Templates / Glove Selection Matrix
Glove Selection Matrix
A hand-protection selection matrix matching chemicals and mechanical hazards to glove materials and EN standards.
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A selection matrix template for matching gloves to workplace hazards.
About this template
The Glove Selection Matrix is designed to be quick to complete and easy to adapt to your own workplace. Start from the template rather than a blank page, tailor the hazards, controls and responsibilities to your site, and keep a completed copy on file as evidence that the right checks were made.
How it links to the standards
The equipment and controls this template asks you to record are governed by published standards that define what each item must withstand and how it is tested. These are the ones that apply most directly:
- EN 388 — gloves against mechanical risks
- EN 374 — chemical resistant gloves
- EN 407 — thermal risk gloves
- EN 511 — cold protection gloves
The full EN standards library covers every standard referenced across SafetyOrbit.
Related guidance
Filling the template in is easier when you know the reasoning behind each control. These notes cover the practical detail:
- Chemical Handling — the full technique-note library for this kind of work
- Selecting Chemical-Resistant Gloves to EN 374
- Permeation versus Degradation: Choosing Gloves for Multiple Chemicals
- Manual Handling Gloves and Cut Protection for Logistics
Glove material should match the specific chemical or mechanical hazard present.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Glove Selection Matrix cover?
Matching chemicals and mechanical hazards to glove materials and EN standards, so glove choice is based on the actual hazard rather than habit.
Why can the wrong glove be worse than no glove at all?
A glove rated for the wrong hazard can give a false sense of protection while a chemical permeates through it unnoticed, or can itself create a snagging hazard around moving machinery.
Which EN standards does this matrix typically reference?
EN 388 for mechanical risks and EN 374 for chemical and micro-organism resistance are the two most commonly referenced standards when matching a glove to a hazard.
Can one glove type cover multiple hazards on the same task?
Sometimes, where a single glove is certified against all the relevant hazard classes, but where hazards differ significantly a layered approach or two glove types may be the safer answer.