Glove Safety Toolbox Talk: Choosing the Right Gloves for the Job

This glove safety toolbox talk is for any crew that handles sharp materials, chemicals, hot or cold items, or works near machinery. It takes about five minutes, and it helps to lay out the different gloves used on site so people can compare them. The crew should leave knowing which glove suits which job, and when not to wear gloves at all.

Why does glove selection matter?

Hands are involved in almost every task, and gloves are often treated as one-size-fits-all. They aren't. In the US, OSHA 1910.138 requires employers to select appropriate hand protection against hazards such as skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts, abrasions, punctures, chemical and thermal burns, and temperature extremes. Selection must be based on the task, conditions, duration of use and the hazards identified.

Chemical gloves are a good example of why the choice matters. CCOHS warns that no one glove material is resistant to all chemicals, and some chemicals permeate a glove in seconds while others take days. It recommends checking the safety data sheet for the right material.

Fit is part of the rule too: OSHA 1910.132 requires PPE that properly fits each worker. Rules vary by country, so check the rules where you work.

Talking points for your glove safety toolbox talk

• Match the glove to the hazard. Cut-resistant gloves for blades and sheet metal, chemical gloves of the right material for chemicals, insulated gloves for heat or cold. A cut glove offers little against a solvent, and a thin nitrile glove won't stop a blade.
• Check before you put them on. Look for holes, tears, worn fingertips and stiff or swollen patches. CCOHS suggests testing rubber or synthetic gloves for pinholes by trapping air in them and checking for leaks.
• Fit affects grip and effort. Gloves that are too big bunch up, reduce grip and make you squeeze harder, which adds strain over a shift. Gloves that are too small split. Ask for your size.
• Keep gloves away from rotating parts. On drills, lathes, rollers and conveyors, a glove can be caught and pull your hand in. Follow the machine's rules on whether gloves are allowed.
• Remove contaminated gloves safely. Peel the first glove off from the cuff without touching your skin, hold it in the gloved hand, then slide a bare finger inside the second cuff and peel it over the first. Wash your hands afterward.
• Gloves don't last forever. Chemical gloves have a breakthrough time, and cut gloves wear thin. Replace gloves on the schedule your site sets, or sooner if damaged.
• Cover the gap. Gloves should be long enough that there's no gap between glove and sleeve when handling chemicals or hot items.

Example to share with the crew

For example, a worker grabs the nearest pair of fabric work gloves to decant a degreaser into smaller bottles. The fabric soaks up a splash, and the chemical sits against their skin for the rest of the task. By the end of the shift, the backs of their hands are red and cracked.

They were wearing gloves, just the wrong ones. Ask the crew which tasks here have gloves that get swapped for "whatever's handy."

Glove safety checklist

• Correct glove type identified and posted for each task
• Chemical glove material matched to the safety data sheet
• Gloves available in a full range of sizes
• Gloves inspected for holes, tears and wear before use
• Gloves not worn near exposed rotating parts where prohibited
• Contaminated gloves removed safely and disposed of correctly
• Hand washing facilities available near chemical tasks
• Damaged or worn gloves replaced promptly

Questions to ask the crew

1. Do your gloves fit, and do they match the task you're doing right now?
2. Which job here would you be tempted to do with "any old gloves"?
3. Show me how you'd take off a pair of contaminated gloves.

How to close the talk

What this glove safety toolbox talk comes down to: the right glove for the hazard, the right size for your hand, and no gloves where they can be caught. If your gloves don't fit, are damaged, or don't suit the job, tell your supervisor today. For the bigger picture, see PPE is the last line of defense, and for hand and wrist strain from gripping, read about repetitive strain injury. More toolbox talk topics are here.