If you need to buy new safety gloves for your workers, then you should compare different materials before you make a final decision. Glove materials affect safety and comfort, so you need to make the right choice here.
Leather gloves are a good option. What are their advantages?
1. Versatile protection
If your crews work on different kinds of projects, then you might be looking for an all-in-one safety glove solution. You might want to buy gloves that suit different kinds of jobs and working conditions.
Leather gloves give the hands good all-round protection. For example, they are thick and strong enough to create a protective barrier around the hands and fingers. Good-quality leather is hard to cut, puncture or break. So, even if one of your crew handles something sharp by accident, the leather gloves should protect their hands.
While leather isn't completely heat-resistant, gloves made from leather can also protect the hands from immediate fire or heat damage. For example, welders often favour leather gloves because they protect the hands from sparks without sustaining damage.
Leather gloves also give you a firm grip when you're working. The leather used on most safety gloves isn't completely smooth; it has a more rugged surface. This roughness makes it easier to grip ropes, tools and objects. Gloves that are too smooth or slippery to give you a secure hold might not protect you from friction burns; leather gloves will.
2. Abrasion and wear resistance
Work gloves have a limited life. Your crews will wear and use them in difficult conditions. To get the best value for money, you should look for gloves with a longer working life. Leather gloves offer this benefit.
Some gloves lose some protection because of wear or abrasion. If you make the same movements repeatedly, then the material might start to wear in certain places. If you work with rough, sharp or hard materials, then the material can become abraded. Wear and abrasions compromise the integrity of the material, making it more likely to break.
Leather gloves are tough. They aren't likely to wear down or abrade as quickly as other gloves. Their surface stays intact, so you can use the gloves for longer before they need replacement.
3. Sweat management
You need your workers to wear safety gloves on hazardous jobs; however, you may not be able to convince some people to do this. Some glove materials make the hands feel hot and sweaty. They trap moisture inside. This heat and trapped moisture can make it hard and uncomfortable to work with gloves on.
Leather manages heat and sweat well. It doesn't conduct heat quickly, so gloves shouldn't overheat the hands. Plus, it can absorb sweat from the hands and release it outside of the gloves. This keeps the hands and fingers cooler, dry and less sweaty.
4. Long-term wear benefits
Some safety work gloves fit snugly and comfortably to start with. However, they may lose some of their comfort over time and become less wearable.
For example, fabric gloves might stiffen and lose some flexibility, especially if they get stained with dirt and work materials. Padded fabrics might lose some cushioning the more that they are worn. Eventually, gloves will lose their safety benefits as well as their comfort.
Leather gloves don't usually become more uncomfortable to wear over time; they can actually get more comfortable. The more you wear leather gloves, the softer and more supple the leather gets. It won't lose its strength or fit; however, it will become more flexible.
To see some examples of leather safety gloves, contact Ace Workwear. We can help you choose the right gloves for all your projects.