The Definition of Hand Protection

Definition of Hand Protection

Hand protection refers to the gloves, sleeves, finger guards and related controls used to protect workers' hands and arms from injury and illness. It covers mechanical hazards such as cuts, punctures and abrasion, chemical hazards such as skin absorption and burns, and thermal hazards such as hot surfaces, flames and extreme cold.

Hands are involved in almost every task, which makes them one of the most frequently injured parts of the body at work. Hand protection is a form of personal protective equipment (PPE), so it comes after engineering and administrative controls in the hierarchy of controls. Guarding, tool design and safe work methods should remove as much hand exposure as possible, and gloves should protect against what remains.

Regulations and Standards

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138

OSHA's hand protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.138, requires employers to select and require the use of appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns and harmful temperature extremes. Under 1910.138(b), selection must be based on the glove's performance characteristics relative to the tasks, conditions, duration of use and hazards identified.

This standard works together with the general PPE rules in 29 CFR 1910.132, which require a written certification of the workplace PPE hazard assessment, employee training on PPE use and limits, and, with limited exceptions, employer payment for required PPE. Electrical protective gloves are covered separately under 29 CFR 1910.137.

ANSI/ISEA 105 Performance Ratings

ANSI/ISEA 105, the American National Standard for hand protection classification, rates gloves and sleeves for mechanical, chemical and heat performance. The current edition was published in 2024. Its cut scale has nine levels, measured as the grams of force needed for a blade to cut through the material using the ASTM F2992 test method:

• A1: 200 to 499 grams
• A2: 500 to 999 grams
• A3: 1,000 to 1,499 grams
• A4: 1,500 to 2,199 grams
• A5: 2,200 to 2,999 grams
• A6: 3,000 to 3,999 grams
• A7: 4,000 to 4,999 grams
• A8: 5,000 to 5,999 grams
• A9: 6,000 grams or more

The standard also classifies puncture, needlestick, abrasion, chemical permeation and degradation, and heat and flame performance. Gloves sold in Europe are often marked under EN 388, which uses a different scale, so ratings should not be compared directly.

Choosing and Using Hand Protection

Matching Gloves to Hazards

• Cuts and lacerations: Choose an ANSI cut level based on the sharpness of materials and the force involved, such as higher levels for sheet metal and glass handling.
• Chemicals: Use the glove maker's permeation and degradation data for the specific chemical, and check the safety data sheet. No glove material resists every chemical.
• Heat and cold: Select gloves rated for the contact temperature and duration, and insulated, dry gloves for cold work.
• Vibration: Anti-vibration gloves tested to ISO 10819 may reduce some exposure, but tool selection and limiting exposure time matter more for preventing vibration white finger.
• Skin conditions: Wet work and repeated contact with irritants can cause occupational dermatitis, so consider glove liners and skin care as well.

Good Practices

• Get the fit right: Gloves that are too large reduce grip and dexterity, and gloves that are too small tear and tire the hands.
• Avoid gloves near rotating parts: Gloves can be caught by drills, lathes and other rotating equipment and pull the hand in. Assess this risk for every machine where hands work near moving parts.
• Inspect and replace: Check for holes, cuts, stiffness and swelling, and set replacement schedules for chemical gloves.
• Train workers: Explain which glove is used for which task and why, and how to remove contaminated gloves without touching the outside.
• Involve users: Trial gloves with the workers who will wear them, since uncomfortable gloves tend to come off.
• Plan for glove removal: Provide handwashing and a clean place to store gloves so workers do not contaminate their hands, food or vehicles between tasks.
• Review after injuries: Use hand injury reports to check whether the glove, the task or the guarding needs to change.

Example of Hand Protection

A metal fabrication shop recorded several hand lacerations from handling sheet metal edges, even though workers wore general-purpose work gloves. A hazard assessment found the existing gloves had a low cut rating and were often removed because they were bulky. The safety coordinator trialed three thinner gloves with higher ANSI cut levels and good grip, letting workers in each area give feedback.

The shop standardized on the glove workers preferred and added cut-resistant sleeves for tasks where edges contacted forearms. Supervisors also identified two drilling operations where gloves posed an entanglement risk and changed them to use clamps and push tools instead. The updated hazard assessment documented each task's glove requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions: Hand Protection

Does OSHA specify which gloves to use?

No. 29 CFR 1910.138 requires employers to choose appropriate hand protection based on the hazards and tasks. Consensus standards such as ANSI/ISEA 105 help compare performance.

What ANSI cut level do I need?

It depends on the task. Light handling of materials with minor edges may need a low level, while sheet metal, glass and sharp blades often call for higher levels. Base the choice on your hazard assessment.

Can one glove protect against all hazards?

Rarely. A glove with high cut resistance may give poor chemical protection, and vice versa. Some tasks need combination gloves or layered protection.

Who pays for work gloves?

Under 29 CFR 1910.132(h), employers generally must pay for required PPE, with limited exceptions such as ordinary clothing and certain everyday items.