The Law

The wearing of protective gloves in hazardous environments is laid down in Regulation 4 of the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992. Under these regulations , employers are required to provide such PPE as is suitable for those employees who are working in hazardous conditions.

The Hazards

Hand related hazards can come from many sources. These standards cover all the likely industrial hazards found in the work place such as Mechanical, Chemical and Thermal. There are many other factors involved when selecting the correct hand protection and these should be taken into consideration along with the laboratory testing results which come from the glove standards.

Liscombe Manufacturing

As the UK's leading quality leather glove manufacturer, Liscombe has the ability to manufacture special gloves and related PPE to your own requirements. These products are fully approved to the EN standards and give you added flexibility when selecting your gloves from Liscombe.

PPE Surveys and Product Training

In order to select the right PPE for the job, a process of Risk Assessment, Job Survey and Product Training will be required. Our Area Managers are on hand to assist you in this process. Feel free to call on their extensive product knowledge and industry experience to help you in your assessments.

Risk Categories

The PPE regulations classify products and hazards into three Risk categories, Minimal (Category I), Intermediate (Category II) and High (Category III). Handling operations and products can be classed in any one of these categories. Below are some definitions for deciding how PPE should be classified.

Minimal Risk - Category I

• Mechanical Action whose effects are superficial (gardening gloves).
• Where the user can easily assess the level of protection provided by the product.
• Risk encountered in the handling of hot components not exceeding 50^oC.
• Minor impacts which do not cause irreversible lesions.
• Cleaning materials of weak action (diluted detergent solutions).

No third party test carried out. Product self certified by manufacturer.

Intermediate Risk - Category II

• This is where the majority of gloves will be classified unless they are specifically mentioned in the Minimal or High Risk categories.
• Most general handling gloves to be used in mechanical hazards where there is no risk of irreversible damage.

Third Party testing carried out by NAMAS approved test house.

High Risk - Category III

• Hazards that put the wearer in mortal danger or dangers that may seriously and irreversibly harm the health.
• Gloves for use in environments where there are temperatures in excess of 100^oC, infra red radiation, flames or molten metal splash (Foundries and welding etc).
• Chemical Resistant gloves.

Third Party testing carried out by NAMAS approved test house. Continuous third party quality assurance monitoring carried out by an NACCB approved body under an ISO9002 quality system.

General Requirements For Gloves EN420

This standard defines the general requirements with which all gloves (no matter which category) must comply.
Areas covered include : Sizing, make up, innocuousness, cleaning and marking.
There are also optional dexterity and water vapour tests.

Mechanical Hazards - EN388

This standard tests gloves against mechanical hazards such as abrasion, blade cut, tear and puncture. All tests must be undertaken and the scores are designed to show the product's resistance to mechanical hazards.
'X' denotes that the test was not completed successfully.

a.b.c.d.

a. Abrasion

Scored 0 - 4

b. Blade Cut

Scored 0 - 5

c. Tear

Scored 0 - 4

d. Puncture

Scored 0 - 4

Chemical Hazards - EN374

This standard tests the glove's capability to protect the wearer against chemicals and micro orgnaisms.
Tests are carried out on a selection of test chemicals and a score achieved from 1-6. Advice should always be sought when selecting chemical gloves, as the test chemicals may not be the same as the chemicals you are using. The EN374 pictogram only denoted that the glove is liquid proof and will not leak.
For detailed chemical resistance information refer to the manufacturer's chemical data sheets.

Thermal Hazards, Heat and Fire - EN407

a.b.c.d.e.f.

a. Flammability

Scored 1 - 4

b. Contact Heat

Scored 1 - 4

c. Convective Heat

Scored 1 - 4

d. Radiant Heat

Scored 1 - 4

e. Small Molten Metal Splash

Scored 1 - 4

f. Large Molten Metal Splash

Scored 1 - 4

This standard tests the glove's capability to protect the wearer against various heat related hazards.
All tests are optional and will depend on what the glove has been designed to protect against. 'X' denotes that the test has not been carried out.
Where a glove contains a mix of materials (for example leather palm and aluminised back) Liscombe has carried out the most relevant test to the appropriate part of the glove, i.e. contact heat to the palm and radiant heat the back.

Cold Hazards - EN511

a.b.c.

a. Convective Cold

Scored 0 - 4

b. Contact Cold

Scored 0 - 4

c. Permeability of Water

Scored 1 - 1

This standard tests the gloves against contact and convective cold hazards and water permeability.

Heat and Fire For Firefighters - EN659

EN388 requirements a.b.c.d.

a. Abrasion

Minimum Level 2

b. Blade Cut

Minimum Level 2

c. Tear

Minimum Level 2

d. Puncture

Minimum Level 2

EN407 requiremnets a.b.c.d.e.f.

a. Flammability

Minimum Level 4

b. Contact Heat

Minimum Level 2

c. Convective Heat

Minimum Level 3

d. Radiant Heat

Minimum Level 1

e. Small Molten Metal Splash

Minimum Level X

f. Large Molten metal Splash

Minimum Level X

Linings must not melt, drip or ignite.

This standard tests the glove's capability to withstand the hazards related to fire fighting. The standard draws on the tests already carried out in EN388 and EN407 and sets minimum levels of performance in order to achieve the standard.

Anti Static - Optional part of EN388

This test is part of EN388 and tests the glove's capability to reduce the risk of electrostatic discharge. This is a pass/fail test where shown, the pictogram inidcates a pass.

Impact Cut - Optional part of EN388

This test is part of EN388 and tests the glove's capability to reduce the risk of impact cut. This is a pass/fail test and where shown, the pictogram indicates a pass.

Ionising Radiation - EN421

This standard is designed to test the glove's capability to protect against Ionising Radiation and Radioactive contamination.

Welding Hazards - EN12477

This standard lays down the requirements for achieving Type A and Type B welding approval. The standard draws on the tests carried out in EN388 and EN407 and sets minimum standards that must be achieved to gain approval to Type A or B.

TYPE A - Typical applications:- Fusion Welding, Electric Arc or Gas welding.
TYPE B - Typical applications:- Tig welding.

Type A

Type B

EN388 requirements

Abrasion

Minimum Level

2

1

Blade Cut

Minimum Level

1

1

Tear

Minimum Level

2

1

Puncture

Minimum Level

2

1

EN407 requirements

Flammability

Minimum Level

3

2

Contact Heat

Minimum Level

1

1

Convective Heat

Minimum Level

2

2

Radiant Heat

Minimum Level

X

X

Small Molten Metal Splash

Minimum Level

3

2

Large Molten Metal Splash

Minimum Level

X

X

EN1149-2 Anti Static

Minimum Level

10⁶ohms

10⁵ohms