Electrical and Multi-Hazard Hand Protection: Beyond Electrical Shock and Arc Flash

Hand protection has evolved significantly since metal and rail workers first used gloves stitched from animal hide to guard against cuts and burns. Today, gloves are designed to protect against extreme temperatures, vibration, cuts, conductivity, and electrical hazards (dielectric or voltage-rated), as well as to serve as protective layers for other gloves. These various forms of protection fall under the umbrella of multi-hazard hand protection—an essential element of workplace safety that has led to mandated regulations in the U.S. and other countries.