Generally, gloves may be divided into two categories:
1. Synthetic gloves.
- By design:
• With support, using as support materials such as cotton, nylon…which is then covered with synthetic material (usually latex, nitrile,and polyurethane).
• Without support, introducing directly into the glove to mould the synthetic material (nitrile, latex, neoprene… ).

- For the materials used:
• Gloves made of latex. nitrile, PVC ...

2. Leather gloves.
- By design: American type gloves, driving type,welding type…
- For the materials used:
• Full grain Leather: Using the outside of the skin (greater comfort and dexterity).
• Full grain Leather: Using the outside of the skin (greater comfort and dexterity).

- Hand: Part of the body from the tip of the middle finger to the wrist.
- Glove: PPE intended to protect the hand or any part thereof against risks.
- Risk: Unwanted situation that can cause damage to the health of the worker.
- Palm of the glove: The part of the glove that covers the palm of the hand.
- Back of the glove: The part of the glove that covers the back of the hand.
- Dexterity: Measurement of the movement capacity to carry out work. It is related to the thickness, elasticity and deformability of the glove.
- Level of provision: The number of the value obtained in the corresponding test according to the specified standard.

- Fibres such as cotton, for general applications which provide comfort, breathability and resistance to abrasion.
- Synthetic Materials such as nylon (abrasion and tearing), PVC (abrasion and chemicals such as fats, oils and alcohols), Neoprene (heat and chemicals).
- Leather (Full grain and split), comfortable and breathable material that provides good mechanical properties (especially against abrasion and tearing).
- Coatings.
• Latex. Comfort, flexibility and dexterity. Resistance to aqueous chemicals. Excellent grip and good abrasion resistance.
• Polyurethane. Elasticity, abrasion resistance and voltage. Resistant to alcohols, hydrocarbons, and solvents. Very good grip, good abrasion resistance and breathability.
• Nitrile. Synthetic Rubber resistant to oils, lubricants and petroleum products. Good mechanical strength and puncture resistant. Very resistant to chemicals.

1º When choosing the right type of glove, it is important to take into account the place where it is to be used, the work to be carried out, (size of the pieces, their weight, precision work, ...) and the main risks to be guarded against based on their importance ( electrical risks, chemical risks, heat risks, mechanical risks...) choosing the level of provision suitable for each risk. Other factors to bear in mind are the surroundings ( inside / outside...etc.)

2º Identify the size of the user: Check your size.
The choice of size is very important not only for comfort, ergonomics and protection of the user, but also with regard to the proper execution of the tasks. A bad choice of size can be the cause of less precise work.
(inefficiency ) and greater risk (mistakes...) and a longer time exposed to risk in taking longer to complete the job.

Pictogram	Standard	Description
	EN 388	Mechanical risk. Abrasion, Cut, tear and puncture. Maximum performance level: 4 (except that cut that is level 5).
	EN 374	Chemical risk. - EN374-2 resistance to penetration (micro-organisms) - EN374-3 Permeability resistance. (Levels of performance achieved against a series of specific substances and identified by a letter - at least reaching performance level 2 against 3 substances from this table-such as methanol (A), acetone (B)...).
	EN 407	Thermal Risks (Temperature between 50 ° C and 100 ° C) thermal risk. Flammability, heat by contact, convective heat, radiant heat, Small splashes of molten metal, Large masses of molten metals.
	EN 511	Cold Risks (up to - 50 ° C). Convective cold, cold contact, impermeability to water.
	EN 12477	Welding Risks. There are two types of classification. Type A and Type B. For standards EN 388 (mechanical risks) and EN 407 (heat risks) and pass minimum levels for each of the standards. These levels and the dexterity will give the type of glove. Generally, Type B gloves are recommended where a high level of dexterity is required (such as TIG welding).
	EN 1082-1	Risks of by cuts and punctures caused by hand knives.
	EN 60903	Electrical hazard. These are classified into 6 classes according to the maximum working voltage. Class Test voltage Maximum working voltage 00 2.500V 500V 0 5.000V 1.000V 1 10.000V 7.500V 2 20.000V 17.000V 3 30.000V 26.500V 4 40.000V 36.000V

JACKETS - PARKAS
SIZE	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Chest (cm)	88-96	96-104	104-112	112-120	120-128
Height (cm)	152-158	158-170	170-182	182-194	194-200

TROUSERS
SIZE	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Waist (cm)	72-76	76-84	84-92	92-100	100-108
Height (cm)	152-158	158-170	170-182	182-194	194-200

TOPS - WINDBREAKERS - JACKETS
SIZE	48(S)	50(M)	52(M)	54(L)	56(L)	58(XL)	60(XL)	62(XXL)	64(XXL)	66	68	70
Chest (cm)	92-96	96-100	100-104	104-108	108-112	112-116	116-120	120-124	124-128	128-132	132-136	136-140
Height (cm)	152-158	158-164	164-170	170-176	176-182	182-188	188-194	194-200	194-200	194-200	194-200	194-200

TROUSERS
SIZE	38(S)	40(M)	42(M)	44(L)	46(L)	48(XL)	50(XL)	52(XXL)	54(XXL)	56(XXXL)	58(XXXL)
Waist (cm)	72-76	76-80	80-84	84-88	88-92	92-96	96-100	100-104	104-108	108-112	112-116
Height (cm)	152-158	158-164	164-170	170-176	176-182	182-188	188-194	194-200	194-200	194-200	194-200

SHIRTS
SIZE	37/38(S)	39/40(M)	41/42(L)	43/44(XL)	45/46(XL)	47/48(XXL)	49/50	51/52
Chest (cm)	96-100	100-104	104-108	108-112	112-116	116-120	120-124	124-128
Height (cm)	158-164	164-170	170-176	176-182	182-188	188-194	194-200	194-200

WETSUITS - VESTS - WIND BREAKERS - PARKAS - POLOS - SHIRTS - JERSEYS - SWEATERS
SIZE	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Chest (cm)	84-92	92-100	100-108	108-116	116-124
Height (cm)	164-170	170-176	176-182	182-188	188-194

Resistant to 200 J	Antiperforation insole	Antistatic footwear	Water repellent	Resistant to oil	Resistant to hydrocarbons	Shock absorbing	Anti-slip sole	Reinforced toe	Heat resistance	Cold resistance

• 

• Our METAL FREE footwear is designed following the requirements of EN20345 for safety footwear by not using any metallic components in its structure, seeking a high level of comfort that doesn’t sacrifice its capacity for protection.

  The safety stop is composite (composite resin) or fiberglass, making it lighter and nonmagnetic, regaining its form after impact thus facilitating removal of the foot. The anti-perforation insole made from the same type of material or state-of-the-art anti-slipping fabrics, as well as lightness and thermal insulation, achieves great flexibility and great torque and also covers a larger area of the foot.

• 

This type of PPE is classified under category III which includes complex design equipment intended to protect against all life-threatening danger or that which may cause serious and irreversible damage to one’s health. Therefore the manufacturer must draw up an EC declaration of conformity after a notified body has issued an EC certificate and performed controls on production.

General Requirements:
Requirements applicable to all PPE: Ergonomics, Safety, Comfort and Effectiveness.

Complementary Requirements:
When PPE incorporate adjustment systems, they must be made so that, once adjusted, they cannot (under normal use) be readjusted regardless of the user’s will.

_Standard EN353-2 Sliding anti-fall devices with flexible anchor line.
_Standard EN354 Lanyards.
_Standard EN355 Energy absorbers.
_Standard EN358 Epis for clamping in working position and prevention of falls at high altitude. Belts for work positioning and restraint and work positioning lanyards. Applicable to equipment designed to keep users in their working position (fastening) and prevent them from getting to a point where they could fall at altitude (restraint). A fastening or retaining system should be used for fall arresting.
_Standard EN360 Retractable type fall arresters.
_Standard EN361 Fall arresting harnesses.
_Standard EN362 Connectors.
_Standard EN363 This standard specifies the terminology and general requirements for fall protection systems used as PPE against falls from height. The must be designed and manufactured with a high level of protection that does not generate risks, is easy to install, lightweight and without poor adjustment, and that facilitates correct positioning after stoppage.
_Standard EN813 Suspension Work.
_Marked
CE mark (when dealing with personal protective equipment in category 3) followed by the number of the authorized control body.
Manufacturer’s name. Device model. Serial or batch number. Month and year of manufacture. Manufacturing materials.
_Instructions for use
Name and address of manufacturer or distributor. Model.
Instructions for storage, cleaning and maintenance. Other indications that the manufacturer deems appropriate.
_Maintenance
According to the standard EN365 each piece of equipment must be reviewed by the user visually prior to each use to check for possible defects. The life of STEELPRO equipment is approximately five years, always depending on the conditions of use and maintenance (daily use, sun exposure, rubbing against edges and other devices, transportation... etc. shorten the life of the equipment).
An annual review is to be conducted by the manufacturer following the date of first use, and they should be replaced 5 years from the date of manufacture or date of first use.
For annual reviews the cost, transportation... should always be compared to the cost of purchasing a new product (with greater guarantees on new and unused equipment) and that with a more recent manufacture date. Due to the current cost of equipment it is often more advisable from a cost perspective, and especially one of safety, to replace equipment with new ones.

Sternal hook	Dorsal hook	Positioning hook	Seat hook	hitch rise according to EN361 in combination with EN353-1

_European standards of reference
EN352-1 Earmuffs
EN352-2 Plugs
EN352-3 Earmuffs attached to helmet
EN352-4 Earmuffs depending on level

All hearing protectors belong to category II of PPE classification.

_Evaluation of Noise Exposure
A worker’s daily exposure to noise equivalent, equivalent daily level, expressed in dB(A), as calculated and referring to 8 hours daily. In workplaces where the daily equivalent level exceeds 80 dB(A), the employer must provide hearing protectors to exposed workers. In workplaces where the daily equivalent level and the peak level exceeds 85 dB(A), all workers must use hearing protectors, the mandatory use of which is stated under R.D. 1316/89.

_Rating of sound attenuation
The rating methods are contained in the ISO 4869 standard: The Octave Band method specifies eight values of attenuation in decibels in eight different frequencies: 63 125 250 1000 2000 4000 6000 8000. Protection assumed values (APVf) are minimum attenuation values of each frequency in question. These values are obtained by subtracting, for each reference considered, the average attenuation of the protector in High (H) and Low (L) frequencies.

The HML method specifies three values of attenuation in decibels determined using the attenuation per octave band of the protector. The HML letters represent the average attenuation of the protector in High (H), Middle (M) and Low (L) frequencies.

The SNR method specify a single value for each attenuation, the Simplified Reduction of the Sound Level. The SNR value indicates the average attenuation of the protector in all frequency bands.
HML and SNR values are not derived from an arithmetic mean of the protection values assumed in measuring octave bands, rather they are derived from the application of logarithmic forms specified in the ISO 4869 standard.

_Selection and use
Avoid over protection: avoid choosing protectors that provide too much noise attenuation because they can lead to problems of communication or be less comfortable, meaning the time the user wears them will be reduced.

Comfort: the most effective protector is one that is used continuously. Therefore they should be as comfortable as possible. Thus the user is encouraged to wear them throughout their exposure to noise, a determining factor for real protection. The protector should be chosen by the user.

Protector type: plugs are preferred in high temperature environments and those with large accumulation of dust, whereas in situations of repeated exposure to short-term noise it is preferable to use ear muffs or plugs with harnesses as their placement and removal is faster.

_European standards of reference

EN 397 Safety Helmets for Industry.
EN 812 Industrial shockproof hats.
EN 12492 Helmets for mountaineers.

All equipment falls under category II (medium or high risk level) of the PPE classification, except for electrical hazard certifications according to EN 50365 that fall under category III.

European Standard EN 397 specifies the physical performance requirements, test methods and marking requirements for protective helmets for industry. The mandatory requirements apply to helmets for general use in industry. Additional requirements of optional compliance are included to apply only when specifically required by the manufacturer of the helmet.

_Physical requirements

The helmet must include at least one cap and a harness.
For those parts of the helmet coming into contact with the skin, materials that are known to cause skin irritation or adverse effects on health should not be used.

Those parts of the helmet, its accessories or attachment elements that are in contact with the user or are likely to be when the helmet is being used must not have sharp or protruding edges or roughness that may cause harm to the user.

Any element of the helmet that can be adjusted or removed by the user for replacement thereof must be designed and manufactured as to facilitate adjustment, attachment and removal without the use of tools.

Any fitting system built into the helmet must be designed and built to prevent incorrect adjustment without the user’s knowledge, in the foreseeable conditions of use.

Shockproof industrial hats serve to protect the wearer’s head when the head against collisions with hard, stationary objects causing lacerations and other superficial wounds including dizziness. Shockproof hats offer no protection against the effect of falling or thrown objects, moving or suspended loads.

An industrial shockproof hat should not be confused with an industrial protection helmet according to EN 397.

_European standards of reference

EN166 Individual eye protection. Requirements.
EN169 Filter for welding and related techniques.
EN170 UV filters.
EN171 Infrared filters.
EN172 Filters for solar protection in the workplace.
EN175 Eye and face protection equipment during welding and similar techniques.
EN207 Protective filters and glasses for laser radiation.
EN208 Protective glasses for work on lasers and laser system adjustment work.
EN379 Automatic filters for welding.

All eye protectors and filters fall under category II of PPE classification, except for the following which fall under category III:
- Filters or protectors for hot environments (equal to or greater than 100°)
- Against ionizing radiation.
- Against electrical hazards.
- Against laser radiation.

Marking
The marking helps to identify the risk against which the eye protector has been certified. It is a code consisting of one letter and numbers indicating the specifications of protection.
The first number indicates the type of protection from optical radiation:
2. Ultraviolet
3. Ultraviolet without color alteration
4. Infrared
5. Sunlight
6. Sunlight with specific protection against infrared rays

The second number indicates the level of protection in accordance with the risk expressed in the first.
One number indicates the degree of protection against various types of welding (from 1.2 to 16).
The letter in parentheses indicates the manufacturer. The next number indicates the optical class (1 to 3, where 1 indicates the best optical quality).
The last letter indicates the level of mechanical strength.

Letters	Protector type
S = Increased Mechanical strength	Any
F = Low energy impact	Any
B = Medium energy impact	Full rimmed glasses or face shield
A = High energy impact	Face shield

Example of marking model 2188-GNV - Marking 5 (M)1F. Where 5 indicates the degree of welding protection 5, (M) indicates the manufacturer’s logo (Labor Protection Brand), 1 the optical class and F indicates the mechanical resistance (low energy impact).

Types of eye protection

Rimmed glasses, glasses with full rim, welding glasses, face shields, welding screens: hand, head, coupled to helmet...

_European standards of reference

EN149 Self-filtering protective masks against particles.
EN405 Self-filtering protective masks against gases or gases and particles.
EN140 Semi-masks.
EN136 Masks.
EN141 Filters for gases and mixed filters.
EN146 Filtering devices against particles with assisted ventilation.
EN13794 Autonomous breathing apparatus with closed-circuit for evacuation.

All equipment falls under category III (risk of death or serious injury) of PPE classification. To determine the selection of the mask and/or filter, you must know: The contaminant, its concentration and toxicity, the TLV value of nominal protection of the protector, the protection factor required.

_TLV or Occupational Exposure
Level The maximum concentration of a substance contained in the air, calculating the average over a period of 40 hours per week during which, based on current knowledge, a worker can be exposed day after day without a probable health risk.

_Nominal Protection Factor
The relationship between the concentration of a pollutant in the environment and possible contamination of the inside of the mask. It is calculated from the value of maximum permissible internal leakage (%), which is obtained for any equipment via a standardized test.

_Required Protection Factor: the ratio between the average pollutant concentration in the workplace and the TLV.

Dividing the average pollutant concentration in the workplace by the TLV for this pollutant, the required protection factor is obtained. The right equipment must provide a nominal protection factor greater than the factor of protection required. Example:

Contaminant	Cellulose (solid particle)
Concentration	40 mg/m3
TLV	5 mg/m3
Required protection factor	40/5 = 8
Recommendation	FFP2 (nominal protection factor 12)

Replacement of filters: it is not possible to determine a time of effectiveness of a filter, since different factors in influence their duration; relative humidity, temperature, respiratory rate, lung capacity, concentration and nature of the contaminant. It is recommended to replace the filter when increased breathing resistance or contaminant odor is noticed.

	Masks EN149	Masks EN405	Semi Masks EN140	Masks EN136
Particles P1	4,5	4,5	4,5	5
Particles P2	15	12	12	16
Particles P3	50	50	50	1000
Gases and Vapors	-	20	20	2000

Filters for particulates, gases, and combined filters
P (white)	Particles class 1 (P1), Class 2 (P2) and Class 3 (P3)
A (brown)	Organic gases and vapors
B (grey)	Inorganic gases and vapors (no CO)
E (yellow)	Acidic gases and vapors
K (green)	Ammonia

Note: These tables are approximate. The prevencionist should be the one who advises the end user on the best protection based on measurements in the workplace.