Did you know that more than 1/3 of all workplace accidents involve hand injuries, potentially costing as much as $28,000 each? 

Our hands and fingers are wonderful and intricate mechanisms that allow us to accomplish many things. Not having the full use of our hands would impact our daily lives in a huge way. So it’s worth putting some thought into how we can best protect them.

One way of protecting and caring for our hands on a day-to-day basis is to wear gloves. Gloves that are particularly suited to the task being performed. We can all appreciate that wearing surgical gloves will not protect hands that are boning out meat, or using a chainsaw. There are many different types of gloves suited to different situations:

Cuts and Abrasions Can be made from stainless steel mesh or cut resistant materials such as Kevlar fabric.  Often knitted (seamless).  
Chemicals & Bio hazards Typically made of latex, nitrile, neoprene, butyl rubber, PVC. These gloves provide a barrier that the chemical or bio hazard cannot penetrate.   50302W 00 hd
Impact Injuries/Persistent Vibrations Strong padded gloves absorb impact and vibration, protecting hands and nerves from damage.   
Extreme Temperatures (Hot/Cold) or Welding Gloves for extreme temperatures or welding need to be well insulated.  Welding gloves often have a cuff to stop stray sparks getting caught in sleeves.  50006 Grey Wolf
Driving Usually made of various leather materials. They help increase grip and control.  Sometimes padded for comfort.  50038 Drivers Leather Cream Glove Keystone thumb Shirred Elastic back
Surgical/Exam/Disposable Single use, generally made of latex.  

Another important aspect of hand protection is to avoid glove failure by inspecting gloves regularly.  A glove that is deteriorating may increase the likelihood of accident and injury, especially in work environments with machinery or moving parts.  They may become worn so that the barrier to chemicals and biohazards no longer performs sufficiently.  Having a regular changeout schedule is an easy and dependable way to ensure glove integrity is maintained, and safety standards are upheld.