The present study investigated the effects of wearing typical industrial gloves on hand performance
capabilities (muscle activity, wrist posture, touch sensitivity, hand grip and forearm torque strength) and
subjective assessments for an extended duration of performing a common assembly task, wire tying with
pliers, which requires a combination of manipulation and force exertion. Three commercially available
gloves (cotton, nylon and nitrile gloves) were tested and compared with a bare hand condition while
participants performed the simulated assembly task for 2 h. The results showed that wearing gloves
significantly increased the muscle activity, wrist deviation, and discomfort whilst reducing hand grip
strength, forearm torque strength and touch sensitivity. The combined results showed that the length of
time for which gloves are worn does affect hand performance capability and that gloves need to be
evaluated in a realistic working context. The results are discussed in terms of selection of gloves for
industrial assembly tasks involving pliers.