Cut Resistant Gloves Protection Levels

Cut resistant gloves come in various fabrics offering different level of cut resistance.

Cut resistant gloves protection levels. New ansi cut scores will feature an a in front of the score. Ohs experts seek hand protection gloves that shield appropriately but ideally still allow a fair bit of flexibility for fine motor control. Feeling a bit in the dark about the recent changes to the cut testing standards. Joe geng vice president of superior glove offers this infographic that depicts the different cut resistance levels and the tasks for which they re suited.

Gloves with a en 388 rating are third party tested and rated for abrasion cut tear and puncture resistance. What are cut resistance levels. Wearing the correct glove is the most critical factor in proper hand protection. They are truly the last line of defense between an identified hazard and the end user.

Here we hope to clarify some of the jargon so you can choose the right gloves for you or your company. This fun video and infographic provides a run down of the new ansi a1 through a9 cut levels and breaks down the new en388 a through f cut levels and what they signify. Slash resistant gloves often come with lots of information about what levels of protection they provide but no information on what these levels or standards mean. In safety gloves cut resistance is the level of protection that a pair of gloves offers against slashing from blades the sharp edges of machinery glass et cetera.

Cut resistance is independently measured by the standard en 388 on a five point scale with 1 being the least resistant and 5 being the most. How to choose a cut resistant glove. It s even more important to understand cut resistant gloves and the characteristics they hold. Level 4 if you want to receive protection from high cut hazards then the level 4 cut resistant gloves are what you need.

The new ansi standard now features nine cut levels significantly reducing the gaps between each level and better defining protection levels for the cut resistant gloves and sleeves with the highest gram scores. The graph below shows the differences between the old scale and the new scale. Selecting the correct glove by matching it to the hazard and risk is a key responsibility for the safety practitioners and purchasing departments of any organization whose workers face cut hazards. They are often constructed from man made materials or steel like dyneema and spectra that help you prevent injuries from high cut hazards caused by food service or sheet metal handling applications.

If you require gloves that are cut puncture or abrasion resistant there are a number of considerations to be made. Cut resistance is rated 1 5 while all other physical performance factors are rated 1 4. Guide to the new ansi and en388 cut levels. The en 388 similar to ansi isea 105 is the european standard used to evaluate mechanical risks for hand protection.