Hand protection is synonymous with CUT LEVEL PROTECTION.
What is it?
OSHA requires hand protection for employees working under certain conditions, but provides very little guidance on requirements and how to select hand protection.
Cut Protection is designated by ANSI, and is the most widely accepted standard for hand protection.
ANSI standard 105 provides a scale of 9 levels of cut protection determined by how many grams of cutting load a glove can withstand by a sharp blade before being penetrated. (1)
- A1: 200 – 499 grams – light cut hazards
- A2: 500 – 999 grams – light/medium cut hazards
- A3: 1000 – 1499 grams – light /medium cut hazards
- A4: 1500 – 2199 grams – light/medium cut hazards
- A5: 2200 – 2999 grams – medium cut hazards
- A6: 3000 – 3999 grams – medium/heavy cut hazards
- A7: 4000 – 4999 grams – heavy cut hazards
- A8: 5000 – 5999 grams – heavy cut hazards
- A9: 6000+ grams – heavy cut hazards
This is determined by the type of fibers in the shell of the glove and the thickness/weight of the material.
How is cut level determined?
A machine known as a tomodynamometer, or TDM, pulls a blade in 20mm paths across a glove’s surface under varied gram loads and measures the weight needed to cut through. The sample is cut five times with three different loads and an average is calculated, resulting in a cut score of A1-A9. (2)
When choosing appropriate cut level, it is essential to consider the following five factors:
- Job task: Consider the type of work that will be performed while wearing the gloves. Different job tasks may require varying levels of cut resistance, and the cut level chosen should be appropriate for the potential hazards present in the work environment.
- Material: The materials used in gloves play a crucial role in determining their cut resistance level. Different materials have different levels of cut resistance, and it is important to select gloves made from materials with the appropriate cut resistance level for the job task.
- Comfort: It is important to consider comfort when selecting cut-resistant gloves. Gloves that are too thick or inflexible can reduce dexterity, making it challenging to perform tasks accurately, and comfortably.
- Durability: Gloves should be durable enough to withstand the job tasks they are intended for and the frequency of use. Consider factors such as puncture resistance, abrasion resistance, and resistance to tearing to ensure that the gloves will last long enough to be effective.
- Cost: Cost is an important factor in selecting the appropriate level of cut resistance for hand protection. Higher cut resistance gloves tend to be more expensive, so it is essential to balance the level of protection required with the available budget. Cost considerations can also include factors like the expected lifespan of the gloves, their potential to reduce injury, and the cost of training and PPE management.
ANSI provides a comprehensive chart below
(Source)
To learn more about things to consider when purchasing hand protection, see our relation blog here.
Learn more about other ANSI Hand Protection Ratings here.
