European Standards for Gloves

When gardening, gloves are part of your Personal protective equipment (PPE).

Because much work is done with the hands, gloves are an essential item in providing skin protection. Some examples of gloves commonly used as PPE include rubber gloves, cut-resistant gloves, chainsaw gloves and heat-resistant gloves.

At the European Union level, personal protective equipment is governed by Directive 89/686/EEC on personal protective equipment (PPE)
The Directive is divided into three categories:
    Category I: simple design (e.g. gardening gloves, footwear, ski goggles)
    Category II: PPE not falling into category I or III (e.g. personal flotation devices, dry and wet suits, motorcycle personal protective equipment)
    Category III: complex design (e.g. respiratory equipment, harnesses)

PPE places gloves into three categories:

• Minimal risk – End user can easily identify risk. Risk is low.(eg. gloves for weeding, planting pots, rose pruning, brambling, moving logs, digging )
• Complex design – Used in situations that can cause serious injury or death.( eg. Chainsaw Gloves )
• Intermediate – Gloves that don't fit into minimal risk or complex design categories.

 There are several european standards related to gloves. We are going to cover just few of the most relevant for gardening gloves.

• EN 388: Protective against mechanical risks (abrasion / cut / tear / puncture)
• EN 374: Protective against chemical and microorganisms
• EN 420: General requirements for gloves includes sizing and a number of health and safety aspects including latex protein and chromium levels.
• EN 407: Heat resistance ( Heat Resistant Gloves )
• EN 511: Cold resistance ( Cold Resistant Gloves )
• EN 10819: Anti Vibration gloves ( Anti Vibration gloves )