There are lots of gloves in the world. There are gloves chefs wear to keep the food safe and uncontaminated and, on the opposite end, gloves for welders to keep their hands.
The world is full of different kinds of safety gloves that people in various industries need to keep themselves and others around them safe. Learn about some below.
Healthcare gloves
While the healthcare industry doesn’t refer to these gloves as “healthcare gloves,” you’ll often see them in laboratories, hospitals, or medical research labs. These gloves are latex and nitrile in composition, ensuring that the wearer has the dexterity to handle even the smallest of items while still staying protected from different hazards. Latex and nitrile won’t be able to stop punctures, but they do protect the wearer from:
- Hazardous chemicals
- Biohazards
- Cleaning products and solvents
- Grease
- Oils
Working in the healthcare field can be challenging, and many protections are in place to ensure workers stay safe. Gloves are a part of those measures because, without them, the smallest spill or open wound could infect a client or spread germs to the doctor or nurse, putting everyone in danger.
Chef’s gloves
A chef’s gloves aren’t too distinct from a healthcare worker’s, but making a distinction is important. A healthcare worker’s gloves are necessary to reduce contamination for patients and keep the worker safe. On the other hand, a chef wears gloves to eliminate cross-contamination with food.
Wildland fire gloves
Firefighting is one of the most dangerous jobs, and wildland firefighting is even scarier. These fires can get enormous and incredibly deadly if you’re not careful. Wildland firefighters require lots of equipment, and wildland fire gloves protect them while fighting these fires. Firefighters wear different gear to cover their skin and keep out the flames and smoke, but their gloves can do much more. These gloves shield wearers from potential cuts, scratches, and broken fingers. Still, they’re flexible enough to grip surfaces and perform various tasks.
Aluminized gloves
Wildland fire gloves are important for protecting firefighters in these situations. But because they’re doing more than just shielding them from heat, their heat resistance isn’t as high as it could be. In other settings, such as some laboratories, welding operations, or foundries, people need aluminized gloves to guard them against heat as high as 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Aluminized gloves are simultaneously insulated and reflective so the wearer can handle items that would otherwise send them to the hospital.
There are lots of different kinds of safety gloves. Knowing their distinguishing features can help you better understand these industries and the risks people in them face.
