Hand Protection Information
Selecting The Right Protection….
In the workplace hands are at risk from a wide range of hazards including cuts, impact, extremes of temperature and skin irritation or infections. With the diverse range of manufacturing and manual handling processes performed there is a need to provide specific gloves that meet the exact requirements for each activity.
The range of safety gloves from Protec Direct offer complete protection for any work based application.
Protec Direct offer a wide range of hand protection for all working environments. From general handling, assembly and food preparation through to chemical resistant and specialist applications.
European Standards
The PPE risk categories for protective gloves are described as simple, intermediate and complex design.
Simple Design (Category 1) – Where the effects of the hazard are ‘Minimal’ or gradual and can be easily reversed or are superficial. Examples include; gardening gloves, protection against materials of weak action, protection against heat (not above 50°C), and protection against minor impacts and vibrations.
Intermediate Design (Category 2) – For protection against ‘Specific’ risk such as mechanical injury and for products which do not fall into either the Simple Design or Complex Design categories.
Complex Design (Category 3) – For protection against dangers that may ‘Serious’ or irreversibly damage health, the effects of which the user cannot identify in sufficient time. Such gloves include; protection against chemical attack or electrical risks such as high voltage.
EN 420 Defines the general requirements for hand protection
- Sizing
- Design and construction
- Fitness for purpose
- Comfort and dexterity
- Product packaging, information and labeling
- Innocuousness
EN 374-2 Chemical & Micro-organisms
Low Chemical resistant or Waterproof glove pictogram is to be used for those gloves that do not achieve a breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes against at least three chemicals from the pre- defined list (but which comply with the Penetration test)
EN 374-3 Chemical & Micro-organisms
Resistance to chemicals – Rating 1-6
The ‘Chemical resistant’ glove pictogram must be accompanied by a 3-digit code. This code refers to the code letters of 3 chemicals (from a list of 12 standard defined chemicals), for which a breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes has been obtained. Permeation
Each chemical tested is classified in terms of breakthrough time (performance level 0 to 6).
EN 388 Mechanical Hazards
A) Resistance to abrasion
B) Blade cut resistance
C) Tear resistance
D) Puncture resistance
EN 407 Thermal Hazards
A) Burning behaviour – Rating 0-4
B) Contact heat – Rating 0-4
C) Convective heat – Rating 0-4
D) Radiant heat – Rating 0-4
E) Small splashes of molten metal – Rating 0-4
F) Large splashes of molten metal – Rating 0-4
EN 511 Protection From Cold
A) Resistance to convective cold – Rating 0-4
B) Resistance to contact cold – Rating 0-4
C) Permeability to water – Rating 0-1
EN 1149 Antistatic
Electrostatic Resistance offers protection in environments where a spark could cause explosions or ignite fires.
Does not protect from mains voltage
Food Handling
Gloves suitable for food handling must carry this symbol or be labelled ‘For Food Use’
CE Mark
Gloves complying with the basic PPE requirements outlined in the EEC directive must be CE marked
