Hand Safety: Top Tips with Cut-Resistant Gloves

What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

Personal Protective Equipment, or “PPE,” is crucial for ensuring hand safety and overall protection in the workplace. PPE includes various tools and gear designed to reduce the risk of severe injuries and illnesses caused by workplace hazards. These dangers can come from chemical exposure, radiological threats, physical injuries, electrical hazards, mechanical risks, and more. Common PPE items include gloves, safety glasses, protective footwear, earplugs, hard hats, and full-body suits.

Understanding Cut-Resistant Gloves for Enhanced Hand Safety

Cut-resistant gloves are a key type of PPE, specifically designed to protect your hands from cuts and injuries. These gloves are essential in industries where workers handle sharp objects, such as cutting machines, tools, blades, metal, glass, or ceramics. By wearing cut-resistant gloves, you can significantly reduce the risk of hand injuries and ensure better hand safety.

Which U.S. Standard Applies to Gloves?

In the United States, the ANSI/ISEA 105 standard, known as the “American National Standard for Hand Protection,” is used to evaluate and rate gloves. This standard provides a consistent numeric rating for various performance criteria, including:

Mechanical resistance
Thermal resistance
Chemical resistance
Dexterity

Following the ANSI/ISEA 105 standard helps industries choose the right gloves to ensure hand safety.

What Does EN 388 Mean for Hand Safety?

EN 388 is the European standard for assessing mechanical risks related to hand protection. It’s similar to the ANSI/ISEA 105 standard used in the U.S. Gloves rated under EN 388 are third-party tested and evaluated for:

Abrasion resistance
Cut resistance (rated 1-5)
Tear resistance
Puncture resistance

Understanding these ratings is vital for selecting gloves that provide the best hand safety.

What Do A1 to A9 Mean in Cut-Resistant Hand Gloves?

Cut-resistant gloves are classified into different levels based on their ability to withstand cutting loads, which helps in selecting the right level of hand protection. Here’s what each level means:

A1 – Withstands cutting loads of 200 to 499 grams.
A2 – Withstands cutting loads of 500 to 999 grams.
A3 – Withstands cutting loads of 1000 to 1499 grams.
A4 – Withstands cutting loads of 1500 to 2199 grams.
A5 – Withstands cutting loads of 2200 to 2999 grams.
A6 – Withstands cutting loads of 3000 to 3999 grams.
A7 – Withstands cutting loads of 4000 to 4999 grams.
A8 – Withstands cutting loads of 5000 to 5999 grams.
A9 – Withstands cutting loads of 6000 grams or more.

These levels indicate the degree of protection offered by the gloves, allowing you to choose the appropriate gloves for your tasks.

Kevlar Gloves: A Key to Hand Safety

Kevlar gloves are a popular type of cut-resistant glove made from Kevlar, a strong synthetic fiber known for its durability. These gloves offer protection against cuts, abrasions, and heat, while also being lightweight, flexible, and comfortable. Kevlar gloves are a top choice in industries where hand safety is a priority.

What Standard is Used for Cut-Resistant Gloves?

Different organizations worldwide have established industry standards for hand safety and glove protection:

In Europe: The European Commission, often abbreviated as CE (Conformité Européene), regulates these standards.
In North America: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) plays a similar role. ANSI was established in 1918 and is a private, non-profit organization representing engineering and government agencies.

While OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) in the U.S. requires hand protection, it does not specify exact cut resistance levels. This is where ANSI standards become essential, offering clear guidelines for selecting the right gloves to ensure hand safety.

What’s New in ANSI’s 2016 Cut-Resistant Glove Levels?

Before 2016, ANSI classified gloves into five levels of cut resistance. In 2016, this scale was refined to provide more detailed categorization. The new standard specifies that cut resistance levels must be determined using the TDM-100 machine, which measures how much load a glove can withstand before being cut by a blade. This update ensures more accurate and reliable ratings for hand safety.

What Materials are Cut-Resistant Hand Gloves Made of?

Cut-resistant gloves are made from high-performance materials that offer superior hand protection. These materials include:

Para-aramid fibers (e.g., Twaron, Kevlar)
High-performance polyethylene (HPPE) (e.g., Dyneema, Spectra)
Special polyvinyl acetate (PVA) yarns (e.g., SupraBlock)
Steel wire and fiberglass yarns

Many gloves are also coated with latex, nitrile, or polyurethane to enhance their protective properties. Knitted gloves, made in one piece by a flat knitting machine, are common for providing uniform hand protection.

Conclusion

Understanding the importance of PPE and the specific types of cut-resistant gloves available is crucial for ensuring hand safety in the workplace. By selecting the right gloves based on standards like ANSI/ISEA 105 and EN 388, you can significantly reduce the risk of hand injuries. Whether you’re handling sharp objects, working with heavy machinery, or exposed to various workplace hazards, investing in high-quality PPE, including cut-resistant gloves, is a critical step in protecting your hands and ensuring safety for you and your team.

Ultimate Guide to Hand Safety: Unmatched Protection with Cut-Resistant Gloves