What are work gloves used for?

Work gloves are the go-to hand protection for messy, rough, or risky jobs. Here's what people use them for every day:

■Shielding hands from scrapes and scratches:

When handling rough materials like lumber, bricks, concrete blocks, or metal parts, work gloves act like armor. They stop splinters, sharp edges, and abrasive surfaces from hurting your skin.

■Getting a solid grip on tools and materials:

The palms and fingers of work gloves often have rubbery coatings (like nitrile) or textured leather. This sticky surface helps you hold onto hammers, wrenches, power tools, pipes, or boxes firmly, especially if your hands are sweaty or things are dusty or oily.

■Protecting from heat and sparks:

Jobs like welding, grinding metal, or working near hot engines need special heat-resistant work gloves, often made of thick leather. These block sparks, brief contact with hot surfaces, and radiant heat from hurting your skin.

■Keeping hands clean and dry:

Whether digging in the garden, mixing cement, cleaning gutters, or working with oils and greases, work gloves create a barrier. They keep dirt, mud, grime, water, and messy liquids off your skin, making cleanup easier.

■Guarding against vibrations and pressure:

Using power tools like jackhammers or sanders for hours can make your hands ache and tingle. Padded work gloves absorb some of that buzz and cushion your palms against constant pressure or impact.

■Handling chemicals safely (for short periods):

When dealing with mild cleaners, solvents, fuels, or pesticides, chemical-resistant work gloves (often coated or made from specific plastics) provide a protective layer to keep harsh stuff off your skin. (Note: Strong acids/alkalis need specialized gloves).

■Staying warm during cold jobs:

Insulated work gloves, sometimes lined with fleece or Thinsulate, trap body heat. They're essential for working outdoors in winter, handling cold materials, or working in refrigerated spaces without your fingers going numb.

■Preventing minor cuts and punctures:

While not armor, many work gloves (especially those made with cut-resistant fibers like Dyneema or thick leather) offer good defense against accidental nicks from utility knives, sharp metal edges, or broken glass encountered in construction, factories, or recycling work.