The Amazing World of Safety Gloves: Your Complete Guide

When it comes to workplace safety, your hands deserve better than a quick nod and a prayer. After all, they're pretty handy (pun intended) for everything from typing reports to operating heavy machinery. The world of industrial safety gloves is far more diverse and fascinating than most people realise—and at Indigo Supplies, we've got every type you could possibly need.

From delicate precision work to heavy-duty chemical handling, there's a specific glove designed for every hazard your workplace can throw at you. Let's dive into this surprisingly intricate world and discover just how many ways you can keep your hands safe whilst getting the job done.

Why Safety Gloves Matter More Than You Think

Your hands contain 27 bones, 29 joints, and over 120 ligaments—making them incredibly complex and equally vulnerable. In industrial settings, hand injuries account for approximately 18% of all workplace accidents, with cuts, burns, and chemical exposure being the most common culprits.

The right safety gloves don't just protect against immediate injury; they prevent long-term damage from repetitive stress, chemical absorption, and chronic exposure to vibration or extreme temperatures. Choosing the wrong type can be just as problematic as wearing no protection at all.

Construction and General Labour Gloves

Rigger Gloves

Rigger gloves are the workhorses of the construction industry. These leather palm gloves with fabric backs provide excellent grip and moderate protection against cuts and abrasions. They're perfect for general handling, lifting, and outdoor work where dexterity meets durability.

Canadian Rigger Gloves

For those who need extra protection, Canadian rigger gloves feature reinforced palms and superior leather quality. Originally designed for harsh Canadian winters and demanding industrial work, they offer enhanced durability and longer lifespan than standard rigger gloves.

Suede Rigger Gloves

When you need the protection of leather with improved comfort, suede rigger gloves provide a softer feel whilst maintaining excellent grip. The suede finish reduces hand fatigue during extended wear, making them ideal for all-day construction work.

Builders Gloves

Builders gloves come in various styles to suit different construction tasks. From basic cotton work gloves for light duties to reinforced leather versions for heavy lifting, they're designed to withstand the rigours of building sites whilst maintaining comfort and flexibility.

Builders Grip Gloves

Builders grip gloves feature specialised palm coatings—typically latex, nitrile, or PVC—that dramatically improve grip on wet, oily, or slippery surfaces. These are essential when handling materials in adverse weather conditions or when working with treated timber and metal.

Precision and Assembly Work Gloves

Assembly Gloves

Assembly gloves are engineered for fine motor skills and precision handling. They feature thin, flexible materials with textured fingertips for improved tactile sensitivity. Perfect for electronics assembly, quality control, and detailed manufacturing processes.

Grip Gloves

Grip gloves use advanced coating technologies to provide superior hold on both dry and wet surfaces. The thin coatings don't compromise dexterity, making them ideal for warehouse work, packaging, and general handling tasks where sure grip is essential.

Utility Gloves

Utility gloves serve as the Swiss Army knife of hand protection. They offer moderate protection against multiple hazards including cuts, abrasions, and light chemicals. These versatile gloves are perfect for maintenance work, gardening, and general-purpose tasks.

Basic Protection Gloves

Cotton Gloves

Cotton gloves provide basic protection against dirt, minor abrasions, and light handling tasks. They're breathable, comfortable for extended wear, and often used as liners under other protective gloves. Essential for inspection work and light assembly tasks.

Stockinette Gloves

Stockinette gloves are lightweight knitted gloves that offer minimal protection but maximum comfort and breathability. They're commonly used in food handling, light assembly work, and as liner gloves under heavier protection.

Chemical and Liquid Protection

Rubber Gloves

Rubber gloves provide excellent protection against a wide range of chemicals, oils, and solvents. Natural rubber offers superior flexibility and comfort, whilst synthetic rubber variants provide specific chemical resistance properties depending on the application.

Marigold Gloves

Marigold gloves (or simply marigolds as they're affectionately known) are the household name in rubber protection. Originally designed for domestic use, industrial versions offer robust chemical protection for cleaning, maintenance, and light chemical handling.

PVC Knit Wrist Gloves

PVC knit wrist gloves combine the chemical resistance of PVC with the comfort of a knitted base. The knit wrist provides a secure fit whilst allowing airflow, making them ideal for applications involving oils, greases, and mild chemicals.

PVC Coated Gloves

PVC coated gloves offer excellent grip and chemical resistance in wet conditions. The PVC coating is applied to a flexible base material, providing protection against oils, acids, and alkalis whilst maintaining dexterity for detailed work.

Chemical Gloves

Specialised chemical gloves are designed for specific chemical families. Different materials—including nitrile, neoprene, and butyl rubber—offer varying levels of protection against acids, bases, solvents, and hazardous chemicals. Proper selection requires understanding both the chemicals involved and exposure duration.

Medical and Food-Safe Options

Latex Gloves

Latex gloves provide excellent tactile sensitivity and form-fitting comfort. Widely used in medical and food service industries, they offer good protection against biological hazards and light chemicals. However, latex allergies have led to increased use of alternatives.

Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves have become the gold standard for disposable protection. They offer superior chemical resistance compared to latex, excellent puncture resistance, and are latex-free. Perfect for medical applications, food handling, and light industrial work.

Vinyl Gloves

Vinyl gloves provide an economical option for basic protection against contamination. Whilst they don't offer the same level of protection as latex or nitrile, they're suitable for food service, light cleaning, and non-hazardous applications.

Specialised Protection Gloves

Welders Gauntlets

Welders gauntlets are heavy-duty leather gloves designed to protect against extreme heat, sparks, and molten metal. They extend well up the forearm and feature reinforced palms and thumbs. Essential for arc welding, cutting, and other high-temperature metalwork.

Heat Resistant Gloves

Heat resistant gloves protect against various levels of thermal hazards. From light heat exposure in bakeries to extreme temperatures in foundries, these gloves use specialised materials like aramid fibres, aluminised fabrics, and ceramic coatings.

Thermal Gloves

Thermal gloves keep hands warm in cold environments whilst maintaining protection and dexterity. They often feature layered construction with insulating materials and waterproof outer shells, essential for outdoor work in harsh weather conditions.

Anti-Vibration Gloves

Anti-vibration gloves contain specialised padding designed to reduce the transmission of vibration from power tools and machinery. They help prevent Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), a serious occupational health condition affecting workers using vibrating equipment.

Impact Gloves

Impact gloves feature strategic padding over knuckles and fingers to protect against impact injuries. Popular in oil and gas, construction, and heavy industry, they reduce the risk of bruising and fractures from dropped objects and tool strikes.

Puncture Resistant Gloves

Puncture resistant gloves use high-performance fibres and materials to protect against sharp objects. They're essential for waste handling, metal stamping, glass work, and any application where puncture wounds are a significant risk.

Trade-Specific Protection

Mechanics Gloves

Mechanics gloves combine protection with the dexterity needed for detailed mechanical work. They feature reinforced palms, knuckle protection, and often include touchscreen-compatible fingertips for modern diagnostic equipment.

Electricians Gloves

Electricians gloves provide crucial electrical insulation protection. These specialised rubber gloves are tested and rated for specific voltage levels, with leather protectors worn over them to prevent damage. They're literally a matter of life and death in electrical work.

Understanding Glove Standards and Ratings

European Standard EN 388 provides ratings for mechanical risks including abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture resistance. The ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), with some cut tests now using a scale up to level A through F. Understanding these ratings helps you select the right protection level for your specific hazards.

EN 374 covers chemical and microorganism protection, indicating which chemicals a glove can protect against and for how long. EN 407 rates thermal protection, including flammability, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, and resistance to small splashes of molten metal.

The Science Behind Glove Selection

Choosing the right safety glove isn't just about grabbing the thickest option available. It requires understanding the specific hazards in your workplace, the level of dexterity needed, duration of use, and environmental conditions.

Cut-resistant gloves, for instance, use various materials including high-performance polyethylene (HPPE), aramid fibres, and steel mesh. Each offers different benefits: HPPE provides excellent cut resistance whilst remaining lightweight, aramid fibres offer heat resistance alongside cut protection, and steel mesh provides the highest level of cut protection for extreme applications.

Proper Glove Care and Maintenance

Even the best safety gloves won't protect you if they're damaged or worn out. Regular inspection for cuts, punctures, chemical degradation, and general wear is essential. Many disposable gloves are designed for single use, whilst others can be cleaned and reused following manufacturer guidelines.

Proper storage away from heat, light, and chemicals extends glove life. Contaminated gloves should be disposed of safely, particularly those exposed to hazardous chemicals or biological materials.

Finding Your Perfect Match with Indigo Supplies

At Indigo Supplies, we understand that the right glove can make the difference between a safe workday and a trip to A&E. Our extensive range covers every application from delicate electronics assembly to heavy industrial work.

We stock protective gloves and safety gloves from leading manufacturers, ensuring you get proven protection that meets or exceeds industry standards. Our AI search tool on the website makes finding your perfect match simple—just describe your needs, and we'll point you towards the ideal solution.

Why Choose Indigo Supplies for Your Glove Needs?

Since 1998, we've been helping British businesses protect their most valuable assets—their people. Our price-beater guarantee means you'll never pay more than necessary for quality protection. Found the same product cheaper elsewhere? Give us a call on 01268 768 768, and we'll do our utmost to beat it.

Our team understands that every workplace is different. Whether you need a single pair for occasional use or bulk orders for a large workforce, we provide expert advice to ensure you get exactly what you need.

The Bottom Line on Hand Protection

Your hands are irreplaceable, but injuries are preventable with the right protection. The world of safety gloves offers solutions for every conceivable hazard, from paper cuts to chemical burns to electrical shock.

Don't leave hand safety to chance. Explore our comprehensive range at indigosupplies.com, use our AI search tool to find your perfect match, or call our expert team on 01268 768 768. Because when it comes to safety, we believe in giving you a helping hand—preferably one that's properly protected.

Remember, the best safety glove is the one that gets worn consistently. Choose comfort, protection, and quality. Choose Indigo Supplies.