The Youngstown Gloves master distributor — Europe and the Middle East
The Utility Glove 96 of the 100 Largest USA Utility Companies Already Trust
Founded in the USA, Youngstown Gloves designs and builds high-quality hand protection products specifically for utility work crews. The utility professionals we serve require high level Arc Ratings along with Puncture, Cut and Fire resistance daily, plus the durability to survive harsh working conditions. Youngstown Gloves solves these critical needs while also providing the comfort that increases wear time, which prevents expensive accidents resulting from not wearing hand protection.
Why Youngstown
The only glove designed specifically for utility workers
Youngstown Glove Company was the first performance-glove company licensed to use Kevlar® brand fibre. It launched the first utility-lineman-designed glove in 2011 as well as the first specialty tactical work glove created specifically for utility line crews working in harsh and dangerous conditions. After more than fifteen years of direct utility crew feedback, Youngstown describes today’s range as the highest-quality utility-worker hand protection available. The evidence ProShield would rather you judge it on is the adoption figure: 96 of the 100 largest USA utility companies, and their Union Safety Committees, choose Youngstown.
Safety that is engineered in, not added on
Arc protection, cut resistance, puncture resistance and dexterity are designed together rather than traded off. Every style with a published arc rating carries a laboratory-verified figure in cal/cm², tested to ASTM F2675, and Kevlar® lining runs 360 degrees around the hand on the flagship styles.
Gloves crews actually keep on
A common cause of hand injury is a glove that was not being worn. Youngstown’s ergonomic 3D patterns form-fit the hand, so crews keep working in them through jointing, terminating and switching — the fine work where a bulky glove gets removed.
Longer wearability, lower total cost
Youngstown reports 1.6 to 2.2 times the service life of commodity work gloves in USA utility field use. The unit price is higher; the cost per shift protected is lower. Prove it on your own crews with a free 60-day wear trial before you commit.
One focus, done properly
Youngstown is not a general industrial brand that also sells to utilities. It has worked exclusively on utility hand protection for more than a decade, developing products in the field with major utility companies and their union safety committees.
Productivity from dexterity
A glove that lets a jointer feel a conductor is a glove that stays on the hand. Dexterity is a safety property as much as a comfort one, and it is the property Youngstown optimises hardest.
Europe Distribution Facility
As Youngstown Gloves Master Distributor for Europe and the Middle East, ProShield Distribution Ltd will soon begin shipping the full lineup of Youngstown Utility Gloves. Stock will be dispatched from the ProShield UK distribution center, reaching crews in five to seven working days.
The range
10 Youngstown Gloves Styles for Europe and the Middle East
Every style below is listed with its style number, its published performance data and its current European certification status. All European Certifications to be completed in the near future. ProShield will supply the certification certificate together with the product manual, technical data sheet and supporting test documentation.
| Product | Description | Published performance |
|---|---|---|
FR Ground Glove
Speciality arc-rated
12-3365-60
Certification in progress
|
The best-selling arc-rated utility glove in the USA. A heavy-duty leather work glove that is cut-resistant, puncture-resistant, flame-resistant and arc-rated, with an ergonomic double-layered pattern that stays comfortable and dexterous through a full shift.Typical use: Overhead lines, switchgear and substation work, excavation and cable preparation.Materials: 18 oz/yd² goat grain leather; 100% Kevlar® lining, 360 degrees; double-layered palm, saddle, knuckles and fingertips. | Arc rating: 27 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Cut: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level A4 Puncture: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level 5 Flame: Exceeds ASTM F1358 — will not drip, melt or ignite |
Ground Glove
Speciality arc-rated
12-3265-60
Certification in progress
|
Youngstown’s most popular leather glove. Comfort, dexterity and lasting durability in extra-high-quality goatskin, tanned for grip, softness and abrasion resistance. The ergonomic 3D pattern form-fits the hand and a second layer of leather is sewn into all critical wear areas.Typical use: All-day distribution linework, jointing, meter and service connections.Materials: 18 oz/yd² goat grain leather; dual-layer reinforcement at fingertips, knuckles, saddle and palm. | Arc rating: 16 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Puncture: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level 4 Flame: Will not drip, melt or ignite if exposed to sparks or flames |
FR Leather Utility Wide-Cuff
Speciality arc-rated
12-3275-60
Certification in progress
|
A gauntlet-cuff leather glove made with 100% Kevlar® fibre for 360-degree protection. Double-layered goat grain leather on the hand with a split-leather cuff firm enough to stay in place over sleeves — durable, dexterous and flame-resistant.Typical use: Substation fitting, switchgear work and any task where the cuff must sit over a sleeve.Materials: Goat grain leather; 100% Kevlar® lining; double-layered fingertips, palm, thumb, saddle and knuckles; split-leather gauntlet cuff. | Arc rating: 26 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Cut: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level A4 Puncture: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level 5 Flame: Exceeds ASTM F1358 |
Leather Utility Wide-Cuff
Speciality arc-rated
11-3255-60
Certification in progress
|
The gauntlet-cuff utility glove without the flame-resistant build of the 12-3275-60, for crews who need cuff coverage and leather durability on tasks where arc exposure is not the governing hazard.Typical use: General utility handling and materials work where the cuff must sit over a sleeve.Materials: Goat grain leather hand with a split-leather gauntlet cuff. | Arc rating: 15 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Construction: Gauntlet-cuff leather utility glove, not flame-resistant |
FR Mechanics Hybrid
Speciality arc-rated
12-3270-80
CE certified
|
A new style for Europe and the Middle East: a mechanics-pattern hybrid that pairs a premium leather palm with a Kevlar® back, for tasks where fine dexterity matters more than bulk. Recommended where crews are currently reaching for a general-purpose mechanics glove.Typical use: Jointing, testing, switchgear work, treatment-works mechanical and electrical maintenance.Materials: Premium leather palm with a Kevlar® hybrid back; mechanics-style ergonomic build. | Arc rating: 21 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Construction: Premium leather and Kevlar® hybrid |
FR Waterproof Leather Utility
Winter and cold-weather, arc-rated
11-3285-60
CE certified
|
A winterised leather glove built on triple-layer technology: 100% Kevlar® lining, an FR 120 g Nomex® thermal layer and a fully waterproof, windproof membrane, sewn into an ergonomic 3D pattern with suede reinforcement for grip in wet conditions. The rare triple-spec glove: water-resistant leather over a waterproof membrane, flame-resistant throughout.Typical use: Winter fault response, cable-fault work and any cold, wet outdoor shift.Materials: Double-layer water-resistant grain leather; Kevlar® lining; FR 120 g Nomex® thermal layer; waterproof and windproof membrane; 4″ safety cuff. | Arc rating: 65 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Cut: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level A4 Puncture: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level 4 EN 388: 3343X — abrasion 3, cut 3, tear 4, puncture 3 Flame: Exceeds ASTM F1358 |
12″ Primary Leather Protector
Leather protector
16-5100-12
CE certified
|
An entirely new approach to a design unchanged since the 1870s: an ergonomic pattern that fits perfectly over rubber insulating gloves within the parameters of ASTM F496 and F696, with a cow suede cuff and the Kevlar®-webbing FR Strap System. Nothing on the protector will drip, melt or ignite if exposed to an arc flash.Typical use: Worn over Class 1 to Class 4 rubber insulating gloves for live working.Materials: 1.0 mm+ cow grain leather; 1.2 mm+ cow suede cuff; FR strap of woven Kevlar® webbing; heat-stabilised hardware. | Arc rating: 32 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Puncture: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level 5 EN 388: 2122X Covers: Class 1–4 rubber insulating gloves |
14″ Primary Leather Protector
Leather protector
16-5100-14
CE certified
|
The longer cuff of the two Primary Leather Protectors, giving more overlap between glove and sleeve. Built on the same ergonomic over-glove pattern and the same Kevlar®-webbing FR Strap System as the 12″ protector.Typical use: Worn over Class 1 to Class 4 rubber insulating gloves where maximum sleeve overlap is required.Materials: 1.0 mm+ cow grain leather; 1.2 mm+ cow suede cuff; FR strap of woven Kevlar® webbing; heat-stabilised hardware. | Arc rating: 32 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Puncture: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level 5 EN 388: 2122X Covers: Class 1–4 rubber insulating gloves |
10″ Secondary Leather Protector
Leather protector
16-4100-10
Certification in progress
|
The shorter cuff of the two Secondary Leather Protectors, worn over Class 00 and Class 0 rubber insulating gloves. The Primary Protectors (16-5100-12 and 16-5100-14) cover Classes 1 to 4. Cut in high-dexterity goat grain leather for low-voltage work where feel matters.Typical use: Worn over Class 00 and Class 0 rubber insulating gloves for LV live working.Materials: High-dexterity goat grain leather; heat-stabilised hardware. | Arc rating: 25 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Puncture: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level 3 Covers: Class 00 and Class 0 rubber insulating gloves |
13″ Secondary Leather Protector
Leather protector
16-4100-13
Certification in progress
|
The longer cuff in the Secondary Leather Protector family, giving more sleeve overlap than the 10″ while keeping the same high-dexterity goat grain leather build.Typical use: Worn over Class 00 and Class 0 rubber insulating gloves for LV live working where more cuff coverage is wanted.Materials: High-dexterity goat grain leather; heat-stabilised hardware. | Arc rating: 25 cal/cm² — ASTM F2675 Puncture: ANSI/ISEA 105 Level 3 Covers: Class 00 and Class 0 rubber insulating gloves |
Arc-rated gloves and leather protectors do NOT protect against shock or voltage. For live working, the primary hand protection is an EN / IEC 60903 insulating rubber glove worn under a leather protector. Youngstown does not manufacture insulating rubber gloves.
Not sure which style fits your task list? Send us your tasks rather than a shopping list and we will map them to specific styles — the format a safety team can actually audit. Request a free wear trial and a task-to-glove mapping.
Safety certification
Which standards apply, and what each one actually covers
Utility hand protection sits across two standards regimes. Youngstown products are tested and rated today to the United States standards shown against each style. A separate European certification programme is under way, and its status is stated per style rather than claimed across the range.
CE marking and PPE category
Arc and thermal gloves are Category III personal protective equipment, which means they protect against risks that may cause very serious consequences such as death or irreversible damage to health. Category III PPE requires EU type-examination by a Notified Body. CE marking is recognised indefinitely in Great Britain under SI 2024/696, in force from 1 October 2024, and is required in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
Mechanical protection
Covers abrasion, blade cut (Coupe), tear, puncture, ISO 13997 (TDM) cut and impact. This is the pictogram a UK safety manager reads first. Where an EN 388 result is published for a Youngstown style, it appears in the range table — for example 3343X on the FR Waterproof Leather Utility and 2122X on the 12″ and 14″ Primary Leather Protectors. EN 388 values and ANSI/ISEA 105 levels are not interchangeable and should not be read across.
Thermal hazards
Covers burning behaviour, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat and molten-metal splash. The EN 407 thermal categories form part of the additional European certification programme currently in progress across the Youngstown range.
General requirements for protective gloves
Covers sizing, dexterity, innocuousness and marking. Every protective glove placed on the European market must meet EN ISO 21420 in addition to any hazard-specific standard.
Open-arc rating for gloves
The arc rating in cal/cm² is the incident energy at which there is a 50 per cent probability of a second-degree burn. ASTM F2675 is the open-arc test method written specifically for gloves, and it is the method behind every arc figure in the range table. No glove-specific IEC arc standard currently exists: EN / IEC 61482-1-1 and 61482-1-2 are material and garment methods and do not apply directly to hand protection.
Cut and puncture levels
The United States scale for cut resistance (A1 to A9) and puncture resistance (Levels 1 to 5). Youngstown pairs its arc ratings with laboratory-verified ANSI/ISEA 105 cut and puncture performance where those figures have been published; the range table shows exactly which figures exist for each style. ANSI cut levels do not map cleanly onto the EN 388 A–F TDM scale; treat them as separate scales and ask for both figures.
Insulating rubber gloves and their protectors
The standard for electrically insulating gloves for live working: Class 00 at 500 V, Class 0 at 1,000 V, Class 1 at 7,500 V, Class 2 at 17,000 V, Class 3 at 26,500 V and Class 4 at 36,000 V. Youngstown Leather Protectors are worn over these gloves — the 10″ and 13″ Secondary Protectors over Class 00 and Class 0, and the 12″ and 14″ Primary Protectors over Classes 1 to 4. Confirm dimensional compatibility with your own insulating glove before adopting any protector.
Additional European certification in progress. For every style not yet CE marked, three separate certifications are under way: (1) CE certification — EU type-examination under Regulation (EU) 2016/425, with Notified Body and PPE category to be confirmed; (2) EN 388 including ISO 13997 TDM cut testing where applicable, EN 407, and applicable PPE requirements; and (3) arc performance — ASTM F2675 open-arc tested. Each certificate is supplied with the required product manual, technical data sheet and supporting test documentation.
How to select against your own risk assessment. There is no UK equivalent of NFPA 70E — no PPE category tables and no legally mandated cal/cm² thresholds. The framework is the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, HSG85 and the IET Arc Flash Risk Management approach in which PPE is the last resort. Calculate the incident energy for the specific task, then choose a glove whose arc rating exceeds it with margin. Hands work closest to the arc.
Sectors
Hand protection mapped to the work, sector by sector
The hazards differ by sector, so the glove should too. Below is how ProShield maps the Youngstown range to the tasks UK and European energy and utility crews actually carry out — including the tasks the range is not right for.
Electricity networks
Overhead linespeople · Jointers · Substation fitters · Power network craftspeople
Arc flash is the defining hand hazard on a UK electricity network, and the published UK numbers are the ones that matter. Modelling of UK distribution networks puts typical low-voltage incident energy at 20–30 cal/cm², with link-box operations at a 450 mm working distance measured at 24 cal/cm² on 400 A fuses and 28 cal/cm² on 500 A fuses. Temporary generator connections can exceed 100 cal/cm².
The work and the hand hazards
- Overhead lines — climbing wood poles and steel towers to install, maintain, test, repair and dismantle overhead line plant. Cut on wire strand, pinch in blocks and grips, abrasion and grip retention in wet and cold.
- Underground cables — working in excavations on live and dead cables, jointing and terminating. Cut from steel wire armour and cable preparation, puncture, soil abrasion and hot work from jointing compounds and hot-pour.
- Substation fitting — installing, maintaining and dismantling HV plant including transformers, switchgear and cable terminations. Crush, cut and the highest arc-flash exposure on the network.
- Fault response, switching and testing — diagnostic fault-finding at any hour, in any weather, plus MEWP and vehicle operation.
Recommended Youngstown styles
- 12-3365-60 FR Ground Glove — 27 cal/cm², Cut A4 and Puncture 5. This sits inside the 20–30 cal/cm² band typical of UK LV work and above the 24 cal/cm² measured on link-box operations with 400 A fuses, but below the 28 cal/cm² measured with 500 A fuses. Check it against your own incident-energy calculation task by task rather than adopting it across the board.
- 12-3275-60 FR Leather Utility Wide-Cuff — 26 cal/cm², with a gauntlet cuff over sleeves for substation fitting and switchgear work.
- 11-3285-60 FR Waterproof Leather Utility — 65 cal/cm², waterproof and thermally lined, for winter fault response.
- Leather Protectors — the 12″ and 14″ Primary Protectors (16-5100-12 / -14, 32 cal/cm²) over Class 1–4 rubber insulating gloves, and the 10″ and 13″ Secondary Protectors (16-4100-10 / -13, 25 cal/cm²) over Class 00 and Class 0.
Gas distribution
Network engineers · Fitters · Technicians · Emergency first-call operatives
UK gas field work is dominated by excavation and pipe replacement. The Iron Mains Risk Reduction Programme — the HSE-mandated national initiative to replace ageing iron gas mains near buildings — keeps a larger and more sustained share of the workforce in trench and pipe-handling work than a typical install, maintain and respond mix would.
The work and the hand hazards
- Installation and mains replacement — trenching, excavation and polyethylene pipe-fusion joining, the dominant joining method for new mains and iron-mains replacement.
- Leak response and emergency work — urgent excavation and shut-off work under time pressure, at any hour, in any weather.
- Meter and service connections — manual valve work at customer properties, often in confined or awkward positions.
- Confined-space and below-grade work — manholes, trenches and excavations; kneeling, crouching and handling heavy pipe and fittings in tight quarters.
- Pressure testing and corrosion control — handling pipe, fittings and test equipment in all weathers.
Recommended Youngstown styles
- 12-3365-60 FR Ground Glove — flame-resistant, Cut A4 and Puncture Level 5 for excavation and pipe preparation, with a 27 cal/cm² arc rating carried through for crews who also work on electrical plant.
- 12-3265-60 Ground Glove — Puncture Level 4 with all-day dexterity, for meter and service work where feel matters. Arc rating 16 cal/cm², so specify it on mechanical duty rather than arc-exposed tasks.
- 11-3285-60 FR Waterproof Leather Utility — the winter and emergency-response option for wet trench work.
Certification status is stated per style in the range table above. Where a European certification is still in progress, we say so, and we will supply the current test documentation on request rather than imply cover that is not yet in place.
Water — clean-water and civils
Mains and civils operatives · Leakage technicians · Meter installers · Treatment works fitters · AMP8 alliance crews
UK water is in the largest hiring cycle in its privatised history, and the field volume is enormous: 426,734 km of pipe in England and Wales, and 45,383 burst pipes repaired in 2024–25 — roughly 124 excavations a day, before the AMP8 programme is added on top. Excavations flood, so this is wet work by default.
The work and the hand hazards
- Mains laying, burst and leak response — excavation, pipe handling, jointing and reinstatement. Abrasion from soil, ductile iron and PE pipe; cut; crush; impact.
- Excavation and reinstatement — breaking out and making good, with the vibration exposure that comes with breakers and compactors.
- Meter installation — high-volume, repetitive, clean-water side, in chambers that routinely flood.
- Valve and hydrant work — abrasion, impact and crush, almost always wet.
- Treatment works mechanical and electrical maintenance — asset health work on the dry side.
Recommended Youngstown styles
- 12-3365-60 FR Ground Glove — excavation, civils and major project construction.
- 12-3270-80 FR Mechanics Hybrid — 21 cal/cm², for clean-water mains laying and treatment works mechanical work where dexterity matters.
- 11-3285-60 FR Waterproof Leather Utility — winter burst response.
We do not offer this range for wastewater, sewer, jetting or confined-space work. The HSE names gloves as a control for leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), and identifies transmission through cuts and scratches. The relevant certification for contaminated work is EN ISO 374 (chemicals and micro-organisms), which requires a liquid-impermeable barrier. Leather is porous, cannot be reliably decontaminated and cannot achieve EN ISO 374 micro-organism claims. For that work, specify a coated synthetic or nitrile glove. We would rather tell you this than sell you the wrong glove.
Wind generation
Wind turbine technicians · Blade technicians · Onshore and offshore O&M crews
Wind O&M puts hands on steel, wire rope and live electrical plant in the same shift, often at height and almost always in weather. Glove failure at the top of a tower is not a minor inconvenience — it is a two-hour round trip.
The work and the hand hazards
- Nacelle and tower electrical work — converter, switchgear and array cabling, with real arc-flash exposure.
- Bolt torquing and tensioning — pinch and crush on bolted connections, repetitive high-force grip.
- Ladder, lift and rope access — grip retention in cold and wet, abrasion on wire rope and steel.
- Cable pulling and terminating — cut, abrasion and puncture.
- Generator, gearbox and blade maintenance — handling tooling, composites and heavy components.
Recommended Youngstown styles
- 12-3270-80 FR Mechanics Hybrid — 21 cal/cm², the dexterity option for torquing, terminating and tooling work.
- 12-3365-60 FR Ground Glove — 27 cal/cm², for arc-exposed converter, switchgear and cabling work.
- 11-3285-60 FR Waterproof Leather Utility — cold, wet and offshore conditions.
Arc-rated leather is not a substitute for insulating gloves on live work. Salt-water exposure shortens the service life of any leather glove: ask us to build a rotation into your wear trial so you measure real offshore life, not onshore life.
Solar and battery storage
PV installers · Commissioning technicians · O&M technicians · BESS technicians
Solar and battery storage carry a hazard that catches crews out: direct-current arc flash. A DC arc has no natural current zero, so it does not self-extinguish the way an AC arc does. Combiner boxes, inverters and battery systems all present it, and the mechanical hazards run alongside it all day.
The work and the hand hazards
- Module handling and mounting — cut and abrasion on module frames, mounting rail and steel, repeated hundreds of times a shift.
- DC string wiring and connectorisation — fine, repetitive hand work with a real arc hazard behind it.
- Inverter, combiner box and BESS work — DC arc-flash exposure, heat and confined working positions.
- Tracker mechanical maintenance — pinch, crush and abrasion.
- HV connection and grid interface — the same arc-flash and live-working regime as a distribution network.
Recommended Youngstown styles
- 12-3265-60 Ground Glove — module handling and mounting, all-day dexterity with Puncture Level 4. Arc rating 16 cal/cm².
- 12-3365-60 FR Ground Glove — 27 cal/cm², the highest-rated glove in the range outside the winter styles, for DC and HV arc-exposed work at combiners, inverters and the grid interface.
- 12-3270-80 FR Mechanics Hybrid — 21 cal/cm², for connectorisation and commissioning.
Every arc rating quoted above is an ASTM F2675 open-arc value. The three styles listed here run from 16 to 27 cal/cm², so none of them is a general answer to a DC arc hazard. Complete your own DC incident-energy assessment first and specify against that figure. PPE is the last line of defence, not the first.
Energy contractors and delivery alliances
Tier 1 and Tier 2 crews · Delivery alliances · ICPs · Framework labour
Contractors carry a large share of the field labour on the UK’s regulated energy and water programmes, and they buy their own PPE. They also work for several clients at once, which means one glove specification has to satisfy several different network operators’ PPE matrices at the same time.
The work and the hand hazards
- Multi-client working — a glove that is accepted by one network operator and refused by another costs a crew a day.
- Mixed-discipline crews — the same team may lay clean-water main on Monday and pull cable on Wednesday.
- Mobilisation at scale — new frameworks kit whole crews from scratch, at once.
- Cost accountability — contractors carry the consumable cost directly, so glove service life appears on their own P&L, not a client’s.
What ProShield offers contractors
- A task-to-glove matrix, not a product list — we will map your actual task list to specific styles, so the specification survives a client audit.
- Certification documentation with every style — product manual, technical data sheet and supporting test documentation, supplied on request.
- Free 60-day wear trial — prove the service life on your own crews before you commit.
Youngstown gloves are premium products. The commercial case rests on service life — 1.6 to 2.2 times that of commodity gloves in USA field use — and on fewer hand injuries, not on unit price. If your crews cannot prove that on a wear trial, do not buy them.
Get the right fit
European sizing chart
| Palm circumference | EU glove size (EN ISO 21420) | Youngstown size |
|---|---|---|
| 152 mm (6.0″) | 6 | 2XS |
| 178 mm (7.0″) | 7 | XS–S |
| 203 mm (8.0″) | 8 | S–M |
| 229 mm (9.0″) | 9 | M–L |
| 254 mm (10.0″) | 10 | XL–2XL |
| 279 mm (11.0″) | 11 | 3XL |
| 305 mm (12.0″) | 12 | 4XL |
Guide based on the EN ISO 21420 (formerly EN 420) hand-circumference scale and Youngstown’s published sizing bands. Leather protectors (16-4100-10 and -13, and 16-5100-12 and -14) use numeric sizes, selected to match the rubber insulating glove size.
How to measure
Wrap a cloth tape measure around the entire palm of your dominant hand at its widest point, excluding the thumb. Compare the circumference with the chart. Between sizes, size up. For winter-lined styles such as the FR Waterproof Leather Utility, add roughly 6 mm to your measurement.
Why fit matters
A correctly sized glove reduces hand fatigue, keeps dexterity high and lowers the risk of snagging on hardware. The best protection is the pair that stays on the hand for the whole shift.
Free size exchange. Wrong size? ProShield supports free size exchanges on unworn gloves in resaleable condition — ask your account manager.
Let your work crews be the judge
The free 60-day wear trial
Don’t take our word for it. Qualified utility companies and contractors can trial Youngstown gloves for 60 days at no cost. Your workers assess safety, durability, dexterity and comfort on the job and then provide you with unbiased feedback and data. We pay for the gloves.
Tell us the tasks
Send your task list and crew types. We map them to specific styles rather than sending a catalogue.
We ship the trial
Trial gloves are sent free of charge from the UK distribution centre, with the certification documentation your safety team needs.
Your crews wear them
60 days on live work. Real shifts, real weather, real service life — not a bench test.
You decide
Review the data with us. If the gloves have not proved themselves on your crews, do not buy them.
Questions
Questions utility buyers and safety teams ask
Where can I Buy Youngstown Gloves?
Youngstown gloves are supplied in the United Kingdom by ProShield Distribution Ltd, the exclusive master distributor for Europe and the Middle East. Orders are dispatched from the ProShield UK distribution centre or from one of our authorized distribution partners. Contact Michael@ProShieldUK.com to place an order.
Are Youngstown gloves CE certified for use in Europe?
Four Youngstown styles are CE certified today: the FR Waterproof Leather Utility (11-3285-60), the FR Mechanics Hybrid (12-3270-80), and the 12″ and 14″ Primary Leather Protectors (16-5100-12 and 16-5100-14). Additional European certification is in progress for every other style in the range, covering EU type-examination under Regulation (EU) 2016/425, EN 388 including ISO 13997 TDM cut testing where applicable, EN 407, and EN ISO 21420. ProShield states the certification status of every style individually and will supply current test documentation on request.
Is CE marking still accepted in Great Britain?
Yes. The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/696), in force from 1 October 2024, extend recognition of CE marking indefinitely in Great Britain across 21 product regulations, including PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425. UKCA marking is optional rather than required. Northern Ireland continues to require CE marking under the Windsor Framework.
What arc rating do I need for UK low-voltage utility work?
Published modelling of UK distribution networks puts typical low-voltage incident energy at 20 to 30 cal/cm², with link-box operations at a 450 mm working distance measured at 24 cal/cm² on 400 A fuses and 28 cal/cm² on 500 A fuses. Temporary generator connections can exceed 100 cal/cm². Select a glove whose arc rating exceeds the incident energy calculated in your own site risk assessment, with margin. The Youngstown range supplied by ProShield runs from 15 to 65 cal/cm² under ASTM F2675: the FR Ground Glove (12-3365-60) is rated at 27 cal/cm² and the FR Waterproof Leather Utility (11-3285-60) at 65 cal/cm². No style in the range is rated for temporary generator connections.
Do arc-rated gloves protect against electric shock?
No. Arc-rated gloves and leather protectors do not protect against shock or voltage. Arc rating and dielectric protection are different product classes tested to different standards. For live working, the primary hand protection is an EN / IEC 60903 insulating rubber glove — Class 00 at 500 V, Class 0 at 1,000 V, Class 1 at 7,500 V, Class 2 at 17,000 V, Class 3 at 26,500 V and Class 4 at 36,000 V — worn underneath a leather protector. Youngstown does not manufacture insulating rubber gloves.
What is ASTM F2675 and how do I read the cal/cm² figure?
ASTM F2675 is the open-arc test method for gloves. The resulting arc rating in cal/cm² is the incident energy at which there is a 50 per cent probability of a second-degree burn. A higher figure means more protection. Compare the glove rating against the incident energy calculated for the specific task in your risk assessment — not against a general category label.
Which Youngstown glove is used with rubber insulating gloves?
Youngstown Leather Protectors are worn over EN / IEC 60903 rubber insulating gloves. The 10″ and 13″ Secondary Leather Protectors (16-4100-10 and 16-4100-13), each rated at 25 cal/cm², cover Class 00 and Class 0 rubber gloves. The 12″ and 14″ Primary Leather Protectors (16-5100-12 and 16-5100-14), each rated at 32 cal/cm², cover Class 1 to Class 4 rubber gloves. Confirm dimensional compatibility with your own insulating glove before adopting any protector.
How long do Youngstown gloves last compared with ordinary work gloves?
Youngstown reports 1.6 to 2.2 times the service life of commodity work gloves in United States utility field use. Longer service life is the core of the commercial case: the unit price is higher than a commodity glove, and the total cost of hand protection is lower. ProShield offers a free 60-day wear trial specifically so that utility companies can measure service life on their own crews rather than take the figure on trust.
What is the ProShield free 60-day wear trial?
The ProShield free 60-day wear trial supplies Youngstown gloves to qualified utility companies and energy contractors at no cost, for use on live crews for 60 days. Workers assess durability, dexterity and comfort on the job, and the safety team collects the data. In the United States, more than 90 per cent of utility wear trials converted the trialling utilities into customers. Request a trial through the form at ProShieldUK.com.
Why do utility crews need gloves designed specifically for utility work?
General industrial gloves are designed for a different job. Utility work combines arc-flash exposure, cut and puncture hazards, sustained grip force and fine dexterity in the same shift, and a glove that trades one against another gets taken off. Youngstown Glove Company has focused exclusively on utility hand protection for more than a decade and launched the first utility-lineman-designed glove in 2011. Ninety-six of the 100 largest United States utility companies choose Youngstown.
Does ProShield supply gloves for wastewater and sewer work?
No. ProShield does not offer the Youngstown leather range for wastewater, sewer, jetting or confined-space work. The HSE names gloves as a control for leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), with transmission through cuts and scratches. The relevant certification is EN ISO 374 for chemicals and micro-organisms, which requires a liquid-impermeable barrier that leather cannot provide. Specify a coated synthetic or nitrile glove for contaminated work. ProShield supplies the Youngstown range for clean-water mains, civils, excavation, meter work and treatment works mechanical and electrical maintenance.
How do I choose the right glove size?
Wrap a tape measure around the entire palm of your dominant hand at its widest point, excluding the thumb, and compare the circumference with the ProShield sizing chart. Between sizes, size up. For winter-lined styles such as the FR Waterproof Leather Utility, add roughly 6 mm to the measurement. ProShield supports free size exchanges on unworn gloves in resaleable condition.
What technical documentation does ProShield supply?
ProShield supplies the certification certificate, where one has been issued, together with the product manual, technical data sheet and supporting test documentation, and provides technical support and certification documentation on demand. Safety teams evaluating the range before purchase can request the current documentation pack for any style through the contact form at ProShieldUK.com.
Does Youngstown make gloves for gas, water, wind and solar as well as electricity?
Yes. The Youngstown range supplied by ProShield covers electricity distribution and transmission, gas distribution, clean-water mains and civils, wind generation operations and maintenance, solar and battery storage, and the contractor and delivery-alliance crews that work across all of them. The hazards differ by sector, so ProShield maps specific styles to specific tasks rather than offering one glove for every job.
Who do I contact at ProShield Distribution Ltd?
Michael Flaherty is VP Sales and Marketing at ProShield Distribution Ltd and handles enquiries from utility companies and energy contractors across Europe and the Middle East. Enquiries submitted through the contact form at ProShieldUK.com reach him directly, and he can also be reached by email at Michael@Proshielduk.com.
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Let Your Own Work Crews Validate the Durability, Dexterity, Comfort and Improved Safety Youngstown Gloves provide by Wearing them on the Job. We Appreciate the Opportunity to Start a Conversation. Please Email Michael Flaherty directly at Michael@Proshielduk.com or complete the form below and we will respond.