General Handling Gloves NZ | How to Choose Work Gloves
How to Choose the Right Gloves for General Handling Work
Work gloves can look remarkably similar, but small differences in materials, coatings, fit and construction can make a big difference to how well they perform.
For businesses involved in warehousing, picking and packing, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance or general handling, the challenge is often finding a glove that provides useful hand protection without making it difficult to actually do the job.
So, what should you look for when choosing general handling gloves?
The answer starts with understanding the work your employees are doing and the hazards involved.
What Are General Handling Gloves?
General handling gloves are work gloves designed for everyday tasks involving the handling of products, cartons, components, tools, equipment and other materials.
Unlike specialised gloves designed for hazards such as chemicals, extreme heat or particular cut risks, general handling gloves typically focus on a combination of:
- Grip
- Dexterity
- Comfort
- Flexibility
- Durability
- Fit
The balance between these characteristics is important.
A heavily constructed glove may offer protection appropriate to one task but be unnecessarily bulky for someone assembling small components. Conversely, a very lightweight glove may not be suitable where more substantial protection is required.
Start by Considering the Job
The first question shouldn't be:
"Which glove should we buy?"
It should be:
"What does the person wearing the glove actually need to do?"
Consider the objects being handled, how much grip is required and whether employees need precise finger movement.
For example, someone moving cartons around a warehouse has different requirements from someone assembling small components, handling cleaning chemicals or working with sharp materials.
Understanding the task makes it much easier to narrow down the appropriate type of glove.
How Important Is Dexterity?
For many general handling jobs, dexterity is one of the most important considerations.
Dexterity refers to how easily the wearer can move their fingers and perform tasks while wearing the gloves.
This becomes particularly important for:
- Picking and packing
- Assembly work
- Handling small components
- Light engineering
- Maintenance
- Inspection work
- Manufacturing
- Warehousing and distribution
A glove that is too bulky can reduce control and make relatively simple tasks more difficult.
Lightweight coated gloves can be useful in these situations because they provide a working surface across the palm and fingers while retaining much of the flexibility of the underlying fabric.
The Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Glove, for example, uses a 13-gauge nylon construction with a polyurethane coating and is designed for precise tasks where flexibility and dexterity are important.
Consider Grip
Grip is another important factor when choosing general handling gloves.
Workers may need to repeatedly pick up cartons, tools, components, packaging or other objects throughout the day.
A coated palm can provide a more practical gripping surface than an uncoated fabric glove.
PU coated gloves are particularly useful for general handling applications where a relatively thin, flexible glove is desirable.
However, the environment also matters. A glove suitable for general dry handling won't necessarily be the right glove for wet, oily or chemical-handling applications.
Comfort Matters More Than You Might Think
A work glove can have impressive specifications, but it isn't particularly useful if employees continually remove it because it's uncomfortable.
For gloves worn for extended periods, consider:
- Breathability
- Flexibility
- Weight
- Fit
- Finger movement
Lightweight nylon gloves can provide good breathability compared with some heavier glove constructions.
The Bastion Messina has a breathable nylon liner and snug fit designed to provide comfort while maintaining flexibility during general handling tasks.
Choosing the Correct Glove Size
Correct sizing is also important.
A glove that's too large can leave excess material around the fingertips and reduce dexterity. A glove that's too tight can be uncomfortable and restrict movement.
For tasks requiring precise handling, a close and comfortable fit can make a noticeable difference.
The Bastion Messina range is available from Small through to XX-Large, with colour-coded wrist bands to make different sizes easier to identify in the workplace.
Reusable or Disposable Gloves?
Another important decision is whether the job requires a reusable work glove or disposable glove.
Reusable general handling gloves make sense for many repetitive workplace tasks where the glove remains suitable for continued use.
Examples could include:
- Picking products in a warehouse
- Packing orders
- Moving cartons
- General assembly
- Handling components
- Some maintenance tasks
Disposable gloves, such as nitrile gloves, serve a different purpose. They're commonly selected where a disposable barrier is required, including many cleaning, hygiene, food-handling and other applications depending on the specifications of the particular glove.
Neither approach is automatically better.
The right choice depends on the task.
For a more detailed comparison, see our related article PU Coated Gloves vs Nitrile Gloves: What's the Difference?
Are General Handling Gloves Suitable for Chemicals?
Not necessarily.
This is particularly important for businesses whose employees perform both general maintenance and cleaning work.
A glove designed for general handling should not automatically be assumed to provide appropriate chemical protection.
For example, although the Bastion Messina has a polyurethane coating, it is a general handling glove and should not be promoted as a chemical-resistant glove.
If an employee is handling cleaning chemicals, solvents or other substances requiring chemical protection, glove selection should take into account the specific substance, concentration, exposure and the chemical-resistance information provided by the glove manufacturer.
We've covered this subject separately in Are PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant?
What About Mechanical Hazards?
General handling can also expose hands to mechanical hazards.
Depending on the work involved, this might include abrasion, tearing, puncture or cuts.
If these are significant hazards, don't select gloves purely on comfort or grip. Check the manufacturer's specifications and relevant safety classifications for the particular glove and make sure the level of protection is appropriate to the task.
Similarly, a general handling glove shouldn't be substituted for specialist gloves required for heat, chemicals or other workplace hazards.
When Are PU Coated Nylon Gloves a Good Choice?
PU coated nylon gloves can be particularly useful where workers require a combination of:
Good dexterity + lightweight comfort + grip + flexibility.
That makes them a practical option for many everyday workplace tasks, including warehousing, picking, packing, assembly and general manufacturing.
They can also provide a reusable alternative to unnecessarily using disposable gloves for tasks where a disposable barrier isn't actually required.
Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves
For businesses looking for a lightweight general handling glove, Hygiene Direct supplies Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves.
The Messina features:
- 13-gauge nylon construction
- Grey polyurethane coating
- Lightweight, breathable design
- Snug fit
- Good flexibility and dexterity
- Colour-coded wrist bands
- Sizes Small through XX-Large
They're designed for precise general handling tasks where the wearer needs protection without unnecessarily sacrificing finger movement.
Shop Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves
If you're unsure which work glove is appropriate for your particular application, contact Hygiene Direct and we can help you choose an appropriate option.
Related Articles
- What Are PU Coated Gloves? A Guide to Polyurethane Work Gloves
- PU Coated Gloves vs Nitrile Gloves: What's the Difference?
- Best Gloves for Warehousing, Picking, Packing & Assembly Work
- Are PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant?