Safe Use of Work Gloves
A safety talk focused on work glove use, including choosing the right glove, cut protection, chemical exposure, heat, pinch points, fit, damage, and entanglement hazards.
Scan to open or share
Point your phone at this code to open this talk, or screenshot it and text it to coworkers.
Use this talk in the field
Print this talk, create a sign-in sheet, or make a QR sticker crews can scan from equipment, work areas, safety boards, or job trailers.
Key Hazards
- Cuts, punctures, burns, or chemical exposure from using the wrong glove
- Gloves caught in rotating equipment
- Poor grip or reduced dexterity from improper glove fit
- Damaged gloves providing reduced protection
- Contaminated gloves spreading chemicals or biological material
- False confidence when gloves do not match the hazard
2–3 Minute Talk Script
Work gloves protect hands from many hazards, but only when the glove matches the task. No single glove protects against every hazard.
Workers should choose gloves based on the exposure. Cut-resistant, chemical-resistant, heat-resistant, leather, rubber, insulated, disposable, or general work gloves all serve different purposes.
Gloves should be inspected before use. Holes, tears, worn palms, stiff material, chemical damage, contamination, or missing grip can reduce protection.
Fit matters. Gloves that are too loose can reduce control or catch on objects, while gloves that are too tight can limit movement and cause discomfort.
Gloves should not be worn near rotating equipment when they could be caught. Drills, lathes, grinders, rollers, belts, shafts, and moving machinery can pull gloves and hands into danger points.
Chemical gloves should be selected for the specific chemical. A glove that protects against one product may fail quickly against another.
Contaminated gloves should be removed and handled properly. Workers should avoid touching clean surfaces, tools, vehicles, or skin with contaminated gloves.
Safe glove use depends on selecting the right glove, inspecting it, understanding its limits, and removing gloves when they create an entanglement hazard.
Safety Reminders
- Choose gloves based on the task hazard.
- Inspect gloves before use.
- Do not use torn, worn, or contaminated gloves.
- Use chemical-resistant gloves only when compatible with the chemical.
- Avoid gloves near rotating equipment when entanglement is possible.
- Make sure gloves fit properly.
- Remove and dispose of contaminated gloves correctly.
Ask the Crew
- What hand hazards are present in this task?
- Are the gloves correct for cuts, chemicals, heat, or punctures?
- Are the gloves damaged or contaminated?
- Could gloves get caught in moving or rotating equipment?
- Does the glove fit allow safe grip and control?