Safety Gloves Canada | Work Gloves & Hand Protection
Work Gloves & Hand Protection in Canada
Hand and finger injuries are consistently among the top reported lost-time incidents on Canadian jobsites — cuts, lacerations, abrasions, crush injuries, and chemical burns dominate the list. The right glove for the task is the difference between a near miss and a trip to the emergency room. Canadian workplaces don't have a single hand-protection standard the way they do for helmets or hearing, so buyers rely on the international ratings printed on the glove itself: EN 388 for mechanical hazards, ANSI/ISEA 105 for cut, abrasion, and impact, and a family of EN standards for chemical and heat exposure.
This collection covers cut-resistant gloves, impact gloves, chemical and oil-resistant gloves, winter-rated gloves, and general-duty work gloves across the full range of EN 388 and ANSI A1–A9 ratings. Touchscreen fingertips, reinforced palms, hi-vis colours, and TPR knuckle protection are available where the work demands them.
What's in This Collection
Hand protection is task-specific. A glove that excels at sheet metal handling can be the wrong choice for chemical handling — and the wrong choice for cold-weather framing. Match the glove to the dominant hazard.
Cut-Resistant Gloves
Engineered yarns (HPPE, Kevlar, steel- or glass-reinforced) deliver ANSI A1 to A9 cut resistance for glass handling, sheet metal, knife work, and rebar installation.
- ANSI A1 – A3 for light-duty handling and general assembly
- ANSI A4 – A6 for sheet metal, glass, framing, and HVAC
- ANSI A7 – A9 for glass plant, metal stamping, and meat processing
- Coated palms for grip in oily or wet conditions
Impact-Resistant Gloves
TPR (thermoplastic rubber) knuckle and finger guards rated to ANSI/ISEA 138 reduce back-of-hand impact injuries in oil & gas, construction, and heavy equipment work.
- ANSI 138 Level 1, 2, and 3 impact ratings
- Combined cut + impact for multi-hazard tasks
- Reinforced palm padding for vibration-heavy work
- Hi-vis dorsal panels for traffic and night-work visibility
Chemical-Resistant Gloves
Nitrile, neoprene, butyl, and PVC gloves resist solvents, oils, acids, and bases. Use a chemical compatibility chart to match the glove material to the specific chemical and exposure time.
- Disposable nitrile for light-duty splash and handling
- Heavy-duty nitrile for sustained oil and solvent work
- Neoprene and butyl for acids, bases, and aggressive solvents
- Chemical-resistant + cut-resistant hybrid models
Winter & Insulated Gloves
Thermal-lined gloves for outdoor Canadian work — insulated against cold, often water-resistant or waterproof, with grip-textured palms for tool handling in winter conditions.
- Thinsulate, fleece, and acrylic-lined cold-weather gloves
- Waterproof membranes for snow and rain
- Combined cut + cold rated for winter ironwork and framing
- Touchscreen fingertips for cold-weather phone and tablet use
Heat & Welding Gloves
Leather, aramid (Kevlar), and treated cotton gloves for welding, foundry work, oven and furnace handling, and exhaust system maintenance.
- MIG, TIG, and stick welding gauntlets
- High-heat foundry and exhaust gloves
- Aramid-lined gloves for contact heat resistance
- FR-treated for incidental flame exposure
General-Duty Work Gloves
Lightweight nylon, polyester, and leather gloves for assembly, warehouse, light construction, and general material handling. Cost-effective and broadly issued across crews.
- Coated palm nylon shells for grip and dexterity
- Split-leather drivers and riggers gloves
- Goatskin and pigskin for fine-feel tasks
- Disposable shells for cleanroom and hygiene-sensitive work
Cut Resistance A1 to A9 — What Each Level Means
The ANSI/ISEA 105 cut scale (A1 – A9) replaced the older 1–5 scale and provides finer resolution at the higher end of the cut-resistance range. Each level corresponds to grams of force required to cut through the glove in a standardized test.
| ANSI Level | Cut Resistance | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 200 – 499 g | Light material handling, assembly, packing, small parts |
| A2 | 500 – 999 g | Light construction, automotive assembly, warehouse |
| A3 | 1,000 – 1,499 g | Light glass handling, light metal stamping, drywall |
| A4 | 1,500 – 2,199 g | HVAC, sheet metal, light glass plant, automotive |
| A5 | 2,200 – 2,999 g | Glass handling, metal fabrication, framing with metal studs |
| A6 | 3,000 – 3,999 g | Heavy metal stamping, recycling, food processing |
| A7 | 4,000 – 4,999 g | Pulp & paper, glass plant, heavy meat processing |
| A8 | 5,000 – 5,999 g | Heavy glass plant, metal stamping, bottle handling |
| A9 | 6,000 g and above | Highest cut hazard tasks — heavy steel, glass, and blade handling |
Cut levels measure resistance to slicing — not puncture or stab. For needle, wire, or sharp-point hazards, look for separate puncture ratings under ANSI/ISEA 105 or EN 388.
The Four (or Five) Number Code Explained
EN 388 is the European mechanical-hazard glove standard widely used in Canada. It's marked on the glove as a series of digits inside the shield pictogram — each digit refers to a specific hazard.
Abrasion Resistance
Rated 0 – 4. Measures how many cycles of sandpaper rotation the glove material withstands before wearing through. Level 4 (8,000 cycles) is the highest. Critical for grip-and-handle work, brick, and stone.
Cut Resistance (Coup Test)
Rated 0 – 5. The legacy circular-blade test. Increasingly replaced by the TDM-100 test (see fifth digit). On high-performance materials, this digit often reads "X" because the coup test gives unreliable results.
Tear Resistance
Rated 0 – 4. Measures force in Newtons required to tear a pre-cut sample. Important for rough handling, demolition, and outdoor exposure where small nicks could propagate.
Puncture Resistance
Rated 0 – 4. Force in Newtons required to push a standard probe through the glove. Important for handling sharp wires, needles, and pointed debris — but does NOT cover hypodermic needles.
TDM-100 Cut Test
Rated A – F. The 2016 update added the TDM-100 straight-blade cut test, marked as a letter after the four digits. Level F is the highest. This is the modern, reliable cut metric for high-performance gloves.
Impact Protection
An optional "P" appears at the end of the code when the glove meets EN 13594 impact-protection requirements. Indicates back-of-hand impact resistance, similar to ANSI/ISEA 138.
Choosing the Right Work Glove
Overprotecting is as much a problem as underprotecting — an A9 glove on a light-assembly task kills dexterity and gets pulled off. Match the glove to the actual hazard, not the worst-case scenario.
Map the Hazards
Identify the dominant hazard: cut, impact, chemical, heat, cold, or general wear. Most tasks have one or two — pick gloves that match those, not every possible hazard.
Set Performance Levels
Choose ANSI cut level, EN 388 rating, ANSI 138 impact level, or chemical compatibility based on the actual hazard severity — not the highest available number.
Pick Material & Coating
Nitrile coatings for oil and grip, polyurethane for dry dexterity, latex for general use, leather for heat and abrasion. Coating choice affects grip, wear, and comfort.
Size & Fit the Crew
Glove size is sex- and individual-specific. A loose glove reduces dexterity and grip; a tight one fatigues the hand. Order sizing kits or assortments before bulk ordering.
Glove Materials & Coatings
Material choice determines grip, dexterity, chemical resistance, and durability. A quick reference for matching common shell and coating materials to typical Canadian work environments.
| Material | Best For | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| HPPE / Dyneema | High cut resistance with dexterity — A4 to A9 | Limited chemical and heat protection |
| Kevlar (aramid) | Cut and heat resistance, welding, foundry | Degrades under UV and bleach exposure |
| Nitrile coating | Oil, grease, and grip in wet conditions | Reduced flexibility vs. PU at low cost levels |
| Polyurethane (PU) coating | Dry dexterity, fine assembly, electronics | Poor oil and chemical resistance |
| Latex coating | Grip in wet conditions, cost-effective general use | Latex allergies; degrades with oil |
| Leather (cowhide, goatskin) | Abrasion, heat, welding, general construction | Limited cut rating; stiff when wet |
| Nitrile (disposable) | Chemical splash, food handling, light tasks | Not cut-resistant; single use only |
| Neoprene / Butyl | Acids, bases, ketones, aggressive solvents | Expensive; thicker, less dexterous |
| Insulated (Thinsulate, fleece) | Cold-weather Canadian outdoor work | Reduced dexterity vs. uninsulated |
For chemical exposure, always check a manufacturer chemical compatibility chart against your specific chemical, concentration, and contact time before specifying gloves.
What to Look For
The right feature set is often what separates a glove that gets worn correctly from one that gets pulled off the moment the supervisor looks away.
Touchscreen Fingertips
Conductive material on thumb and forefinger that lets workers operate phones, tablets, and scanners without removing the glove. Now standard on most quality work gloves.
TPR Knuckle & Finger Guards
Thermoplastic rubber overlays on the back of the hand absorb impact and pinch-point injuries. Required on most oil & gas, construction, and heavy equipment sites.
Reinforced Palm & Thumb
Additional layer of leather, synthetic, or coated material in wear zones. Doubles glove life on rope, rebar, and rough material handling.
Hi-Vis Colours
Hi-vis orange, yellow, and lime green dorsal panels improve worker visibility in traffic, low-light, and night-work environments. Required by some GCs on roadside crews.
Extended Cuffs & Gauntlets
Long cuffs protect the wrist and forearm from sparks, chemical splash, and abrasion. Standard on welding gloves and chemical-handling gloves.
Vibration Dampening
Gel or foam pads in the palm reduce vibration transmitted to the hand during sustained use of jackhammers, grinders, and other power tools. Helps reduce hand-arm vibration syndrome.
Inspection, Cleaning & Replacement
A worn glove loses cut and impact protection rapidly. Build daily inspection and routine replacement into your PPE program — and never repurpose a glove that failed in one application for a lighter one.
Daily Inspection
- Inspect for cuts, tears, punctures, and worn-through patches
- Check coating for cracking, peeling, and loss of grip texture
- Verify TPR overlays are intact and bonded to the shell
- Confirm cuff elastic and closures still hold the glove on the hand
- Remove from service any glove with visible damage to the protective layer
Cleaning & Replacement
- Machine-wash most coated gloves in cold water with mild detergent; air-dry only
- Never wash chemical-contaminated gloves — discard appropriately per the SDS
- Replace disposable nitrile gloves at end of shift or after any chemical contact
- Replace reusable gloves when cut rating is compromised by visible damage
- Replace winter gloves when insulation packs out or membrane breaches
Hand Protection FAQ
Is there a CSA standard for work gloves in Canada?
Canada does not have a single CSA standard for general-purpose work gloves the way it does for helmets (CSA Z94.1), eye protection (CSA Z94.3), or hearing protection (CSA Z94.2). Canadian buyers and OHS regulators rely on the international ratings printed on the glove: EN 388 (European mechanical hazard standard) and ANSI/ISEA 105 (North American cut and abrasion standard). Provincial OHS regulations require employers to provide hand protection appropriate to the hazard — the specific rating is determined by the task.
For gloves used in fall arrest systems (work-positioning gloves with rated D-ring attachments), CSA Z259-family standards may apply to the integrated hardware.
What's the difference between EN 388 and ANSI/ISEA 105?
Both standards rate gloves for mechanical hazards but use different tests. EN 388 is European and uses a multi-digit code covering abrasion, cut (coup and TDM-100), tear, puncture, and optional impact. ANSI/ISEA 105 is North American and rates cut on the A1 – A9 scale using the TDM-100 test, plus separate abrasion and puncture levels. Many gloves are dual-marked. For Canadian buyers, either standard is acceptable; the TDM-100-based ratings (ANSI A1 – A9 and EN 388 letter rating) are the most reliable cut-resistance metrics.
What ANSI cut level do I need?
Match the level to the actual cut hazard:
A1 – A3: light material handling, assembly, drywall, general construction.
A4 – A6: sheet metal, glass handling, HVAC, framing with metal studs.
A7 – A9: glass plant, heavy metal stamping, meat processing, blade handling.
Overspeccing kills dexterity and compliance. Start at the lowest level that addresses the hazard and adjust based on near-misses and incident data.
What does ANSI/ISEA 138 measure?
ANSI/ISEA 138 is the North American standard for back-of-hand impact protection, introduced in 2019. It rates gloves on Level 1, 2, or 3 based on how much impact force is transmitted through the TPR or padding on the back of the hand and fingers. Required on most oil & gas, construction, and heavy equipment sites. EN 388 includes an optional impact rating (marked with a "P") that covers similar ground.
Are cut-resistant gloves cut-proof?
No. "Cut-resistant" means the glove material resists slicing under standardized test conditions — it does not mean the glove cannot be cut. With enough force, sharp angle, or extended exposure, any glove can be cut. Cut-resistant gloves also do not protect against puncture, stab, or hypodermic needles unless specifically rated for those hazards. Always treat any cut-resistant glove as one layer of protection, not a guarantee against injury.
Can I wash cut-resistant gloves?
Most coated and engineered-yarn cut-resistant gloves can be machine-washed in cold water with a mild detergent — confirm with the manufacturer's care instructions on the package. Air-dry only; high heat from a dryer can damage coatings and shrink HPPE/Kevlar yarns. Never wash gloves that have been contaminated with chemicals, hydrocarbons, or biohazards — discard them per the relevant SDS or waste protocol.
How do I pick the right chemical-resistant glove?
Chemical compatibility is specific to both the chemical and the glove material. Steps to specify correctly:
1. Identify the specific chemical(s), concentration, and exposure time.
2. Check a manufacturer chemical compatibility chart for breakthrough times and degradation ratings.
3. Choose the glove material — nitrile, neoprene, butyl, PVC — that gives the longest breakthrough time for your specific exposure.
4. Confirm thickness — thicker gloves give longer breakthrough but reduce dexterity.
Never assume one chemical-resistant glove works for all chemicals.
How often should work gloves be replaced?
Replacement is condition-based, not calendar-based. Replace immediately when:
Cuts, tears, or punctures expose the inner liner or skin; the coating cracks, peels, or loses grip; TPR overlays delaminate from the shell; the cuff elastic stretches out; or the glove has been exposed to chemicals it isn't rated for. In heavy-use environments, expect to replace general-duty gloves weekly and cut-resistant gloves every few weeks. Disposable gloves are always single-shift.
Does Fall Protection Canada ship work gloves across Canada?
Yes. We ship from our warehouse in Paris, Ontario to every Canadian province and territory. Orders over $499 CAD ship free, and most stocked items ship the same or next business day. Volume pricing is available on orders of 10+ pairs — request a quote at 437-475-2066 or through the contact form for crew, fleet, or project pricing.
Need Help Specifying Gloves for a Crew?
Our team can help you match ANSI cut levels, EN 388 ratings, and chemical compatibility to your jobsite hazards, source matching colours for a fleet, or build a volume order. Based in Paris, Ontario — serving every province and territory.