The Truth About Cut Resistant Gloves

OSHA requires Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help protect employees in the workplace, but it is up to the employer to decide if PPE is required.  Many restaurant owners, however, have opted to implement PPE, especially when it comes to cut resistant gloves.  And no wonder, a 2008 report by National Safety, Inc reported that 30% of lost time in the work place was due to cuts, slices and abrasions: 80% of those accidents were to the hands.

Cut Resistant Materials

Cut Levels & American Standards

As well as knowing the different material types, you should also know that there are different cut levels, and a significant difference between American and European standards.

There are 5 different cut levels: the highest number being the most resistant.  And although it is up to you to decide what cut level is best for your business, it’s advised to test different products to find the right fit.  You should also make sure that you are following American standards for cut level, instead of European standards.  American standards are referred to as:

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• ASTM/ISEA (American Society for Testing and Materials/International Safety Equipment Association);

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Whereas European standards are known as:

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• CE/EN388 (Conformité Européenne, meaning “European Conformity”/European Norm 388).

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The difference in standards are more pertinent when comparing the “safest gloves” available; in other words, when someone says that a glove is the “safest” there’s a vast difference in how safe that glove actually is, depending on the standard it was assigned.

HexArmor’s New Cut Resistant Glove

HexArmor recently introduced the NXT 10-302 cut resistant glove as a solution to cut injuries and exceeds ISEA and CE level 5.  Interested? Check out this video:

Visit Tundra for more information on cut resistant gloves available.