Over the past decade employers have become increasingly aware of the obligation imposed on them by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to provide their employees, where necessary, with adequate protective clothing and appliances. This extends in particular to the protection of the hands which, even before the Act, was widely accepted as being an important aspect of their general duty at common law to ensure the safety of their employees

It is estimated that injuries to hands and fingers continue to account for more than a quarter of all industrial accidents. Whatever the nature or cause of the injury, many accidents could be avoided by the provision by employers of the correct type of hand protection. In selecting a suitable glove for a particular operation, employers can obtain some guidance from the British Standard Specification for Industrial Gloves: BS 1651:1986. This standard specifies materials, manufacturing details and performance requirements for gloves for protection against common industrial hazards. This standard is not intended to be comprehensive or exhaustive and specifically excludes products manufactured from certain specialised materials or used for special purposes.