In industrial work environments, particularly in sectors such as metal processing, foundries, glass manufacturing, welding, and heat treatment, workers are exposed to various thermal risk factors. These risks include direct contact with high-temperature surfaces, exposure to flames, molten metal splashes, and prolonged exposure to intense heat. Such hazards can cause severe burns, tissue damage, and long-term permanent loss of workforce capacity. In workplaces where thermal risks are present, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment is a fundamental requirement for occupational health and safety.
Thermal protective gloves are designed using specialized materials to minimize the impact of these hazards. These gloves are manufactured with components such as heat-resistant fabrics, aluminized outer surfaces, flame-retardant threads, and insulating inner layers to provide resistance against high temperatures. Protection levels are evaluated according to the EN 407 standard in the European Union. This standard assesses criteria including resistance to ignition, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, and resistance to molten metal splashes. Selecting the appropriate glove not only ensures protection but also serves as a critical factor in enhancing worker productivity and safety.
Material Selection and Properties
The materials used in thermal protective gloves play a decisive role in determining both the level of physical protection and user ergonomics. In the production of such gloves, multiple material combinations are typically preferred to provide multi-directional protection against various types of risks.
- Aramid Fibers (such as Kevlar, Nomex): Aramid-based fibers maintain their physical integrity under high-temperature exposure due to their heat-resistant structure and are also notable for their resistance to cuts and abrasion. They are particularly preferred in applications such as welding, foundry work, and glass handling.
- Aluminum Coating: Applied to the outer surface of gloves to protect against radiant heat, this coating reflects heat in high-temperature environments, preventing heat accumulation on the hand before contact occurs. This feature is especially important in sectors with frequent molten metal splashes.
- Leather: As a natural material, leather is commonly used in welding gloves due to its resistance to flames and sparks. It provides relatively high thermal protection while also offering flexibility and mechanical durability.
- Insulated Cotton: This material is preferred in gloves for mild heat environments, enhancing user comfort while providing basic thermal insulation. When used as an inner lining or intermediate layer, it reduces sweat accumulation and contributes to ergonomic performance.
These materials are used either individually or in multi-layered constructions depending on the nature and intensity of thermal risks, resulting in a balanced design that ensures both protection and comfort. Glove performance is evaluated according to the EN 407 standard to verify their suitability for occupational safety practices.
Standards and Certification
Thermal protective gloves must be manufactured in compliance with specific standards:
- EN 407: Defines protection levels against heat and flame.
- EN 388: Specifies resistance to mechanical risks (cut, puncture, abrasion).
- EN 12477: Establishes specific glove standards for welders.
Compliance with these standards indicates that the gloves have passed specific tests and meet defined safety criteria.
Application Areas
Thermal protective gloves are mandatory personal protective equipment in many industries where hazards such as high temperatures, flames, radiant heat, and molten material splashes are present. The application areas of these gloves vary according to the nature of the work, requiring different levels of protection.
- Metal Processing and Foundries: These gloves protect workers’ hands from burns caused by hot molten metals during operations such as casting, pressing, and rolling, where the risk of molten metal splashes is high. These environments require gloves offering long-term protection against high temperatures.
- Welding and Soldering Operations: In welding processes involving electric arcs, gas flames, and hot metal parts, workers are exposed to sparks and intense heat. Gloves used in these areas must be flame-retardant and demonstrate mechanical durability.
- Glass Manufacturing and Furnace Operations: In tasks such as glass shaping and furnace operations, there is a high likelihood of direct contact with hot surfaces. Gloves used against these risks must provide high-temperature protection while preserving tactile sensitivity as much as possible.
- Firefighting and Emergency Response: Teams responding during fires are directly exposed to flames and intense heat. Therefore, the gloves used must be resistant not only to heat but also to chemicals and liquids.
- Automotive and Aerospace Industries: In these sectors, protection is required against sudden temperature exposure when working with engine components, exhaust systems, and heat-operated assembly equipment. The gloves used must be resistant to both heat and abrasion or tearing.
Thermal protective gloves used in these industries must be selected according to the technical requirements of the job and regularly inspected to ensure they remain functional and effective.
Selection Criteria
Selecting thermal protective gloves requires a careful evaluation process aimed at ensuring worker safety and minimizing workplace accidents. This process must consider a combination of technical and ergonomic factors:
- Maximum Temperature Levels in the Work Environment: The highest temperature the glove will be exposed to determines the technical specifications of the selected product. The surface temperature and duration of exposure must be considered to appropriately match the glove’s heat resistance level.
- Type of Heat (Contact, Radiant, Convective): Different material structures and layer systems are required to protect against different types of heat. Contact heat involves direct surface contact, radiant heat relates primarily to heat radiation, and convective heat results from the movement of hot air or liquids. Therefore, it must be clearly specified which type of heat the glove resists.
- Glove Flexibility and Dexterity: Gloves that are overly stiff or thick can restrict hand movement and reduce work efficiency. For tasks requiring fine motor skills, gloves with ergonomic designs that preserve finger mobility should be preferred.
- Compliance Certifications: The glove’s compliance with relevant national and international standards, especially EN 407, must be verified. Certified products are those whose reliability has been documented through laboratory testing.
Effective management of thermal risks depends not only on the availability of protective equipment but also on selecting equipment appropriate to the nature of the risk and ensuring its correct use. Therefore, factors such as material type, intended use, and legal standards must be systematically evaluated during glove selection.
