Shopping for personal protective equipment in the shop

Guidelines for protective gloves and eyewear help shop management choose the right equipment to prevent injuries, noted Austin Dorman, group manager of product marketing at Milwaukee Tool. For instance, OSHA highlights the importance of coated fabric gloves that improve grip and resistance to abrasions, while ANSI Cut Level and EN388 certifications are important benchmarks for selecting gloves that balance durability and performance.

“For hand protection, new glove technologies focus on providing both safety and performance,” Dorman related. “They balance dexterity and durability for maintaining precision handling while ensuring sufficient protection.”

Made with an 18-gauge knit construction, Milwaukee Tool’s High-Dexterity ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Cut Level 2 Nitrile Dipped Gloves have been tested using the EN388 puncture standard. The gloves feature a reinforced nitrile coating between the thumb and index finger to strengthen durability in high-wear areas.

Regardless of a glove’s protective abilities, it still has to be functional enough to achieve compliance. If the tech has to keep taking the gloves off to access a tablet to find a work order or instructions, they may just leave them off.

Brass Knuckle's SmartCut BKCRT201 gloves are touch screen compatible, eliminating the need to remove gloves to check an order, update a specification, or respond to a customer text.

A “game-changer” at TravelCenter of Ameirca's shops has been the implementation of “technology-friendly gloves” that employ conductive threads in the fingertips that allow for full touchscreen use “without sacrificing protection or dexterity,” said Gerry Mead,VP of truck service at TravelCenters of America.

The gloves still need to stand up to the rigors of the job. Mead highlighted the introduction of HPPE (high-performance polyethylene) and enhanced grip coatings like sandy nitrile or foam latex. These promote protection and flexibility, allowing for a secure hold on oily or wet components, reducing both injury risk and dropped parts.

Compliance is equally important at eye level. If eye protection obscures vision or is uncomfortable, that too will not be utilized enough. Advancements have been made in that area as well. For example, some designs feature adjustable nose bridges, lightweight frames, and anti-fog coatings, Mead explained. Some even come with blue light filtering, which helps reduce eye fatigue when using diagnostic tablets or digital service tools.

“Technology has significantly improved eye protection with innovations such as advanced lens coatings that resist scratches and fogging, increasing durability and user satisfaction,” Dorman said. “Gasketed safety glasses are becoming more popular due to their superior debris protection, while stylish, lifestyle-oriented designs ensure consistent usage.”

Mead could have used those as an up-and-coming shop supervisor.

Comfort and fit are also factors to weigh when selecting protective eye gear, Dorman added, also citing adjustable nose bridges and temples that conform to various face shapes. There are full coverage designs to help prevent foreign objects from entering and gasketed eyewear when exposure to dust or chemicals is considered.

For eye protection, Brass Knuckle offers Midnight safety glasses featuring a removable gasket. “It’s a dust goggle with a foam filter that fills the gap between the glasses and the face that can be quickly converted to traditional impact protection safety eyewear,” Kelly said. It can also be fitted with SideShield earpieces for wraparound protection.

The Brass Knuckle Midnight safety glasses feature a foam filter that fills the gap between the glasses and the face, preventing dust and debris from getting into the lens.

“Midnight safety glasses also have our BK-Anti-FOG+ protection that is impregnated into the lens so it won’t wash or wipe off,” Kelly added. “It lasts long enough for any fluctuation in heat and humidity to regulate, which means lenses stay clear.”

With a face shield attached to the goggles instead of a hard hat so the mask moves with the wearer, Brass Knuckle offers the Vader Combo for full-face protection. The product also fits over most prescription eyeglasses and provides 99.9% UV protection.

At Fleet Fast, PPE choices include 3M Virtua Safety Glasses with antifogging features. “These are affordable everyday safety glasses that are perfect for purchasing in bulk to keep around the shop for technicians if they need a pair, and for visitors,” Joseph said.

“We also use the Dewalt DPG82 Concealer Anti-Fog Dual Mold Safety Goggle to provide eye protection from all angles and to allow technicians to wear prescription glasses,” Joseph added. “These goggles are perfect when technicians need to drill out rivets from a box truck or trailer side panel as they block metal shavings from getting behind their glasses.”

For work gloves, Joseph also noted that Fleet Fast has found that polyurethane-coated designs offer excellent dexterity and grip, especially when handling small parts or performing tasks that require precision.

The big thing is to always stay up-to-date on new PPE innovations.

“PPE is evolving fast, and we’re always evaluating new options that enhance performance while keeping our teams protected,” Mead concluded. “If it helps keep hands and eyes safe, and keeps technicians comfortable and compliant, we’re paying attention.”