Clothing for the Hands & Feet

Hands

Wear insulated gloves or mittens to protect the hands. Gloves also help prevent accidents and maintain dexterity. When working with wet surfaces or objects, use water-resistant gloves.

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists recommends wearing gloves in the following temperature conditions:

• Below 60.8°F for sedentary work
• Below 39.2°F for light work
• Below 19.4°F for moderate work
• Below 0°F, wear mittens, which provide better protection than gloves

Feet

Wear insulated boots with removable liners to protect the feet. The liners should be removed daily for drying. If work tasks may involve standing in water or slush, waterproof boots should be worn. If work tasks may involve crushing hazards, then steel-toed boots should be worn.

In addition to liners, wear warm socks to help protect your feet. If you wear two layers of socks, the inner layer should be made of a wicking material to help keep the feet dry and warm. The outer layer should not be too thick that it compresses the inner layer. This can result in tightness and loss of insulating properties. Make sure you change your socks if they get wet or damp.

To learn more about Cold Stress Safety visit our Cold Stress, Illness & Injury Safety Online Training web page.