Impact Protection Gloves

Crush and pinch injuries to the back of the hand are common wherever heavy fittings, drill rods, chains and tailgates are handled. Impact gloves place moulded thermoplastic rubber over the knuckles, fingers and metacarpals so a strike is spread across a larger area instead of landing on bone.

What the P designation means

Since the 2016 revision, EN 388 carries an optional sixth character for impact. A glove that passes is marked P. If the position is blank, the glove was not tested for impact, which is not the same as failing.

The test method is borrowed from EN 13594, the motorcycle glove standard. A striker delivers a five joule impact to the protector and the force transmitted through to the anvil below is measured. The mean transmitted force must stay at or below 7 kilonewtons and no single strike may exceed 9 kilonewtons. It is a pass or fail result, so P does not indicate a level.

How TPR construction works

Thermoplastic rubber is moulded into segmented pads and bonded to the back of the glove. The segments matter as much as the material, because a single rigid shell would stop the hand closing. Well designed patterns place deep pads over the knuckles and metacarpals, then use narrow flexible ribs across the finger joints so the hand still forms a fist around a tool.

Thicker pads absorb more energy but add bulk and weight. Padding that runs down the thumb and along the outside edge of the hand protects the two places most often struck when a load swings, and that coverage is worth more in practice than raw pad thickness.

The hazards impact gloves actually address

Impact protection is for back of hand strikes. It addresses pinch points where a load lands, hands trapped between a pipe and a rack, knuckles dragged along steel while pulling a line, and hammer misses during pin and wedge work. These injuries take a worker off the tools for weeks and rarely involve any cut at all.

It does not address crushing under a full load, which no glove can prevent, and it does nothing for palm side cuts unless the glove also carries a cut rating. Read both parts of the EN 388 code before you specify.

When impact only protection is the right economic choice

Impact gloves with a modest cut level cost less than combination gloves that add a high performance cut liner, and they last longer in dirty abrasive work because the palm is usually a tough synthetic leather rather than a fine gauge knit.

If your incident data shows knuckle and metacarpal injuries but no significant laceration history, an impact glove at cut level B or C is the sensible specification. Paying for level E cut protection on a rig floor where nothing sharp is handled buys stiffness rather than safety.

Where both hazards are genuinely present, such as handling drill string and wire rope in the same shift, choose a combination glove and accept the extra cost. Where they are separated by task, issuing two gloves and training crews to swap is often cheaper and more comfortable than one heavy glove worn all day.

Fit, cuff and inspection

Impact gloves must be sized properly or the pads sit in the wrong place. Check that the knuckle pad centres on the knuckles when the hand is relaxed, and that a fist can be closed without the pads fighting each other.

Choose a longer safety cuff where a load can ride up the wrist, and a short elasticated cuff where the glove must come off fast. Inspect the bond line between the TPR and the shell. Once a pad lifts at the edge it will tear off, and the glove has lost the protection you bought it for.

Impact Protection range

Frequently asked questions

What does the letter P on an EN 388 marking mean?

P is the optional sixth character and confirms the glove passed the impact test taken from EN 13594. Mean transmitted force must be 7 kilonewtons or less from a five joule strike, with no single result above 9 kilonewtons. It is pass or fail, so there are no levels of P.

Do impact gloves also protect against cuts?

Only if the same glove carries a cut rating in positions two and five of the EN 388 code. TPR guards sit on the back of the hand and do nothing for the palm. Check the full six character code and specify a cut level if blades, swarf or glass are handled.

Will impact gloves prevent a crush injury?

No. They are designed to reduce the force of a strike or a pinch, not to resist a sustained crushing load. Elimination and engineering controls such as tag lines, guides and exclusion zones remain the primary control. Gloves reduce the severity of the incidents that get past those controls.

How often should impact gloves be replaced?

Replace them when a TPR pad lifts, splits or is missing, when the palm is worn through, or when stitching has opened at the seam. A damaged pad transmits force straight to the bone. There is no fixed service interval because wear depends entirely on the work.

Relevant industries

Gloves by type

Browse the full glove catalogue, request a quote.