar® cut-resistant lining. For mechanics and automotive technicians requiring both cut and impact protection.
- Samurai Glove® CR318INT — cut, abrasion, and puncture resistant with Hi-Vis Tuffalene® UHMWPE shell and foam rubber-coated palm; 10-gauge brushed acrylic terry cloth insulation for cold weather cut-resistant work.
- Chemical — gloves for workers handling acids, caustics, solvents, oils, and chemical residues. Material selection is critical: no single glove material protects against all chemicals, and the glove must be matched to the specific substance via the chemical manufacturer's SDS and glove permeation data:
- Global Glove Yellow Latex 12" — 18-mil natural rubber; flock-lined; chlorinated interior for easy donning/doffing. Suitable for acids, bases, and many water-soluble chemicals.
- PIP NitriGuard 13" Nitrile (BE13012) — nitrile construction for chemical resistance against oils, fuels, and many organic solvents where latex sensitivity or latex-free environments are required.
- Global Glove FrogWear® 8690 Shoulder-Length Triple-Coated PVC — triple-dipped PVC construction; seamless cotton and brushed terry cloth liner. Shoulder-length for full forearm and upper arm protection against immersion and splash from chemical residues, oils, and greasy materials.
- Global Glove FrogWear® 522 Green Nitrile 22-Mil Unsupported — extra-long 22-mil green nitrile with raised diamond pattern grip; unsupported construction for maximum tactile sensitivity and chemical resistance in laboratory and chemical handling applications.
- Global Glove PermFlex® 58-8651 PVC Cold Resistant — PVC glove with seamless liner and rough coating; cold-resistant for use with liquid and chemical hazards in cold environments. Provides both liquid protection and cut resistance.
- Disposables — single-use gloves for inspection, food handling, medical triage, chemical splash, and contamination control applications:
- Eppco Python Grip Gloves — textured surface for exceptional grip in mechanical and industrial applications; ideal for mechanics and workers handling parts with oils or fluids.
- High Five Nitrile Exam Gloves — medical-grade nitrile; superior puncture resistance and tactile sensitivity for medical procedures, laboratory work, and chemical handling where latex sensitivity is a concern.
- ProWorks® Catch® Neon Green Nitrile (Powder Free) — heavy Pyramid Grip® textured surface for maximum grip; vibrant neon green for high visibility in the workplace. Powder-free for reduced contamination risk.
- Drivers & Work Gloves — leather and synthetic leather gloves for general construction, utility, trucking, and material handling:
- Seattle Glove 4464LH Premium Grain Cowhide Drivers — full grain cowhide palm with keystone thumb for maximum comfort and durability. The standard benchmark for general industrial drivers gloves.
- Seattle Glove 3200PP Economy Grain Cowhide Patch Palm — gray cowhide grain leather patch palm; keystone thumb; economical choice for high-volume glove programs.
- Seattle Glove 3100GHV Hi-Vis Mesh Back Premium Goatskin — premium grain goatskin leather palm with prismatic reflective strip on hi-vis mesh back. Keystone thumb reinforced for extended service life. For utility and construction workers requiring both hand protection and hi-vis compliance.
- Armor Skin™ 2145HYH Hi-Vis Winter Lined Mechanics — stretch knit back with neoprene knuckle and reflective piping; synthetic leather palm for all-weather grip; winter lining for cold-weather mechanics and utility work.
- General Purpose — coated and dipped gloves for assembly, warehousing, light fabrication, and general industrial handling:
- Global Glove PU-Coated Gloves (PUG series) — polyurethane-coated palm on a nylon or HPPE shell; lightweight with excellent dexterity for assembly, electronics handling, and inspection tasks where tactile sensitivity is important.
- Nitrile-Dipped Gloves — foam or sandy nitrile-dipped palm on a seamless knit shell; general-purpose grip for warehousing, picking and packing, and light manufacturing in dry, wet, and oily conditions.
- Insulated Cold Protection — gloves for outdoor winter work, cold storage, refrigerated environments, and sub-zero applications:
- Global Glove Ice Gripster® 380INT — cut, abrasion, and puncture resistant hi-vis double-coated low-temperature glove. Nylon shell over brushed acrylic terry cloth with etched rubber dip; water-repellent hi-vis shell. Meets ANSI/ISEA 105 standards for cut and cold resistance.
- Global Glove Ice Gripster® 338INT — three-quarter foam rubber coated palm with hi-vis low temperature shell; cut, abrasion, and puncture resistant. For workers needing cut-rated cold weather protection in manufacturing and outdoor environments.
- Global Glove FrogWear® 8490 Triple-Coated PVC Cold Protection — triple-dipped PVC stays flexible to -5°F; dual seamless cotton and brushed terry cloth liner; sandpaper grip; antimicrobial inner liner. For chemical handling in cold environments — combines chemical resistance and cold insulation in one glove.
- Seattle Glove 3200GINT Premium Goatskin Insulated Drivers — premium grain goatskin with 120g Cold Keep® insulation; slip-on cuff with cotton binding; keystone thumb. For utility and construction workers in cold weather who need a leather-palm drivers glove with thermal protection.
- Seattle Glove 2805 Split Cowhide Insulated Freezer Gloves — premium split cowhide leather palm; heavy fleece pile lining for extreme cold environments including cold storage and freezer warehouse applications.
- Seattle Glove 2950HVDC Hi-Vis Premium Goatskin Insulated — white grain goatskin with low-temperature leather palm; silver reflective knuckle highlights with orange trim; 140g Cold Keep® insulation. For outdoor utility and construction workers needing insulation, cut resistance, and hi-vis in one glove.
- Seattle Glove 2919 Caimen MAG Heatrac-3 Hi-Vis Mechanics — multi-purpose mechanics glove with genuine grain leather palm, Heatrac® III insulation, and Hi-Vis AirMesh™ shell. For mechanics and technicians working outdoors in cold conditions.
For help selecting the right glove for a specific chemical, cut level, or work environment, call Safe-Fast at 1-800-723-3620 or visit one of our locations in Eau Claire, La Crosse, or St. Paul. Bulk pricing is available for facility-wide glove programs — see our Bulk Quote page.
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Work Gloves & Hand Protection — Frequently Asked Questions
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 requires employers to select appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards including skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns, and harmful temperature extremes. OSHA does not specify a particular glove standard — instead, employers must base glove selection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the glove relative to the task, conditions of use, and hazards present.
The industry standard for structured glove selection is ANSI/ISEA 105 — the American National Standard for Hand Protection Selection Criteria. It provides objective performance ratings for cut resistance (A1–A9), puncture resistance, abrasion resistance, and chemical permeation that allow direct comparison between glove products. For chemical gloves, the glove material must also be matched to the specific substance via permeation testing data from the manufacturer's SDS.
ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 defines nine cut resistance levels based on the grams of force required to cut through a glove material under the ASTM F2992 test method (TDM-100 blade):
- A1: 200–499g — light cut protection; assembly, inspection
- A2: 500–999g — general purpose; warehousing, picking/packing
- A3: 1,000–1,499g — moderate cut hazards; light metal handling
- A4: 1,500–2,199g — higher cut hazards; sheet metal, stamping, glass handling — the most common level in this category (PUG-655, CR488, CR617)
- A5: 2,200–2,999g — heavy fabrication, automotive stamping
- A6–A9: 3,000g+ — extreme cut hazards; meat processing, glass manufacturing
Match the cut level to the sharpness and force involved in the task. A higher cut level glove is not always better — higher cut levels typically use heavier yarns that reduce dexterity. Select the minimum cut level that adequately controls the hazard to preserve tactile sensitivity and worker compliance.
Each glove material has a different chemical resistance profile — no single material protects against all chemicals. General guidance:
- Latex (natural rubber): excellent resistance to dilute acids, bases, and many water-soluble chemicals; good flexibility and tactile sensitivity. Not suitable for organic solvents. Contraindicated for workers with latex allergies.
- Nitrile: excellent resistance to petroleum-based products, oils, fuels, and many organic solvents; superior puncture resistance; latex-free. The standard replacement for latex in industrial and medical disposable applications. Less effective against ketones, esters, and concentrated acids.
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride): excellent resistance to acids, caustics, alcohols, and many water-based chemicals. Less flexible than nitrile or latex at cold temperatures, though formulations like FrogWear® 8490 maintain flexibility to -5°F. The standard choice for handling of chemical residues and oils in industrial environments.
Critical rule: always verify glove selection against the chemical's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Section 8 and the glove manufacturer's published permeation data for the specific substance. Breakthrough time — the time before a chemical permeates through the glove — varies significantly by material, thickness, and chemical concentration.
Supported gloves are manufactured by coating a fabric liner (cotton, nylon, or terry cloth) with the protective material (nitrile, PVC, latex). The liner adds durability, tear resistance, and thermal protection, making supported gloves better for heavy-duty work, rough handling, and extended wear. The FrogWear® 8490 and 8690 PVC gloves are supported — the liner also provides insulation for cold environments.
Unsupported gloves are made entirely from the protective material with no fabric liner. They provide greater tactile sensitivity, are thinner and more flexible, and are easier to inspect for defects. The FrogWear® 522 nitrile is an unsupported glove — preferred in laboratory and chemical handling applications where feel and dexterity matter more than durability.
For high-hazard chemical work involving immersion, supported gloves with extended cuff lengths (12"–shoulder length) are typically required to protect the wrist and forearm from splash and drip.
A keystone thumb (also called a wing thumb or straight thumb) is a glove thumb construction where the thumb is set into the glove at an angle matching the natural resting position of the human hand — rather than stitched flat against the palm. Benefits:
- Comfort: reduces the twisting and bunching that occurs when a flat-sewn thumb is used in gripping positions, particularly for extended wear
- Durability: the keystone positioning reduces stress on the seams at the base of the thumb — the highest-wear area of most leather work gloves — significantly extending glove service life
- Dexterity: the natural thumb position improves grip quality on tools, equipment, and steering wheels
All Seattle Glove drivers gloves in this category (4464LH, 3200PP, 3100GHV, 3200GINT, and 2950HVDC) feature a keystone thumb construction as standard.
Insulated work glove selection for cold weather depends on the ambient temperature, the activity level of the worker, and whether the glove will be used in wet or dry conditions. General guidance:
- 40°F to 20°F (light cold): light insulation — Heatrac® III or 120g Cold Keep® insulation is sufficient for outdoor construction and utility work; the Caimen MAG Heatrac-3 (2919) or Goatskin Drivers (3200GINT) are appropriate.
- 20°F to 0°F (moderate cold): heavier insulation such as 140g Cold Keep® or fleece pile lining — the 2950HVDC and 2805 Freezer Glove address this range.
- 0°F to -20°F and below (severe cold): insulated gloves with sealed or waterproof constructions are required. The FrogWear® 8490 PVC (rated to -5°F) provides cold protection combined with chemical and liquid resistance for the most demanding low-temperature environments.
Activity level matters significantly — a worker performing heavy manual labor generates more body heat and may be comfortable with lighter insulation than a worker standing still or driving. For cold cut-resistant work, the Ice Gripster® models (380INT, 338INT) provide ANSI-rated cut resistance alongside low-temperature performance.