Accidents present themselves as unwanted guests, especially when your daily job involves using sharp objects. It is easy for a knife to slip and cause a severe cut or worse.
Thankfully, cut gloves help keep such disasters at bay, protecting your hands against abrasions, cuts, and punctures. However, it is crucial to own a pair of top-quality cut-resistant gloves you can always rely on.
This guide walks you through essential factors while purchasing these safety gloves, so keep reading!
Safety Standards
All cut-resistant gloves sold worldwide need to follow some strict safety standards. The EN388 Standard is used throughout Europe, whereas American manufacturers follow the ANSI Standard.
However, Australia and New Zealand follow the AS/NZS2161 Standard – an equivalent to the European EN388 Standard. Remember, the higher the rating of the gloves on this standard, the better their resistance to a specific hazard will be.
The rating is determined based on factors like cuts, abrasions, tears, and punctures. For instance – Level 3 cut-resistant gloves are suitable for cutting sheet metals, whereas Level 5 gloves are suitable for cutting glass.
Liner Material
Besides the safety standards, the liner material used in your gloves is also an essential factor to consider. Different liners are suitable for different types of cutting tasks.
For instance – Aramid liners offer medium cut resistance, whereas HPPE or polyurethane liners are suitable for cutting tasks that do not involve a lot of heat. Similarly, liners made of stainless steel are ideal for high-cut resistance tasks.
Choose the liner material that is best suited for your cutting job.
Coating material
The coating is another critical factor to consider while purchasing cut gloves. This is because the coating’s raw material helps determine the grip on the gloves. If you work with slippery fluids such as oil, you need gloves that offer a highly secure grip to prevent sharp objects from slipping out of your hands.
There are different kinds of coating materials used. Polyurethane, for instance, is a dry and breathable material suitable for applications less slippery than oil. Gloves coated with nitrile foam offer a secure grip on grease or oil.
Then, latex cut-resistant gloves are ideal for the winter as they have water-repellent properties. These gloves also offer solid abrasion resistance.
Comfort
You must also consider comfort levels if you wear your gloves for extended periods. If the gloves are uncomfortable, you may be tempted to do your work without them, thus risking your safety.
Comfort includes factors like finger sensitivity, a feeling of breathability, and touch screen property that enables the wearer to use their smartphones without needing to take their gloves off.
The best part is that as the market evolves, hand protection properties of cut-resistant gloves come in more sustainable materials, from the lining to the coating.
Cutting to the Chase
Remember that every pair of cut-resistant gloves is suitable for a different type of task. Carefully review the Australia glove safety standards to determine the cut gloves you should purchase.
While the coating helps to ascertain the grip, the lining determines abrasion and cut resistance. If you’re buying these gloves for your staff, have them test a pair before use.
Choose a reliable manufacturer with quality safety gloves that live up to their claims.
