Hand Protection Archives - Safety Vibe Inc.

Gloves: ANSI 105.2016: Explained

August 22, 2024

by Jordan Don with No Comment Hand Protection

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.

176° F
284° F
302° F
500° F
608° F

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.

Gloves: EN 388 Explained

August 15, 2024

by Jordan Don with No Comment Hand Protection

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.

Man wearing green gloves and holding a tool

Gloves 101

August 8, 2024

by Jordan Don with No Comment Hand Protection

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

EN 388 – European Standard

ANSI CUT LEVELS

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.

Low angle, cropped view of an African American young man putting on work gloves. He is a construciton worker, wearing an orange safety vest and jeans. Part of the crane is visible behind him, against the clear, blue sky.

Gloves: Things to consider besides cut protection

July 30, 2024

by Jordan Don with No Comment Hand Protection

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.

Are you working with chemicals or erosive materials?(2)

Do you need protection from extreme heat or cold? (4)

Do the workers have allergies to certain common glove materials?

Fit: Gloves should fit snug but not too tight. Gloves might also loose their shape over time, so it’s important to inspect them before use.

Grip: Are you working in a dry, wet or oily environment where grip is compormised?

Certain workers may need a high level of cut resistance, but still maintain dexterity in their fingers to get the job done effectively. Kevlar is the most popular as it is lightweight but provides remarkable resistance to cut s and abrasions

Impact and vibration hazards: Certain tools can cause injury to the hands with prolonged use and there are gloves that are designed to reduce impact and vibration.

Hi-Viz needs: Are you in an environment where your PPE needs to be easily seen?

Care: Always understand the kind of care that the glove needs to ensure functionality and safety. Always dispose once it is past the expiration date determined by manufacturer.

Learn more about cut level protection here.

Learn about all ANSI Hand Protection Rating here.

https://www.ishn.com/articles/112869-tips-for-choosing-the-right-safety-gloves-for-the-job-at-hand

https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2007/06/A-Basic-Guide-for-Selecting-the-Proper-Gloves.aspx?Page=2

https://www.grainger.com/know-how/safety/ppe-in-the-workplace/hand-protection/kh-choosing-the-right-safety-gloves

https://www.globalindustrial.com/knowledge-center/article/hand-protection-101-how-to-pick-the-right-work-gloves-for-the-job

Various types of gloves in various colors

What is CUT LEVEL PROTECTION?

July 20, 2023

by Jordan Don with No Comment Hand Protection

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