Top 10 Types of Safety Gloves and Their Uses

Your hands are the tools you use most and they are also among the most frequently injured parts of the body in Indian workplaces. Cuts, burns, chemical burns, abrasions, and crush injuries to the hands account for a significant share of all industrial injuries reported in India.

Choosing the right safety gloves means matching the glove to the specific hazard. A nitrile glove will not protect against a grinding disc. A cut-resistant glove will not protect against chemical immersion. This guide covers all the main types of industrial gloves and helps you pick the right one for each job. At Kewalson, we carry Ansell and other certified brands across all glove types.

Why the Right Glove Type Matters

Using the wrong type of glove is almost as dangerous as using no glove at all. Workers who trust an unsuitable glove may take risks they would not otherwise take making the wrong glove choice a serious safety issue, not just a comfort one.

Under India's PPE guidelines India framework, employers must provide the appropriate type of hand protection for each specific task and hazard. Knowing the different PPE gloves types is essential for any safety manager or procurement officer.

Top 10 Types of Safety Gloves

1. Nitrile Coated Work Gloves

Nitrile-coated gloves offer excellent grip, abrasion resistance, and protection from oils and light chemicals. The coating can cover the palm only or the full hand. These are the most versatile work gloves India for general industrial tasks.

Kewalson product: Ansell 11-840 Multi-Purpose Nitrile Coated Gloves and Ansell 11-801 Nitrile Foam Coated Gloves.

Best for: Assembly, manufacturing, material handling, general industry.

2. PU (Polyurethane) Palm Coated Gloves

PU-coated gloves are lightweight with excellent dexterity and a thin coating for precision handling. Ideal for tasks requiring fine finger sensitivity.

Kewalson product: Ansell 11-735 Medium Duty PU Palm Coated Gloves.

Best for: Electronics assembly, light manufacturing, quality inspection.

3. Cut Resistant Gloves

Cut-resistant gloves are made from high-performance fibres — HPPE (High Performance Polyethylene), Kevlar, or steel core yarns — rated from Level A1 to A9 (ANSI/ISEA) or Level B to F (EN 388). Essential for workers handling sheet metal, glass, knives, or sharp tools.

Best for: Sheet metal fabrication, glass handling, food processing (meat cutting), automotive assembly.

4. Chemical Resistant Gloves — Nitrile Flocked

For chemical handling, you need a glove specifically rated for the chemical in question. Nitrile flocked gloves offer good resistance to many acids, bases, and solvents. The Ansell 37-676 Nitrile Flocked Chemical Resistant Gloves at Kewalson is a popular choice for laboratory and chemical plant use.

Best for: Chemical plants, laboratories, cleaning chemical handling.

5. Neoprene Chemical Resistant Gloves

Neoprene gloves offer broader chemical resistance than nitrile — particularly good against oils, fuels, and hydraulic fluids. The Ansell 29-500 Unsupported Neoprene Gloves at Kewalson are suitable for petroleum and chemical industry tasks.

Best for: Petroleum industry, automotive maintenance, strong acid handling.

6. Heat Resistant Gloves

Heat-resistant gloves protect hands from burns when handling hot objects, molten materials, or working near open flame. Made from leather, aluminised fabric, or high-temperature resistant materials. Browse Kewalson's hand protection range for heat-resistant options.

Best for: Foundries, furnace work, welding, bakery and food processing.

7. Electrical Insulating Gloves

Electrical insulating gloves protect against electric shock and are rated by voltage class (Class 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4). These must be used with leather protector gloves over the top. Must be tested and certified before each use period.

Best for: Electrical maintenance, substation work, live line work.

8. Anti-Vibration Gloves

Workers using vibrating tools (jackhammers, grinders, drills) over long periods are at risk of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Anti-vibration gloves absorb vibration to reduce this risk.

Best for: Road construction, demolition, heavy drilling operations.

9. Disposable Gloves

Thin nitrile, latex, or vinyl disposable gloves for single-use applications — common in healthcare, food handling, and lab environments where cross-contamination is a concern.

Best for: Healthcare, food processing, laboratory, pharmaceutical industry.

10. General Purpose Light Duty Gloves

Lightweight, flexible gloves for tasks where protection from abrasion and light contact is needed without sacrificing dexterity. The Ansell 48-128 Light Duty Nitrile Coated Gloves at Kewalson is a good example.

Best for: Light assembly, packaging, logistics, warehousing.

Quick Reference — Which Glove for Which Hazard?

How to Choose the Right Safety Gloves

•        Step 1: Identify the specific hazard: cut, chemical, heat, electrical, abrasion, or vibration.

•        Step 2: Check the relevant standard: EN 388 (mechanical), EN 374 (chemical), EN 407 (heat), EN 60903 (electrical).

•        Step 3: Match the glove material to the hazard — nitrile for chemicals, leather for heat, HPPE for cuts.

•        Step 4: Ensure correct sizing — gloves that are too large reduce dexterity; too tight causes fatigue.

•        Step 5: Inspect before every use — replace cracked, torn, or perforated gloves immediately.

Final Thoughts

Hand protection is one of the most frequently overlooked aspects of workplace safety — until an injury occurs. The right safety gloves for the right hazard protect your workers' most important tools their hands.

At Kewalson, we carry a comprehensive range of industrial gloves from globally trusted brands like Ansell. Browse our full hand protection range today and keep every pair of hands on your site protected.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best gloves for chemical handling?

For chemical handling, you need gloves specifically rated for the chemicals you are working with. Nitrile flocked gloves like the Ansell 37-676 offer good resistance to acids, bases, and solvents. For oils and fuels, neoprene gloves like the Ansell 29-500 are a better choice. Always check the chemical resistance chart for the specific substance before choosing a glove.

What is the difference between nitrile and latex gloves?

Nitrile gloves are synthetic rubber — they offer better chemical resistance than latex and are suitable for people with latex allergies. Latex gloves are made from natural rubber — more elastic and tactile, but a growing number of workers and patients have latex allergies. Nitrile is now the preferred choice in most industrial and healthcare settings.

What cut level gloves do I need for sheet metal work?

For sheet metal handling, a minimum of ANSI/ISEA Level A4 or EN 388 Level D cut resistance is recommended. For heavier gauge sheet metal or stamping operations, Level A6 or higher is safer. Always match the cut level rating to the actual sharpness of the materials being handled.

How long do safety gloves last?

The lifespan of safety gloves depends on the type and frequency of use. Nitrile coated work gloves may last a few weeks to months with daily use. Chemical resistant gloves should be replaced when they show any signs of discolouration, swelling, or cracking. Electrical insulating gloves must be tested and re-certified every 6 months.

Where can I buy certified safety gloves in India?

Kewalson stocks a complete range of certified industrial gloves from Ansell — including nitrile coated, chemical resistant, PU coated, and light duty gloves. Browse the full hand protection range at Kewalson with free shipping on orders above Rs. 1,000.

Shop Now  →  kewalson.com/collections/hand-protection