Are Impact Gloves Required by OSHA? What Employers Should Know for Compliance

Introduction

When it comes to workplace safety, employers often ask a crucial question: Are impact reducing safety gloves required by OSHA? The answer isn’t as simple as a yes or no. While OSHA provides strict guidelines on hand protection, the actual requirement for impact gloves depends on the specific hazards present in the workplace.

Understanding OSHA’s standards can mean the difference between protecting your workforce and facing steep fines—or worse, workplace injuries. This article dives into OSHA’s approach to PPE, the role of impact gloves, and what every employer needs to know to stay compliant and safe.

I. The Importance of Hand Protection in the Workplace

Hands are indispensable tools in almost every profession—but they’re also highly vulnerable. According to OSHA and various safety organizations:

• Over 1 million hand injuries occur annually in the U.S., many of which are preventable.

• Hands are the second most commonly injured body part on job sites.

• Injuries range from minor lacerations to severe crush or pinch injuries that can lead to permanent damage or amputation.

Impact gloves are designed with extra protection on the fingers, knuckles, and back of the hand to reduce the severity of these injuries. Their value becomes especially clear in environments where workers are exposed to moving parts, heavy machinery, or falling objects.

II. OSHA’s PPE Standards and Guidelines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets comprehensive standards for personal protective equipment (PPE), including hand protection, under 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I. Specifically, 29 CFR 1910.138 requires:

"Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes."

While OSHA does not explicitly list "impact gloves", it does hold employers responsible for evaluating workplace hazards and supplying suitable PPE to mitigate them. The responsibility lies in the hazard assessment, not a specific product name.

III. Are Impact Gloves Legally Required?

Technically, OSHA does not mandate specific glove types like impact gloves. However, if a hazard assessment identifies risk of impact-related injuries, then OSHA requires that employers provide PPE that mitigates that risk—which, in most cases, would include impact gloves.

In effect, OSHA expects employers to match PPE to the threat. So if your work environment involves impact hazards (e.g., tools, machinery, materials that could strike the hand), and you’re not supplying impact-rated gloves, you may still be found non-compliant.

This makes impact gloves a "functional requirement" in many industries, even if not named outright in OSHA text.

IV. Risk-Based Use of Impact Gloves

Impact gloves are especially important in jobs that involve:

• Using hammers, drills, or impact tools

• Handling heavy materials or parts

• Working near moving equipment or machinery

• Construction and demolition

• Oil & gas fieldwork

• Warehouse and material handling

If the job exposes workers to crush or pinch hazards, then gloves with reinforced backs and padding should be used. OSHA doesn’t wait for an injury to occur—they expect employers to be proactive. Any oversight in proper PPE could result in citations or penalties.

Moreover, industries like construction, mining, and oil & gas often treat impact gloves as standard PPE due to both practical necessity and legal exposure.

V. How Employers Should Respond

If you're unsure whether your workforce needs impact gloves, here are practical steps to align with OSHA’s expectations and protect your team:

1. Conduct a PPE Hazard Assessment

   • Evaluate each job task and work area for risks like falling objects, machinery, and repetitive hand use.

   • Document your findings thoroughly.

2. Choose the Right Gloves Based on Risk

   • For impact hazards, look for gloves that meet ANSI/ISEA 138 impact protection standards.

   • Ensure gloves also offer cut, puncture, or vibration resistance as needed.

3. Train Employees on PPE Usage

   • Explain when and why gloves are required.

   • Reinforce proper glove usage through periodic safety meetings.

4. Maintain Documentation

   • Keep records of assessments, PPE selection, and training.

   • This not only aids compliance but also supports your case during inspections or audits.

5. Review and Adjust PPE Policies Regularly

   • As tools, tasks, or environments change, update your PPE protocols accordingly.

VI. Final Thoughts

So, are impact gloves required by OSHA? Technically, no—but practically, in many environments, yes.

OSHA mandates that employers identify and mitigate hazards. If your workplace involves a risk of impact injuries, and you fail to supply impact gloves or equivalent protection, you’re not compliant—regardless of whether the glove is named in the regulation.

Employers who go beyond minimum compliance not only avoid penalties but also foster a safer, more productive workforce. Investing in the right gloves is a small price to pay to prevent injuries, reduce liability, and demonstrate genuine care for worker well-being.

When in doubt, protect first—ask later.

To learn more about impact gloves, click Crush & Pinch Injuries Blog to understand how impact gloves provide vital hand protection