Gloves are an essential element of personal protective equipment (PPE) for arborists and anyone working in the forestry industry. They serve several purposes including protection against chainsaw injuries, the reduction of the impact of vibration, improved grip, protection from thorns and splinters from branches and in protecting the skin from cold and moisture.

Before you rush out and purchase a pack of workwear gloves, it is important that you assess the tasks that you will be using them for and are clear about what you expect from the gloves. This allows you to select the right brand based on grip, dexterity, size and breathability. Here are the main considerations that you should take into account.

Size of workwear gloves

All PPE must fit if is going to afford the required protection and not interfere with work tasks. Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive makes it clear that workwear gloves must suit the user in terms of size, fit and weight. To find your glove size, measure the width of your hand at the widest point (across the knuckles). Then the following size guide will indicate which glove size to select.

• Small: up to 8.5cm

• Medium 8.5-9.5cm

• Large: 9.5-10.5cm

• X large: 10.5-11.5cm

• XX large: over 11.5cm

Some ranges are available in all of the sizes. In particular, Maxiflex Endurance and Maxitherm gloves are comfortable and hard-wearing options.

Chainsaw gloves

Gloves with a neoprene band across the back will protect your knuckles and a knitted cuff will stop debris from falling in. For maximum comfort, choose a supple glove with palms and fingers made from a flexible material such as leather and a stretch fabric at the back. A good all round, durable option is a pair of Husqvarna chainsaw gloves.

When working in wet conditions, a synthetic glove with rubberised pads on the palm and fingertips will help with grip and the Harkie chainsaw gloves are ideal.

Climbing and dexterity gloves

The ideal glove for climbing:

• Makes it easy to use karabiners and climbing devices

• Has dots for grip on the palm and fingers

• Is durable

• Is breathable

• Is machine washable

The Maxiflex Endurance glove ticks all the boxes. For dexterity, a glove must have a very thin coating, be ergonomically shaped and be both breathable and durable. The world benchmark for precision handling is undoubtedly the Maxiflex Ultimate.

Waterproof and thorn resistant gloves

The ideal waterproof workwear glove will provide you with comfort and grip and, at the same time, will keep your hands dry. An extra desirable feature is resistance to oil and chemicals. To prevent fatigue, the glove should mimic the ‘hand at rest’ position. All of these features are found in the Maxidry Zero and the Maxidry Regular.

Thorns are a particular hazard faced by arborists and forestry workers. A specialised needle-resistant glove would be required to afford complete protection from thorn penetration, but for those not wanting to spend such fortunes, the B771 Drivers thick leather and open cuff glove or the B773 Drivers knitwrist glove are good choices to offer a reasonable level of resistance. You may prefer the B776 Leather gauntlet but it is made from a stiffer material and may lead to hand fatigue if used over a prolonged period of time.