Are your employees at higher risk of getting cuts? If you answered yes, you need to get in touch with a professional glove supplier, such as PIP Australia to ensure your workers are better protected.
Wearing the right cut-resistant gloves in the workplace is of utmost importance if you want to remain safe and in no danger of getting injured or affected by cuts. There are various factors that can help you determine the type of gloves needed for the job at hand. Therefore, let’s have a look at some useful tips for choosing the right cut-resistant gloves:
- Determine the Level of Cut Resistance Needed
There are different cut-resistant ratings that provide a reference for better matching the most suitable glove to the potential hazard. However, you should bear in mind that purchasing gloves with the highest level of cut resistance doesn’t always mean that your workers will get the highest level of safety, or the correct fit and feel for the task. Getting the appropriate cut resistance level for the job at hand, provides you with the best grip and control at the most appropriate cost. So, let’s have a look at the new ISO 13997 cut resistance levels and the different types of protection they offer:
- Level A – Low Nuisance cuts (material handling, paper cuts)
- Level B – Moderate cut hazards (small parts handling, warehouse, construction, forestry, packaging, general purpose)
- Level C & D – High cut hazards (glass and bottle handling, manufacturing, electrical, dry walling, automotive assembly, roof fixing, metal handling, canning)
- Level E – Extreme cut hazards (sharp metal stamping, automotive, meat processing, metal recycling, milling steel, pulp and paper)
- Level F – Ultra High cut hazards (glass and window manufacturing, metal recycling and fabrication, automotive, sharp metal stamping, butchering, oil and gas, industrial pipe fitting, steel cable handling, sheet metal)
If you need to check specifics of the EN388:2016 levels click here to find out more.
- Consider the Materials Needed
Glove manufacturers use different materials when producing cut-resistant gloves, from cotton to Kevlar. It is important to note that these materials offer different cut resistance levels. For example, Cotton offers almost no protection unless the gloves include a cut-resistant liner. Leather offers more cut resistance compared to cotton, but it isn’t really the right material for cut resistant glove safety.
If you are chasing gloves with high cut and abrasion resistance levels, you should look for gloves made of Kevlar, Dyneema or PolyKor. If you are looking for superior protection, search for gloves made from either of these but with higher cut ratings.
Determine which material or combination will be best suitable for your industry, because all-purpose gloves do not exist. What is best for one workplace might not be the ideal choice for yours.
- Try out Several Styles
Finding the perfect cut-resistant gloves for your company actually might take a bit longer. Why? Even if the gloves are made of the right material and offer the right level of cut resistance, your workers might not feel comfortable wearing them, or they might feel either hot or cold.
Therefore, it is best to get a few different styles and ask your crew to test them. Once the testing period ends, you can provide your workers with the right pair of gloves, ensuring they perform their best at work.
