A hazard pictogram is a symbol which is affixed to a PPE to indicate the various hazards to be
to which the user is protected if he uses the PPE.
The pictogram consists of three elements: the reference legislation, the actual symbol,
depicted by a shield with a specific icon inside that changes depending on the legislation of
reference, and a series of numbers and/or letters indicating the various levels of protection guaranteed.
With pictograms, users can immediately identify the level of risk associated
the use of PPE and take appropriate precautions during work to avoid damage to the
health. The affixing of the pictogram on personal protective equipment is mandatory for
law, in particular, as regards work gloves, this obligation is provided by the
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and Italian legislation on occupational safety.
In this analisys we take into consideration the following legisaltions that we can find
on work gloves: EN388:2016 for mechanical protection, EN407:2020 for protection
against heat and EN374-1:2016 for chemical protection.
EN388:2016 - Mechanical protection
This legisation applies to all types of gloves offering protection against physical and mechanical
aggression caused by abrasion, blade cutting, perforation, tearing and impacts.
The guaranteed levels of protection cover:
a. Abrasion resistance (in cycles)
b. Resistance to blade cutting (determined by Coup test)
c. Tear resistance (in Newton)
d. Puncture resistance (in Newton)
e. Shear strength according to ISO 13997 (known as TDM-100 test)
f. Protection against impacts
This legislation, revised in 2016, has introduced important innovations that affect the
testing methodology of work gloves, such as the use of a new abrasive paper, the new
TDM-100 test for cutting and introducing impact protection requirement.
Work gloves complying with EN388:2016 are used in various industrial sectors.
EN407:2020 - Protection against heat
This legislation describes the thermal insulation properties of gloves, which must ensure
heat and/or flame protection for the worker. The higher the level of performance,
the more effective the thermal insulation of the work glove will be.
The guaranteed levels of protection cover:
a. Behaviour at the fire
b. Heat by contact
c. Convective heat
d. Radiant heat
e. Small splashes of molten metal
f. Large molten metal projections
EN407 provides for the use two different pictograms (which cannot be used simultaneously)
according to whether or not the limited propagation of the flame is specified.
Gloves complying with EN407:2020 are used for activities in foundry, welding and for contact with
industrial furnaces; in this category we find leather gloves, aramid fiber gloves and welding gloves
made out of split leather.
EN374-1:2016 - Chemical protection
This legislation establishes the ability of gloves to protect the worker from chemicals (see chart on p.11
of the general
catalogue), such as organic and inorganic acids, basic substances
, alcohol, hydrocarbons and sulfur compounds.
To determine the levels of risk protection, the standard takes into account three different
parameters: penetration, or the movement of a chemical agent through porous materials,
seams or other imperfections in the material of the protective glove, permeation, that is the time
used by the chemical agent to come into contact with the skin, and degradation due to possible
absorption of liquids by the glove.
According to the permeation time and relative resistance to penetration there are three types of
risk protection:
- Type A (permeation of at least 30 minutes for at least six substances in the table)
- Type B (permeation of at least 30 minutes for at least 3 substances in the table)
- Type C (permeation of at least 10 minutes for at least 1 substance in the table)
Work gloves that offer chemical protection according to EN347-1:2016 are
commonly used in the chemical industry, hygienic-sanitary sectort, food industry, as well as
to carry out activities in contact with oily substances or cleaning of systems and machinery.
For any questions about the requirements of work gloves, please contact us here.
We will be happy to help you choose the gloves that best suit your needs.