Short answer: Choose the glove for the task, not simply the highest level of protection. Assembly work needs a close fit and good dexterity, cutting-heavy tasks need a cut-resistant glove with a high TDM rating, winter work needs a lining and wind protection, and chemicals need a glove tested against that specific substance. No single glove does everything.
No tradesperson uses one screwdriver for everything, and the same goes for gloves. Here is an overview of what suits what, and which markings to check.
Overview: glove by task
| Task | Glove type | Check the marking |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly and light handling | Thin, close-fitting knitted glove with a palm coating | EN 388, abrasion resistance and fit |
| Sharp items, sheet material, glass, metal | Cut-resistant glove | EN 388, TDM letter C-F |
| Winter and cold | Lined glove, windproof outer | EN 511 |
| Wet, greasy and dirty work | Nitrile, either as a coating or as a disposable glove | EN 388 (coating), EN ISO 374 (contact with substances) |
| Chemicals and solvents | Chemical glove chosen for the substance | EN ISO 374-1 and substance codes |
Assembly and light handling
Here the glove should fit like a second skin, so you can pick up small screws and hold on to tools. Choose a thin knitted glove with a palm coating of nitrile, PU or similar. Look at the abrasion resistance (the first number in EN 388) and at the fit. If the glove is too big, you lose feel. If it is too small, it tires your hand. Fit is often more important than the level of protection.
Cut-resistant
For sheet material, glass, metal edges and knives, the glove needs cut protection. Use the TDM letter (A-F) in EN 388, not the coupe number, when you choose. How to read the code is explained in EN 388 explained. A cut-resistant glove protects against cuts, not necessarily against punctures. If you also handle pointed items, check the puncture rating separately.
Winter and cold
Cold hands lose dexterity and grip. A winter glove has a warm lining and should have a wind- and water-repellent outer. Cold protection is tested to EN 511. If you need to work precisely, a thin glove underneath and a larger warm glove on top often works better than one thick glove. See also layering for winter.
Nitrile: coatings and disposable gloves
Nitrile is used in two forms. As a coating on a knitted glove it gives good grip in oil and grease. As a disposable glove it protects your hands from dirt and minor spills, for example in workshop work, painting and cleaning. A disposable glove is not a chemical glove. It is thin, and some substances go through within minutes. Change it when it is stained or damaged.
Chemicals
Chemical gloves are tested to EN ISO 374-1. The standard divides them into types (A, B and C) according to how many substances they have been tested against. Each glove has only been tested against the substances listed with letter codes under the pictogram. It is therefore not enough that the glove is a chemical glove. Check the safety data sheet for your substance, and compare it with the manufacturer's information on breakthrough time.
- Choose by the substance, not by the material alone.
- A longer cuff protects your forearm from splashes.
- Change the glove if it swells, goes hard or becomes sticky.
How to choose correctly
- Describe the task: dry, wet, sharp, cold or chemical.
- Check the marking against the task, not just the highest number.
- Try the glove on. Fit decides whether it gets used.
- Keep at least two types in the van, one for heavy work and one for precise work.
- Replace worn gloves. A hole in the coating or cracks are a warning sign.
Frequently asked questions
Which glove should I use for assembly work?
A thin, close-fitting glove with a palm coating, chosen for fit and abrasion resistance. Dexterity matters more than high cut protection for light assembly work.
What should I look for on a cut-resistant glove?
The TDM letter in the EN 388 code (A-F). For cutting-heavy tasks it is a more reliable guide than the coupe number.
Are disposable nitrile gloves enough against chemicals?
Normally not. They are thin and only protect against minor spills of certain substances. For chemicals you need a glove tested to EN ISO 374-1 against the specific substance.
What does EN 511 mean on a glove?
That the glove has been tested for protection against cold. Use it for winter work together with a suitable lining.
See the full range of work gloves. If you are unsure what to choose, call us on 89 88 67 26.
Source: EN 388:2016 + A1:2018, EN ISO 374-1 and EN 511. This article is for guidance only and is not an exhaustive review of the standards.
