Global Hand Protection Equipment Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID 19 Impact, And Trends By Type (Gloves, Armlets, Elbow Protectors, Wrist Cuffs), By Material Type (Natural Rubber, Leather, Polyamide, Vinyl, Others), By End-User Industry (Oil And Gas, Construction, Chemical, Healthcare, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2022 To 2027

The global hand protection equipment market was valued at US$6.360 billion in 2020. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.61% to attain a value of US$8.720 billion by 2027.

The hand protection equipment saves workers from injuries like grazes and cuts, temperature burns, knocks and blows, chemical burns, electric shock, skin irritation, vibrations; and many more. The use of hand protection equipment provides workers with ease in doing the work and without fear of getting injured; this improves the efficiency of work and provides better results.

Rising cases of injuries in the hazardous workplace have pressurized governments and international organizations to focus more on workers’ safety. According to the National Safety Council, USA, fatal work injuries reached 5147 in 2017. That is 14 people injured a day. Preventable work deaths increased from 4,398 in 2016 to 4,141 in 2017. These numbers show the need for protective equipment in the workplace to save the lives of workers. Governments are making strict rules and regulations for companies to follow to provide their workers, employees, or staff with a safe and secure working environment. Hence, stricter government regulations regarding workers’ safety are also major drivers of the global hand protection equipment market. Technological advancements in industries and better processing techniques have given rise to higher demand for hand protection equipment across various end-use industries.

The global hand protection equipment market is also growing with the rising manufacturing hubs around the world. The increased use of protective gloves and armlets in chemical, construction, and other industries is boosting the market growth of global hand protection equipment. Rising manufacturing activities in developing countries require a large amount of hand-protective equipment for the protection of their workers from hazards and uneventful risks.

The global hand protection equipment market is segmented by type, material type, end-user industry, and geography. On the basis of type, the market is segmented into gloves, armlets, elbow protectors, and wrist cuffs. The market segmentation on the basis of material type is done as natural rubber, leather, polyamide, vinyl, and others. The segmentation based on the end-user industry is done as mining, oil & gas, construction, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and others.

Gloves are majorly used in industrial settings for protection from various injuries

The increasing use of gloves in healthcare, manufacturing, and construction industries is increasing the market for hand protection equipment around the world. The use of surgical gloves and sterile gloves in healthcare and pharmaceutical industries is increasing the hand protection equipment market. The gloves are used in the healthcare industry to prevent contact with microbes, viruses, and contaminated particles so as to save the doctor from catching any kind of disease from the patient and to keep the hands clean. The increasing use of gloves, armlets, and elbow protectors in the construction sector is to protect workers from getting any kind of injuries or causalities at the workplace. The gloves and armlets help in preventing punctures, needle injuries, loss of fingers and hands, protection against temperature changes, protection from chemical burns, and much more. The elbow protector and wrist cuffs are used in specific applications where there is a high risk of injury to the elbow and wrist respectively.

Different materials are required for different applications

The hand protection equipment is made of different materials depending on their usage. The different materials help in solving different problems. For example, natural rubber is used for cleaning or working with oils, solvents, and other chemicals. The leather gloves are used in welding, as leather is strong enough to resist sparks and moderate heat. It even reduces the risk of cuts and abrasion. Because they provide reflective and insulating protection, aluminized gloves are highly recommended for welding, furnace, and foundry work. Fire and thermal retardant gloves are used mostly by firefighters and emergency workers for preventing them from catching fire. The advancement in technology and increasing research and development in the hand protection industry to further increase innovations in the utilization of new materials for better performance will continue to drive the global hand protection equipment market during the forecast period.

By geography, North America has a significant share of the global market

Regionally, the global hand protection equipment market is classified into North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia Pacific. North America holds a significant market share due to high awareness among people about safety measures required at the workplace, supported by stringent workers’ safety regulations in countries like the U.S. and Canada. The growing number of surgeries across this region is escalating the demand for surgical gloves, thereby positively impacting the growth of the North American Hand Protection Equipment market growth. According to OECD data, the number of surgeries has increased from 1,100,675 in 2011 to 1,182,649 in 2018 in Canada and, according to OECD data, the total number of surgeries in Mexico increased from 657,730 in 2011 to 835,606 in 2018. Asia Pacific is projected to witness a noteworthy CAGR during the forecast period owing to the increasing number of manufacturing facilities in countries like China and India. Supportive government policies and initiatives to ramp up the manufacturing sector in APAC countries are also contributing to the growing demand for hand protection equipment in the region. Rising investments in infrastructural development will continue to propel the market growth of APAC hand protection equipment during the next five years. For instance, South Korean companies announced their plan to invest US$2.8 billion in 56 infrastructure projects in 2019, with the country’s government investing as well in order to support the building effort.

Key Developments in the Market

• In January 2022, DuPont launched Thermo-Hand, Thermo-Hand, the newest burn evaluation unit. Thermo-Hand was designed to help industrial employees better grasp the variety of choices available for efficient thermal hand protection. It replicates a full-scale flash fire exposure. Additionally, the new offering is compliant with updated NFPA standards. 
• In July 2021, a leading PPE and hand protection solutions provider active in the construction, industrial, and retail market, Protective Industrial Products, Inc., launched a new series of G-Tek® VR-XTM gloves with a proprietary new coating technology to its portfolio.  In order to provide superior barrier protection against liquids and microorganisms, the new G-Tek® VR-XTM line was created as the first reusable work glove tested and certified to the EN 374 standard for permeation and microbe penetration. It comprises two offerings—ANSI A3 cut-resistant and general purpose—to cater to the needs of the larger base of consumers. 
• In March 2021, Ansell, a pioneer in protection solutions, acquired the Primus brand of Primus Gloves. Furthermore, the duo also signed a multi-year supply partnership agreement. Through this acquisition, Ansel is able to expand its presence in the lucrative Indian pharmaceutical market and propel its life science business.

COVID-19 Insights

COVID-19 had a positive impact on the global hand protection equipment market. The rapid spread of the pandemic and exponential surge of active cases increased the demand for gloves among healthcare staff. To deal with the rising demand for gloves, multiple manufacturers upscaled their production levels. Ansell, for instance, witnessed an increase in demand for single-use gloves in surgical, mechanical, and life sciences segments.

Hand Protection Equipment Market Scope:

Key Market Segmentation

• By Type
  • Gloves
  • Armlets
  • Elbow Protectors
  • Wrist Cuffs
• By Material Type
  • Natural Rubber
  • Leather
  • Polyamide
  • Vinyl
  • Others
• By End-User Industry
  • Oil and Gas
  • Construction
  • Chemical
  • Healthcare
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • France
    • United Kingdom
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Israel
    • UAE
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • India
    • Thailand
    • Indonesia
    • Taiwan
    • Others