Gloves are usually the best choice, but they can be a hazard if worn around moving machinery such as drill presses, mills, lathes, grinders, etc. No glove can provide protection from all of these hazards, so proper selection, cleaning, and maintenance is a must. Anyone who works around open flames should have gloves made of a fire-retardant fabric. If the hazard is radiant heat, the fabric should be reflective. Leather is effective against hot surfaces, and cotton or other fabrics may be adequate for moderate heat or cold.
Electricity requires special rubber gloves with insulated liners.
Sharp objects should be handled only by people wearing cut-resistant gloves, often made of metal mesh. Rough surfaces call for leather gloves. Corrosives need gloves made of neoprene or nitrile. Slippery objects call for gloves made of cotton or other fabrics. When using a chemical, select the correct glove and one that won't react in a dangerous way with that chemical.