Types of Safety Gloves and Their Uses in the Workplace

Safety gloves are important PPE items used to protect workers from hand injuries during daily work. Different jobs expose workers to different risks, including cuts, heat, chemicals, dirt, cold, abrasion, wet surfaces and rough materials.

That is why there is no single glove for every task.

At Bansi Suppliers, we supply different types of safety gloves for construction sites, factories, warehouses, workshops, cleaning teams, food handling, welding, cold rooms, logistics and general workplace safety.

This guide explains the main types of safety gloves and their uses, so buyers can choose the right hand protection for their workers.

For available products, browse our Safety Gloves category. You can also visit our main Safety Gloves Kenya landing page for a broader product overview.

Why Choosing the Right Safety Gloves Matters

Workers use their hands in almost every task. They lift, carry, clean, cut, weld, package, repair, operate machines and handle materials.

Without proper gloves, workers may face risks such as:

• Cuts from sharp materials
• Burns from heat or welding sparks
• Abrasion from rough surfaces
• Chemical exposure
• Dirt and contamination
• Cold-related discomfort
• Poor grip when handling tools or goods
• Hand fatigue during long working hours

Choosing the right safety gloves helps protect workers and supports better productivity. A glove should not only protect the hand. It should also allow the worker to do the job comfortably.

The wrong glove can create problems. A glove that is too weak may fail to protect the worker. A glove that is too bulky may slow the worker down. A glove that is not suitable for chemicals, heat or sharp materials may expose workers to unnecessary risk.

That is why companies should choose gloves based on the task, not only the price.

1. Leather Safety Gloves

Leather safety gloves are among the most common work gloves in Kenya. They are strong, durable and suitable for rough handling tasks.

They are commonly used in:

• Construction sites
• Workshops
• Warehouses
• Loading areas
• Maintenance departments
• Material handling sections
• General industrial work

Leather gloves help protect hands from rough surfaces, friction, dirt and abrasion. They are also useful when workers handle timber, steel, tools, cartons, machinery parts and building materials.

Leather gloves are suitable for:

• Construction workers
• Loaders
• Warehouse teams
• Workshop staff
• Maintenance teams
• Material handling workers
• General industrial workers

For more information, read our guide on Leather Safety Gloves Kenya.

2. Cut Resistant Gloves

Cut resistant gloves are designed for tasks where workers handle sharp materials. They help reduce the risk of cuts and abrasions.

These gloves are useful in factories, workshops, construction sites, packaging areas, metal handling sections and glass handling environments.

Cut resistant gloves are suitable for workers handling:

• Metal sheets
• Glass
• Sharp tools
• Blades
• Cartons
• Industrial materials
• Packaging materials
• Construction materials

They are especially important in workplaces where hand cuts are a common risk.

For more details, visit our Cut Resistant Gloves Kenya page.

3. Welding Gloves

Welding gloves are designed for welders, fabricators and metal workers. They help protect hands from heat, sparks and rough metal surfaces.

These gloves are commonly made from leather because leather offers good durability for welding and fabrication work.

Welding gloves are suitable for:

• Welding
• Fabrication
• Grinding support
• Metal handling
• Workshop work
• Construction metalwork
• Hot surface handling

A good welding glove should provide enough hand coverage and durability. It should also allow the worker to grip tools safely.

For welding-specific guidance, read our post on Welding Gloves Kenya.

4. Rubber Gloves

Rubber gloves are commonly used for cleaning, wet work and sanitation tasks. They help protect hands from water, detergents, dirt and some light chemical exposure.

Rubber gloves are useful in:

• Schools
• Hospitals
• Hotels
• Cleaning companies
• Factories
• Institutions
• Maintenance departments

They are suitable for:

• Cleaning
• Dishwashing
• Sanitation work
• Wet handling
• Janitorial work
• Light chemical handling
• General hygiene tasks

Rubber gloves are not always suitable for heavy industrial tasks, but they are very useful for cleaning and wet environments.

5. PVC Gloves

PVC gloves are suitable for wet, oily and industrial environments. They are often used where workers need better liquid resistance than cotton or leather gloves.

PVC gloves are useful in:

• Factories
• Workshops
• Maintenance departments
• Cleaning teams
• Chemical handling areas
• Wet industrial tasks

They are suitable for:

• Wet work
• Oily handling
• Industrial cleaning
• Maintenance tasks
• Chemical handling support
• Workshop work
• Handling dirty materials

PVC gloves are a practical option for workers who need hand protection in wet or oily conditions.

6. Cotton Gloves

Cotton gloves are lightweight and comfortable. They are suitable for light-duty tasks where workers need basic hand protection.

They are commonly used in:

• Packaging
• Inspection
• Warehousing
• Assembly
• Product handling
• Light-duty workplace tasks

Cotton gloves are suitable for:

• Packaging
• Inspection
• Light handling
• Warehouse tasks
• Assembly work
• General indoor work

Cotton gloves are breathable and comfortable, but they are not suitable for heavy-duty protection, heat, sharp materials or chemicals.

7. Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves are disposable gloves commonly used in hygiene-sensitive environments. They are useful where workers need cleanliness, light protection and quick glove changes.

Nitrile gloves are commonly used in:

• Food handling
• Cleaning
• Laboratories
• Healthcare support
• Controlled work areas
• Light chemical handling

They are suitable for:

• Food handling
• Laboratory work
• Cleaning
• Hygiene tasks
• Healthcare support
• Controlled environments

Nitrile gloves are often preferred because they offer good puncture resistance compared to some disposable glove options.

8. Latex Gloves

Latex gloves are flexible disposable gloves used for light sanitary tasks. They offer comfort and good fit for workers who need hand flexibility.

Latex gloves are suitable for:

• Cleaning
• Food preparation
• Light sanitary work
• Laboratory support
• General hygiene tasks
• Controlled handling

However, some people may be sensitive to latex, so buyers should consider worker comfort and workplace requirements before ordering.

9. Polythene Gloves

Polythene gloves are light disposable gloves used for quick hygiene tasks. They are commonly used in food handling and light cleaning.

Polythene gloves are suitable for:

• Food serving
• Food handling
• Light cleaning
• Quick hygiene tasks
• Low-risk handling
• Packaging support

They are not designed for heavy-duty protection, but they are useful for simple sanitary tasks where frequent glove changes are needed.

10. Cold Room Gloves

Cold room gloves are designed for low-temperature environments. They help keep hands warm while allowing workers to handle goods safely.

They are used in:

• Cold storage facilities
• Freezer rooms
• Food processing plants
• Supermarkets
• Cold chain logistics
• Refrigerated warehouses

Cold room gloves are suitable for:

• Freezer handling
• Cold storage
• Food processing
• Refrigerated logistics
• Supermarket storage
• Low-temperature work

Workers in cold rooms need gloves that protect against cold while still allowing movement and grip.

For more guidance, read our Cold Room Gloves Kenya guide.

11. Diamond Grip Gloves

Diamond grip gloves are designed to improve handling control. They are useful in wet, oily or dry environments where workers need better grip.

They are often used in:

• Workshops
• Factories
• Warehouses
• Construction sites
• General industrial tasks

Diamond grip gloves are suitable for:

• Tool handling
• Material handling
• Wet work
• Oily surfaces
• Workshop operations
• Warehouse handling

These gloves help workers hold items more securely during daily tasks.

12. Riders Gloves

Riders gloves are used by motorbike riders, delivery riders and outdoor workers. They help improve grip, comfort and hand protection during riding.

Riders gloves are suitable for:

• Motorbike riders
• Delivery riders
• Outdoor workers
• Light-duty transport work
• Riding safety
• General outdoor use

They are useful for workers who spend long hours on the road.

Safety Gloves for Construction Workers

Construction workers need gloves that can handle rough materials and daily site work.

They may handle:

• Steel
• Timber
• Blocks
• Cement bags
• Roofing sheets
• Tools
• Scaffolding materials
• Cables

These materials can cause cuts, dirt exposure and abrasion. Good construction gloves should be strong, comfortable and suitable for lifting, loading, cutting and general site handling.

Common options include leather gloves, cut resistant gloves, rigging gloves and heavy-duty work gloves.

For a more focused guide, visit Best Safety Gloves for Construction Workers in Kenya.

Safety Gloves for Factories and Workshops

Factories and workshops need different glove types depending on the department.

For example:

• Packaging teams may need cotton gloves
• Cleaning teams may need rubber gloves
• Metal handling sections may need cut resistant gloves
• Fabrication teams may need welding gloves
• Maintenance teams may need leather or PVC gloves

For this reason, companies should not buy one glove type for every department without checking the actual work risks.

For more guidance, read our blog on Safety Gloves for Factories and Workshops in Kenya.

Safety Gloves for Industrial Buyers

Industrial buyers need gloves that support daily operations. These may include leather gloves, PVC gloves, rubber gloves, cut resistant gloves, welding gloves, cold room gloves and disposable gloves.

The right glove depends on:

• The task
• The hazard
• The working environment
• The material being handled
• Worker comfort
• The quantity needed

For industrial buyers, visit our Industrial Safety Gloves Kenya page.

How to Choose the Right Type of Safety Gloves

Before buying safety gloves, start by identifying the task.

Ask these questions:

• What will the worker handle?
• Is there a risk of cuts?
• Is there heat or sparks?
• Is the work wet or oily?
• Is there chemical exposure?
• Is the worker handling food?
• Is the worker in a cold room?
• Will the gloves be worn for long hours?
• How many workers need gloves?

Use this simple guide:

• If the worker handles sharp materials, choose cut resistant gloves.
• If the worker does welding, choose welding gloves.
• If the worker handles wet or oily items, consider rubber or PVC gloves.
• If the worker handles food or hygiene-sensitive items, use disposable gloves.
• If the worker works in cold storage, choose cold room gloves.
• If the worker does construction or loading work, leather gloves may be suitable.

Safety Gloves for Companies and Bulk Orders

Companies often need safety gloves in bulk. A factory may need different gloves for several departments. A contractor may need gloves for multiple site teams. A school may need gloves for cleaning and maintenance staff. A warehouse may need gloves for loading and handling.

Bansi Suppliers supports bulk glove orders for:

• Companies
• Contractors
• Factories
• Warehouses
• Schools
• NGOs
• Institutions
• Cleaning teams
• Construction projects

For bulk buying support, visit our Bulk Safety Gloves Supplier Kenya page.

Where to Buy Safety Gloves in Nairobi

If you are looking for where to buy safety gloves in Nairobi, Bansi Suppliers can help with product availability, pricing and quotation support.

We supply safety gloves for:

• Construction
• Factories
• Workshops
• Warehouses
• Cleaning
• Food handling
• Welding
• Cold rooms
• General workplace safety

For local buying guidance, read Where to Buy Safety Gloves in Nairobi.

Why Buy Safety Gloves from Bansi Suppliers?

Bansi Suppliers supports businesses, contractors, institutions and workers with practical PPE solutions.

We supply safety gloves for different work environments and help buyers choose gloves based on the actual task. We also support quotation requests for companies and bulk buyers.

When you buy from Bansi Suppliers, you benefit from:

• A wide range of glove options
• Support for retail and bulk orders
• Guidance on choosing suitable gloves
• Quotation support for companies
• Related PPE supply from one supplier
• Reliable customer support

We also supply safety boots, helmets, reflector jackets, respirators, overalls, raincoats, ear protection and other workplace safety equipment.

Order Safety Gloves in Kenya

Protect your workers with the right type of safety gloves from Bansi Suppliers.

Browse our Safety Gloves category to view available gloves, or visit our Safety Gloves Kenya landing page for more product guidance.

For wider hand protection information, visit our Hand Protection PPE Supplier Kenya page.

Call or WhatsApp Bansi Suppliers on 0722 353 974 to request current prices, availability and quotation support.

Bansi Suppliers – reliable safety gloves supplier in Kenya for companies, contractors, institutions and workers.