What is the best summer & winter safety glove for waste collection teams?

Are you scouring the internet in search of a durable summer and winter refuse and waste collection glove?

Still struggling to get a grip on how you’re TRULY going to get your guys the right glove that they will wear, meets your budget requirements and reduces those complaints of cold or wet hands? If so, we’re here to help.

In this article, we’ll cover the factors that will help you specify what you need, recognise extended life, and increase productivity through wearer satisfaction with the right glove for all seasons.

So let’s dive in… 

What glove do I need?

In an industry sector where there are many associated risks it would be best to look at what I need to protect against and while not exhaustive we have included some below:

The main priority in handling refuse is to reduce the “mechanical risks” such as puncture, cut and abrasion resistance and that is where the glove standard “EN388:2016 – Protective gloves against mechanical risks” will help you identify the appropriate level of protection.

Important note:

It is important to note that no glove is necessarily cut and puncture proof.

Puncture resistant gloves are not necessarily cut resistant, and cut resistant gloves are not necessarily puncture resistant. Puncture resistant gloves sometimes offer resistance to needles, however a needlestick glove is always recommended when specifically working where needle puncture is a risk. 

We have outlined a diagram below that will help you to identify the approval markings on the glove that provide the relevant protection.

All good quality glove manufacturers will have a range of products that meet EN388 specifications and, regardless of distributor, we have reviewed the glove market to bring you some of the leading manufacturers below and what we see about them.

1. Traffi Glove
   A true hand protection specialist and the industry-leading provider of cut-resistant work gloves.
   As the original inventors of the 3 colour TraffiSystem, they continue to lead the way through their customer-centric approach and dedication to delivering “Best in Class” products.

2. Ansell
   An innovative striving to create advanced solutions and technology that will solve the problems of workers, creating a safer and more protected world. Their vision is of a world where people enjoy optimal protection against the risks they are exposed to.
3. Showa Gloves
   A fully integrated manufacturer of industrial hand protection. They work with the latest in technological advancements and are focussed on creativity and innovation.
4. ATG Gloves
   A manufacturer focussed on the innovation of gloves that are dermatologically accredited, meet Oeko-Tex and are a well designed and comfortable glove that feels like a 2^nd skin.
   
   

We have compiled a list of gloves that are approved to the EN388 standard, which can be found in the following link

Can I get a waterproof glove?

We get it. Winter, spring, summer & autumn, there is always plenty of wet weather and there is nothing worse than handling refuse that’s wet and slippery. After all wet hands make for discomfort, lowered productivity and increased risks of hand injuries and skin infections.

There are many options of gloves that meet EN388:2016 and the styles offered can range in coatings that are palm coated gloves, ¾ palm coated and fully coated. For a waterproof or liquid-repellent option, we would suggest a fully coated glove. Below is an illustration of different coating designs:

Waterproof options are available and we have listed some below in our product selector

• Waterproof Refuse and Waste Recycling Gloves

Can I get a winter or thermal waterproof glove?

Yes is the quick answer.

Nothing worse than getting out there in the elements with cold hands. While they may stay dry there is plenty of available data to show that the cold can hurt our productivity as our body expends energy to keep warm.

While there are many options in the market our customer-reviewed product from Traffi Glove, Thermal Waterproof Fully Dipped Glove provides a solution for a waterproof, thermal and cut protection glove with amazing feedback.

Here is some recent feedback from a Council Waste Management service delivery team on this glove (G/1072).

What do I do now?

We would suggest conducting a glove trial.

Why would conducting a product trial help you with selecting the right style of glove, we hear you ask?

The answer here is simple: if you know the product is the best fit for the job at hand, you will not waste time and money buying it and rolling it out in bulk.

If you just buy without trying first, you run the risk of buying a lot of products that won’t work for you and your team. This is a waste of time and money, for sure, but it can also have a huge impact on the planet if footwear is disposed of prematurely.

Read this article about running a successful product trial to ensure that you can be sure the products you are buying for your team won’t go to waste.