Cut Resistant Gloves

Cuts and punctures to the hands remain one of the most common and easily preventable injuries in the recycled paperboard industry. Here are a few facts regarding hand injuries.

• Glove Rating Scales
  • The US adopted ASTM/ANSI/ISEA and the European (CE) rating.
  • Most often the CE rating is higher than the US rating, meaning CE-rated gloves do not provide the same level of protection as a comparably rated ASTM/ANSI/ISEA glove. As a result, vendors often will pitch the advantages of their glove based on the higher CE rating scale.
  • The higher the number (1-5) the higher the cut resistance. Also keep in mind that that gloves are cut resistant — not cut proof.
• Recommended Cut Levels
  • Some companies recommend an ASTM/ANSI/ISEA level 4 or above glove anytime a sharp (i.e., knife, die blade, slitter blade, or other sharp tool or material).
  • There is considerably higher level protection afforded between a cut ASTM/ANSI/ISEA3 and 4 while dexterity is generally not diminished.
• Different Cut Ratings
  • Beware that some gloves have different cut level ratings on the palm side and the back side of the glove. Be sure to ask your sales rep. for a specification sheet on the gloves you consider purchasing.

Wearing the right type of glove is critical.

Review your company’s policies and understand the expectations regarding when, where and what type of gloves are to be used.

Dupont has issued an information sheet about Kevlar which you can see here.

Hexarmor has a good chart explaining the similarities and differences between the US and European standards which you can see here.

Recycled Paperboard
Technical Association

P.O. Box 2610
Alpharetta, Georgia 30023

Phone: (352) 809-0240
E-mail: rpta@rpta.org

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