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Preventing the ‘glove off moment’ for construction workers

Written by Ansell | 14 September 2026

A worker struggles in bulky gloves, unable to get a grip while attempting to tighten a screw or align a component. Sweaty hands slip. A simple task feels unmanageable, and the worker soon strips the gloves off in frustration to finish the job bare-handed.

From large-scale commercial buildings to road and rail projects, this scenario is played out across busy construction sites all too often, and that ‘glove off moment’ can quickly become a statistic.

With the hands unprotected, workers risk crush injuries from heavy materials and lacerations from sharp metal or tools. According to Safe Work Australia data, there were more workers’ compensation claims between 2008-2024 for injuries to the hands, fingers and thumbs than any other part of the body.

Workers need gloves that offer impact and cut protection suitable for the task, but are comfortable to wear, even when precision work is required.

Coming to grips with the 'glove-off moment'.

Gloves from Ansell’s RINGERS and HyFlex ranges help encourage workers to keep their hand protection on, across long shifts and when precision matters most. With models suited to a range of construction tasks, workers don’t have to choose between safety and dexterity.

  • Heavy duty protection: The RINGERS™ R065 glove offers the impact and cut resistance needed for jobs like scaffolding, demolition, heavy material handling and assembly and mounting of components. It features patented Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) impact protection for the back of the hand that is EN 388:2016 compliant, and offers level E cut resistance. A breathable F3 Technology™ knit shell is designed for comfort and dexterity. Without the stiffness of traditional gloves, the RINGERS™ R065 even allows workers to operate touchscreens with the index/middle fingers and thumb.
  • General precision and dexterity: The HyFlex™ 11-844 is ideal for mechanical, plumbing and general assembly tasks. Utilising AEROFIT™ Precision Comfort Technology, it offers an ultra-thin 15-gauge liner that feels like a second skin. This model is 30% thinner than the standard Ansell glove, delivering on protection without compromising on tactility and breathability. Wearers also reported completing precision tasks up to 25% faster wearing Ansell’s HyFlex 11-844 glove, based on internal testing and a survey Ansell conducted in May 2025 of 52 glove wearers comparing this glove to competitive gloves available on the market. These results have not been independently verified and the test data is on file with Ansell. Results can vary by application.
  • High cut protection and precision: The HyFlex™ 11-574 glove is suited to precision tasks that involve working with sharp metal and glass that pose a high risk of cuts. It combines the AEROFIT™ technology with a 21-gauge INTERCEPT™ liner to provide a second skin feel with ISO Level D (ANSI A4) cut protection. This glove can help protect workers whether they are moving bricks around or tightening a fiddly screw! According to internal Ansell lab tests conducted under standardised conditions in December 2025, wearers of HyFlex 11-574 were able to complete precision tasks up to 57% faster than when wearing comparable gloves available on the market. The results of this test have not been independently verified and the test data is on file with Ansell. Results can also vary by application.

Both HyFlex models enable touchscreen use with the thumb and all fingers.

Helping workers stay protected and productive.

Jihee Noh, Senior Specialist Brand/Product Marketing at Ansell, says these gloves help safeguard workers, without impacting on their ability to get the job done.

“Protecting the worker is our main priority, and comfort is key to this,” she says. “Durable and breathable gloves protect against that dangerous ‘glove-off moment’ and in turn support productivity.”

The moment a worker pulls off a glove is the moment they are no longer protected from the risk of hand injuries.

Available at Blackwoods – Your construction equipment partner.

As Australia’s leading supplier of industrial solutions, Blackwoods has everything you need to keep your operations running smoothly. Ask your Blackwoods technical safety specialist about equipping your site with Ansell’s specialised construction gloves for cut and impact resistance.

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