Best Gloves for Warehouse, Picking & Packing Work NZ
Best Gloves for Warehousing, Picking, Packing & Assembly Work
Choosing the right gloves for warehouse and assembly work can make a noticeable difference to comfort, productivity and how easily employees can perform everyday tasks.
Workers involved in warehousing, order picking, packing, distribution and assembly often handle cartons, packaging, tools and small components throughout the day. They need hand protection, but they also need to be able to grip objects and move their fingers freely.
A heavy or bulky work glove can make these tasks unnecessarily difficult.
For many general handling applications, a lightweight reusable PU coated glove provides an excellent balance of grip, dexterity, flexibility and comfort.
So, what should you look for when choosing gloves for warehouse, picking, packing and assembly work?
What Makes a Good Warehouse Glove?
There isn't one glove that's suitable for every warehouse task.
Someone picking cartons from shelves has different requirements from an employee handling chemicals, sharp materials or hot objects.
For straightforward general handling work, some of the most important considerations are:
- Good grip
- Dexterity
- Comfortable fit
- Flexibility
- Breathability
- Durability
- Suitability for repeated use
The objective is to provide appropriate hand protection without unnecessarily restricting the employee's ability to do their job.
Why Is Dexterity Important for Picking and Packing?
Think about the number of different movements someone might perform while picking and packing an order.
They may need to pick up cartons, handle individual products, open packaging, use a scanner, apply labels, operate equipment and handle small objects.
All of these tasks require finger movement.
A glove that's unnecessarily thick or bulky can reduce dexterity and make simple jobs more difficult.
That's why lightweight general handling gloves can be particularly useful in warehousing and distribution environments.
The Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Glove combines a 13-gauge nylon construction with a polyurethane coating, providing a close-fitting and flexible glove designed for precise handling tasks.
What Are the Best Gloves for Warehouse Picking?
For general warehouse picking where workers are primarily handling cartons, packaging and products, a PU coated nylon glove can be an excellent option.
The lightweight nylon construction allows good finger movement, while the polyurethane coating provides a practical working surface for handling objects.
This combination makes PU coated gloves particularly suited to repetitive general handling tasks.
They can be used across applications such as:
- Order picking
- Packing
- Dispatch
- Stock handling
- Goods receiving
- Distribution
- General warehouse work
However, the specific hazards of the job should always be considered before selecting any work glove.
What Are the Best Gloves for Packing?
Packing work often involves considerably more precision than simply moving cartons.
Employees may need to handle individual products, packaging materials, tape, labels and smaller components.
This makes dexterity and fit particularly important.
A close-fitting glove reduces excess material around the fingers and can make it easier to perform precise movements.
The Bastion Messina has a snug fit and flexible construction, making it particularly suitable for this type of work.
What Are the Best Gloves for Assembly Work?
Assembly work is another area where glove selection can significantly affect the employee's ability to perform a task.
When workers are handling smaller components, fasteners, parts or tools, they need to retain good finger movement.
A lightweight PU coated work glove can provide a useful compromise between wearing no hand protection and using a heavier glove that restricts movement.
Typical applications can include:
- Light assembly
- Component handling
- Manufacturing
- Inspection work
- Light engineering
- Maintenance
- General production work
For jobs involving additional hazards such as sharp objects, chemicals or heat, a more specialised glove may be required.
Why Is Grip Important?
Warehouse and assembly workers can handle hundreds of objects during a working day.
A suitable gripping surface can make repetitive handling easier.
PU coated gloves have a polyurethane coating over the working area of the glove, providing a useful surface for handling cartons, products and components while allowing the underlying fabric to remain relatively lightweight.
This is one of the reasons PU coated gloves are widely suited to general handling work.
What About Comfort and Breathability?
If employees are wearing gloves for much of the working day, comfort becomes particularly important.
A glove that's uncomfortable may be removed more frequently, defeating the purpose of providing it.
Lightweight nylon gloves can provide good breathability through the uncoated fabric areas.
The Bastion Messina combines breathable nylon fabric with a snug fit and flexible construction, making it suitable for extended general handling work.
Correct sizing is also important.
Gloves that are too loose can reduce dexterity, while gloves that are too tight may become uncomfortable.
The Bastion Messina is available from Small through to XX-Large, with colour-coded wrist bands to help businesses identify different sizes.
Reusable Gloves vs Disposable Gloves for Warehouse Work
Businesses sometimes use disposable gloves for tasks where a reusable glove may actually be more appropriate.
For straightforward picking, packing and general warehouse handling, employees don't necessarily require a disposable barrier.
A reusable general handling glove can potentially be worn repeatedly while it remains in suitable condition for the work being performed.
Disposable gloves, including nitrile gloves, serve a different purpose and may be required for particular tasks.
Rather than asking whether reusable or disposable gloves are better, ask:
What protection does this particular job require?
If the job is predominantly handling cartons, products and components, a reusable PU coated glove may be a practical choice.
If the work requires an appropriate disposable barrier, then a disposable glove may be preferable.
For more information, see PU Coated Gloves vs Nitrile Gloves: What's the Difference?
Are PU Coated Gloves Suitable for Chemical Handling?
This is an important distinction.
Do not assume that PU coated warehouse gloves are chemical resistant.
The Bastion Messina is designed as a general handling glove and shouldn't be selected as a chemical-resistant glove simply because it has a polyurethane coating.
If a warehouse or manufacturing employee is handling cleaning chemicals, solvents or other substances requiring chemical protection, the glove should be selected specifically for that chemical and the type of exposure involved.
The product's specifications and the relevant Safety Data Sheet should be considered when selecting appropriate PPE.
We've covered this separately in Are PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant?
What About Sharp Objects and Cut Hazards?
The same principle applies to sharp objects.
A general handling glove shouldn't automatically be treated as a specialist cut-resistant glove.
If employees regularly handle sharp metal, glass, blades or other materials presenting a significant cut hazard, glove selection should be based on the level and type of protection required for that particular work.
Match the glove to the hazard, not simply the job title.
Two employees working in the same warehouse may therefore require completely different gloves depending on the tasks they're performing.
A Practical Glove for Everyday General Handling
For many warehouse, distribution and assembly environments, the priority isn't extreme protection.
It's finding a glove employees can comfortably wear while continuing to do their job effectively.
That's where a lightweight PU coated glove can be particularly useful.
The combination of grip, dexterity, flexibility, comfort and reusability makes this type of glove well suited to repetitive general handling work.
Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves
Hygiene Direct supplies Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves for businesses requiring a lightweight reusable glove for general handling and precision tasks.
Features include:
- 13-gauge nylon construction
- Grey polyurethane coating
- Lightweight and breathable design
- Snug fit
- Good flexibility and dexterity
- Colour-coded wrist bands
- Sizes Small through XX-Large
They're particularly suited to warehousing, picking and packing, distribution, assembly, manufacturing, light engineering and other general handling applications.
Shop Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves
If you're unsure which glove is suitable for a particular workplace task, contact Hygiene Direct and we can help you select an appropriate option.
Related Articles
- What Are PU Coated Gloves? A Guide to Polyurethane Work Gloves
- How to Choose the Right Gloves for General Handling Work
- PU Coated Gloves vs Nitrile Gloves: What's the Difference?
- Are PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant?