Gloves

What are gloves?

Gloves are hand protection worn to keep hands safe, clean, and comfortable during engineering, maintenance, workshop, and gardening work. Different jobs bring different hazards, from oil and grease to sharp edges, rough materials, and hot components, so gloves are made in a range of materials and designs to suit each task. Choosing the right glove means balancing protection with dexterity, so the wearer is protected without losing the feel and control needed to do the job well.

Our range covers three main groups:

• Disposable gloves - thin, close-fitting nitrile and latex gloves that protect hands from oil, grease, dirt, and chemicals during everyday tasks
• Specialist gloves - heat-resistant and cut-resistant gloves designed for demanding jobs, such as handling heated bearings and components
• Work gloves - hard-wearing, reusable gloves with grip coatings for general handling, maintenance, and assembly work

Key features:

• Protection against grease and oil - keeps lubricants, dirt, and chemicals off the skin
• Cut and abrasion resistance - specialist and work gloves help protect against sharp edges and rough surfaces
• Heat resistance - specialist gloves allow safe handling of hot bearings and components
• Good grip - coated work gloves improve grip on tools, parts, and materials
• Dexterity - disposable and lightweight gloves allow precise handling of small parts
• Lint-free options - some specialist gloves are lint free, helping keep bearings and precision parts clean
• Range of sizes - available in different sizes for a comfortable, secure fit

In simple terms, gloves protect hands from the hazards of everyday work, whether that is grease, sharp edges, rough materials, or heat.

Why are gloves essential?

Gloves are essential because hands are involved in almost every engineering, maintenance, and gardening task, and they are easily injured. Oils, greases, and solvents can irritate and damage the skin, sharp edges and burrs can cause cuts, rough materials can cause abrasions, and hot components can cause burns. The right gloves reduce these risks while helping keep work clean and controlled.

Their main benefits are:

• Skin protection - reduces contact with oils, greases, solvents, and cleaning chemicals
• Cut and abrasion protection - helps protect against sharp metal edges, burrs, and rough surfaces
• Burn protection - heat-resistant gloves allow hot bearings and parts to be handled safely after heating
• Better grip - coated gloves help prevent tools and parts slipping, even in oily conditions
• Cleaner work - gloves stop grease and dirt being transferred onto bearings, seals, and precision parts
• Comfort - well-fitting gloves reduce hand fatigue and make work more comfortable
• Safer workplaces - suitable gloves help meet health and safety responsibilities

Gloves are used across a wide range of work, including:

• Bearing installation and maintenance - handling bearings, applying grease, and fitting heated bearings
• Engineering and fabrication - handling metal parts, sheet steel, and machined components
• Workshops and garages - vehicle servicing, oil changes, and general repairs
• Maintenance teams - working on machinery, pumps, motors, and gearboxes
• Gardening and grounds work - handling tools, plants, and garden machinery
• Warehousing and handling - picking, packing, and moving materials
• Cleaning and general tasks - using cleaning products and handling waste

The main types of gloves

Gloves are usually grouped by how they are used and the protection they give.

Disposable gloves:

• Nitrile gloves - synthetic rubber gloves that are strong, puncture resistant, and latex-free, with good resistance to oils, greases, and many chemicals. A popular choice for engineering and workshop use
• Latex gloves - natural rubber gloves with an excellent fit, stretch, and feel, ideal for fine, detailed work. Not suitable for people with latex allergies
• Powder-free gloves - leave no residue on hands or parts, ideal where cleanliness matters
• Lightly powdered gloves - easier to put on and help absorb moisture during use

Specialist gloves:

• Heat-resistant gloves - designed for handling heated bearings and components, for example after induction heating. They are made in different versions rated for different maximum temperatures
• Heat and oil resistant gloves - combine heat resistance with protection against oil and water, ideal for handling hot, oily bearings
• Extreme temperature gloves - made from high-performance fibres for handling very hot components for longer periods
• Special working gloves - cut, abrasion, tear, and puncture resistant gloves with good grip and flexibility, suited to handling bearings, sharp parts, and machined components. Lint-free versions help keep precision parts clean

Work gloves:

• Coated grip gloves - knitted gloves with a nitrile, latex, or polyurethane coating on the palm and fingers for improved grip and abrasion resistance
• General purpose work gloves - durable, reusable gloves for handling, assembly, and maintenance tasks
• Lightweight work gloves - flexible gloves that protect hands while keeping good dexterity

How to choose the right gloves?

Choosing the right gloves means matching them to the hazards of the task, the level of dexterity needed, and the person wearing them. Work through these points in order:

• Main hazard - identify the biggest risk, such as grease and oil, sharp edges, rough surfaces, chemicals, or heat
• Disposable or reusable - choose disposable gloves for short, dirty tasks where a fresh pair is needed each time, and reusable work or specialist gloves for longer tasks and tougher conditions
• Oil and grease - choose nitrile disposable gloves, or heat and oil resistant gloves for hot, oily components
• Cut protection - choose cut-resistant gloves when handling sharp metal, burrs, or machined parts. Disposable gloves do not protect against cuts
• Heat protection - choose heat-resistant gloves rated above the temperature of the parts you will handle, such as heated bearings
• Grip - choose coated work gloves for a secure grip on tools and parts, especially in oily or wet conditions
• Dexterity - choose thinner gloves for fine assembly work and heavier gloves for rough handling
• Cleanliness - choose powder-free or lint-free gloves when handling bearings, seals, and precision parts
• Latex allergy - choose nitrile or latex-free gloves if the wearer has a latex allergy or sensitivity
• Standards - check that gloves are tested to recognised standards, such as EN 388 for mechanical risks and EN 407 for thermal risks
• Size and fit - choose the correct size, as gloves that are too small can tear and gloves that are too large reduce grip and control

FAQ - All you need to know about gloves

What is the difference between disposable gloves and work gloves?

Disposable gloves are thin, single-use gloves that protect against oil, grease, dirt, and chemicals. Work gloves are thicker and reusable, giving protection against abrasion, rough materials, and in some cases cuts, along with better grip.

Which gloves are best for handling grease and oil?

Nitrile disposable gloves are a good choice for everyday work with grease and oil. For hot and oily components, use heat and oil resistant gloves.

Do disposable gloves protect against cuts?

No. Disposable gloves are designed to protect against liquids, oils, and dirt, not sharp edges. Use cut-resistant gloves when handling sharp parts.

Why do I need heat-resistant gloves for fitting bearings?

Bearings are often heated before fitting so they expand and slide onto the shaft more easily. Heat-resistant gloves allow the hot bearing to be handled and positioned safely without burns.

What temperature can heat-resistant gloves handle?

It depends on the glove. Heat-resistant gloves are made in different versions rated for different maximum temperatures, so always choose a glove rated above the temperature of the part you are handling.

What does lint free mean?

Lint-free gloves do not shed fibres. This helps keep bearings, seals, and precision parts clean during handling and assembly.

What does EN 388 mean?

EN 388 is a European standard that tests gloves against mechanical risks, such as abrasion, cuts, tears, and punctures. The ratings on the glove show how well it performs in each test.

What does EN 407 mean?

EN 407 is a European standard that tests gloves against thermal risks, such as contact heat. It helps show how suitable a glove is for handling hot components.

What size gloves do I need?

Measure around the widest part of your palm, excluding the thumb, and compare it with the size chart for the glove. A well-fitting glove should feel snug without being tight.

How should I look after reusable gloves?

Keep them clean and dry, store them away from heat, sunlight, and chemicals, and check them before each use. Replace gloves that are worn, torn, cut, or no longer give the protection needed.