Standard ISO 18889 specifies the performance requirements of protective gloves for pesticide operators and re-entry workers.

G1 gloves are suitable when the potential risk is relatively low. These gloves are not suitable for use with concentrated pesticide formulations and/or for scenarios where mechanical risks exist. G1 gloves are typically single use gloves.

G2 gloves are suitable when the potential risk is higher. These gloves are suitable for use with diluted as well as concentrated pesticides. G2 gloves also meet the minimum mechanical resistance requirements and are therefore suitable for activities that require gloves with minimum mechanical strength.

GR gloves provide protection only to the palm-side of the hand for a re-entry worker who is in contact with dry and partially dry pesticide residues that remain on the plant surface after pesticide application.

Standard EN ISO374-1, protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms, specifies the performance requirements required for gloves for protecting users against chemical products and/ or micro organisms and defines the terms to be used:

• Penetration (tested as per standard EN374-2): Diffusion of water or air, to check the impermeability, on a non-molecular level, of a chemical product and/or micro-organism through the porosities, seams, micro-holes or other imperfections present in the material of the protective glove.

• Degradation (tested as per standard EN374-4): Determination of the physical resistance of materials to degradation after continuous contact with hazardous chemicals.

• Permeation (tested as per standard EN374-3 or EN16523): Process by which a chemical product diffuses through the material of a protective glove, by continuous contact, on a molecular level. The EN ISO version of standard 374-1, introduces the concept of three types of protection against the permeation of chemicals:

- Type A: The glove gives a performance index to permeation at least equal to 2 for 6 chemical test substances taken from the list of chemicals specified in the standard.

- Type B : The glove gives a performance index to permeation at least equal to 2 for 3 chemical test substances taken from the list of chemicals specified in the standard.

- Type C : The glove gives a performance index to permeation at least equal to 1 for 1 chemical test substances taken from the list of chemicals specified in the standard.

The EN511 standard defines the requirements and test methods for cold protection gloves from cold transmitted by convection or conduction down to -30°C (optionally up to -50°C). This cold can be from climatic conditions or industrial activity.

The selection process of a cold protection glove must take into account several parameters such as the ambient temperature, the health of the person, the duration of exposure, and the level of activities...

Standard EN16350 provides additional requirements for protective gloves that are worn in areas where flammable or explosive areas exist or might be present.

Further electrostatic properties can be determined through EN1149-1 (surface electrostatic properties) or EN1149-3 (charge decay), but cannot be used for electrostatic dissipative protective gloves.

The EN407 standard specifies the test methods, the general requirements, the thermal performance and the labelling of gloves and cuffs to protect from heat and fire. It applies to all gloves which must protect hands from heat and/or flames in any one or several of the following forms: fire, contact heat, convective heat, radiating heat, small spray of molten metal or large spray of melting metal.

If the product claims flammability resistance, the pictogram will be                                           

If the product does not claim any resistance to flammability (0 or X), the pictogram will be      

The reference standard, cannot be used alone, but only in combination with another standard containing protection performance requirements.

• Conform to harmlessness (pH, chrome VI levels, etc…).

• Conform to the size charts (see chart on below).

• Assess the dexterity, breathability, and comfort.

• Conform to the labelling, information and identification instructions.

Specifications of level numbers and requirements relating to the transmittance of filters to protect operators for welding and related techniques. Specification of requirements for welding filters with double number of levels.

Applies to all types of individual protection of the eye which protects from hazards likely to damage the eye, except for nuclear radiation, x-rays, laser emissions and infrared emitted by low-temperature sources. Does not apply to eye protection for which separate standards exist (anti-laser eye protection, sunglasses for general use,…).