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Protecting American's Workplace
Respiratory hazards are tricky, sometimes obvious and immediately felt and other times unseen and not felt but equally dangerous. Understanding how to protect yourself is absolutely essential to keep our lungs breathing easy.
These nifty devices work by eliminating unwanted gases, vapors, aerosols, or a mix of contaminants from the air. However, they don’t supply oxygen like their Atmosphere-Supplying Respirator (ASR) counterparts.
In occupational safety, the Iceberg Effect refers to the fact that there are huge costs to consider when an accident occurs onsite that are not always easy to see. Just like an iceberg, there are obvious costs that you can easily see above the water. But, like an iceberg, most of the massive costs are hidden below the water.
ABOVE THE WATER
Above the water are the initial, obvious and visible costs of an accident. Depending on the severity of the accident, an employee may miss work for a few hours, days, months or may not be able to return to the job at all. The organization may owe a significant amount of workers comp & other fees.
Average Cost Estimate: $2,000-20,000
BELOW THE WATER
However, below the water there are all the indirect, hidden costs that an accident might trigger.
Like an iceberg, what is below the water is much more than above.
Indirect costs can be up to 4-10x higher than initial costs
Avoid the iceberg all together by investing in proper and thorough safety programs, cultivating a culture of safety, acquiring proper PPE and training up front. Initial costs may seem higher, but this will save money in the long term. It will also ensure that workers feel safe and go home uninjured.
Browse our PPE here.
When you think “gloves”, you always think “cut level.” That usually refers to the ANSI standard 105.2016. That standard outlines requirements for protective gloves used at work. But it outlines much more than cut protection. It provides testing, scoring and application guidelines for cut, abrasion, puncture, heat and chemical protection.
CUT PROTECTION
Cut resistance is incredibly important, and is the main functionality that determines what gloves workers use. ANSI/SEA 105-2016 uses a TDM-100 machine to measure cut resistance by subjecting the glove material to a straight edge blade under a variable load. Cut resistance is determined by the grams of pressure needed before a blade cuts through the material, and assigned a level A1-A9.
PUNCTURE RESISTANCE
ANSI 105.2016 outlines two kinds of Puncture Resistance that are similar but different. Blunt Puncture resistance is measured by the amount of force needed for a blunt object, like a ballpoint pen, to pierce the material. It is measured in Newtons and assigned levels 1-5, with one being the least amount of pressure and five being the most.
Needle puncture resistance measures the force needed for a needle-like object to puncture the material. It is measured in Newtons and assigned levels 1-5, with one being the least amount of pressure and five being the most.
HEAT RESISTANCE
Heat Resistance is all about keeping your hands safe from burns. It measures the highest contact temperature that allows for over 15 seconds before a second-degree burn and 4 seconds before feeling pain. Ratings go from 1 to 5, with 1 providing the lowest protection and 5 offering the highest.
ABRASION RESISTANCE
Abrasion Resistance tells you how well the glove material holds up against friction. It’s measured by the number of cycles it takes for an abrasion wheel to break down the material. Scores go from 0 to 6, the higher the rating the longer the material will hold up.
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE
When it comes to Chemical Resistance, ANSI 105.2016 does permeation testing by exposing the exterior material to a hazardous chemical. At timed intervals, the interior side is checked for the presence of permeated chemicals and the extent to which the chemical permeated the glove.
LABELING
Gloves and manufacturer boxes can only bare the label if the gloves have been ANSI tested and rated. The ratings usually appear within in upsidedown pentagon.
ANSI 105 outlines all the important protective aspects of a glove and offers guidelines on applications so that it is clear what any worker needs, except for impact protection. Impact protection is under a different standard, ANSI 138.
We offer an extensive selection of ANSI rated gloves. Anything you need, we’ve got you covered!
Learn more about cut protection HERE.
Read about more things to consider when selecting hand protection here.
Browse hand protection here.
When designing a Safety Program, there are several cautionary measures to take before relying on personal protective equipment. While PPE is absolutely necessary, it should always be the LAST line of defense, as the other measures are more effective. The hierarchy of controls places PPE at the top, meaning it functions at its best when all other controls are in place.
HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS
ELIMINATION
The most effective way to protect workers is to physically remove the hazard from the workplace. The core idea is to design workplaces & worksites to eliminate any potential hazards.
SUBSTITUTION
Substitution refers to replacing hazardous materials or pieces of equipment that are less hazardous – if they are feasible.
ENGINEERING CONTROLS
When a hazard cannot be eliminated or substituted, engineering controls should be put in place to isolate or distance the worker from the hazard, or stop the hazard from progressing. This means adding guards/barriers to equipment, designing emergency brakes or stops etc.
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
Administrative controls takes many things into consideration including but not limited too:
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
PPE is there for further protection when all other forms fail. PPE is absolutely essential and lifesaving. However, we often forget to prioritize the other forms of protection in the hierarchy and that forces us to rely too heavily on our PPE. This increases chances of an accident. PPE functions best when all other controls are in place.
Browse our PPE here.
EN388 is the European Standard that sets testing for gloves in Europe. Gloves with a EN 388 rating are third party tested, and rated for abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture resistance. The EN rating and labeling is usually displaced alongside the ANSI 105 rating and labeling. It is similar to the ANSI 105, but not the same.
CUT PROTECTION
Cut resistance is incredibly important, and is the main functionality that determines what gloves workers use. The EN standard includes two different tests: the Coup test uses a circular blade under a 5N load and moves until the blade cuts through. The cutting index is calculated and assigned 1-5.
| COUP LEVEL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| CUT INDEX | 1.2 | 2.5 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
If the Coup Test blade dulls, which it is known to do, then the TDM-100 test (same as ANSI) is performed. This uses a straight blade and measures the force (N) required to cut through a sample. It is then assigned a cut level A-F.
| TDM LEVEL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| FORCE | ≥2 | ≥5 | ≥10 | ≥15 | ≥22 | ≥30 |
TEAR RESISTANCE
The EN standard measures tear resistance, which ANSI does not. The material is clamped at the top and bottom, then pulled apart till it tears. The force needed for it to tear is measured in Newtons and assigned a level.
| PERFORMANCE LEVEL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| FORCE (N) | 10 | 25 | 50 | 75 |
PUNCTURE RESISTANCE
The EN standard measures puncture by using a rounded point metal stylus which is pushed through the material at a fixed speed, the force needed to penetrate is measured and assigned a level.
| PERFORMANCE LEVEL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| FORCE (N) | 20 | 60 | 100 | 150 |
IMPACT PROTECTION
The EN standard measures impact by placing the protective back-of-hand knuckle material over a sensor and dropping a 2.5 kg flat face surface striker from a height sufficient enough to provide impact energy of 5 joules. The peak force detected and recorded by a sensor. It’s done 4 times. To pass the test, the transmitted force needs to be less than or equal to 7 kilonewtons. If the glove has impact protection, it is assigned “P.”
LABELING
Gloves and manufacturer boxes can only bare the label if the gloves have been through the proper testing through an authorized facility.
EN 388 is similar, but not identical to ANSI 105. It’s important to be able to distinguish between the different ratings and labeling to ensure that you are getting the correct gloves for your life of work. There are gloves out there that have no rating, only an ANSi or only an EN rating, or have both. Know the difference!
We offer an extensive selection of ANSI and EN rated gloves. Anything you need, we’ve got you covered!
Browse hand protection here.
Learn more about cut protection HERE.
Read about more things to consider when selecting hand protection here.
There are many things to consider when selecting hand protection, here are the main components to a glove.
GLOVE COATINGS
| NITRILE | POLYURETHANE | LATEX |
| Cut Resistant Works well with oil Outstanding abrasion resistance Maintains grip Withstands high temperatures | High abrasion resistance Lightweight Puncture Resistant Maintains grips Excellent for dexterity | High elasticity Maintains grips Withstands high temperatures Tear resistance Resists alcohols |
GAUGE LEVELS
The gauge of a glove is defined as the number of stitches included in each inch of material. The lower the gauge, the thicker the yarn and therefore fewer stiches per inch which translates to a thicker glove. The higher the gauge, the thinner the yarn and more stiches can fit per inch which translates to a thinner glove.
MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE
Refers to a gloves ability to resist being cut through and harming an individual wearing it.
Browse hand protection here.
Learn more about cut protection HERE.
Read about more things to consider when selecting hand protection here.
Browse hand protection here.
It’s not all about cut protection! There are many factors at play when selecting PPE. Factors like weather conditions, heat proximity, chemical exposures, allergies should be considered.
It’s important to understand what you are sacrificing with high cut level protection, as gloves sometimes loose dexterity with higher cut protection. There is a balancing act that safety managers must do when selecting gloves.
Learn more about cut level protection here.
Learn about all ANSI Hand Protection Rating here.
ANSI/ASSP released the new, voluntary standard A10.50-2024 on Feb 26 of this year which outlines the key elements for Heat Stress Protection in Construction and Demolition. The purpose of this standard is to reduce the risk to workers to heat stress due to heat exposures in construction and demolition operations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 400 workers have died of heat exposure since 2011. It establishes the minimum requirements for preventing heat illnesses and the management of heat stress hazards.
KEY ELEMENTS
While this standard sets best practices, it remains voluntary. It’s important to note that OSHA’s Heat Stress NEP does legally require employers to develop and implement heat illness prevention programs. With the release of this standard, ANSI has provided an expert developed standard for employers to follow and ensure OSHA compliance.
Browse our Heat Stress Protection Products..
According to OSHA
According to the 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics
According to the American Burn Association
Types of Burns
1st Degree Burns
2nd Degree Burns
3rd Degree Burns
4th Degree Burns
Arc-Rated and Flame-Resistant Clothing have been manufactured or treated to mitigate burn risks from thermal incidents. If a worker is not wearing AR/FR rated clothing, there is additional risk from the melting of the garment. This increases the degree of the burn and can result in additional internal injuries.
INDUSTRIES REQUIRING AR/FR
Browse our Arc Rated and Flame Resistant Clothing.
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