One complaint in many industrial environments ranging from construction to package handling to food processing is, "These gloves are annoying" in reference to work gloves. But regardless of whether you call them work or safety gloves, hand protection is a must in many work environments. Although a pair of gloves might not always give you full dexterity, having your hands unprotected leaves them open to any injuries, from punctures to abrasions. After 2000, work gloves are seen as a necessity according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138. The type of glove may vary with work environments, but, in any workspace that might damage hands even slightly, safety gloves are a requirement.

Prior to 2000, no safety regulation covered work gloves. Instead, the quality of hand protection offered by gloves was classified as "poor," "fair," and higher descriptive grades. The grades, however, were given by manufacturers and the gloves didn't need to go through a series of tests to determine their durability for certain work conditions. As a result, workers, no matter if they worked in construction or chemical handling, could end up with safety gloves that were too weak for the needs of the job.

Current standards for safety gloves are specified by ANSI/ISEA 105-2000. The standards require manufacturers to test work gloves according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138, and, after tests, the gloves are given a rating of one to five. This covers all types of gloves, whether you need neoprene or PVC gloves for handling chemicals or thicker leather gloves for welding. The grades are based upon tests for abrasion and heat resistance. For example, a grade of "one" indicates that the pair of gloves is for light work, no matter the industry. On the other end of resistance, a "five" grade indicates that the gloves should stand eight pounds of impact. Gloves for general construction jobs typically fall in the "two" to "three" range.

If you don't know which kind of safety gloves you'll need for a job, asking a supervisor before you start work is recommended. Otherwise, think of the duties for the job and any possible accidents, such as chemical burns, punctures, or abrasion, that could happen while working.