CUT THROUGH THE CONFUSION
ANSI-Rated Cut-Resistant Industrial Work Safety Gloves
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You would be hard pressed to find a more common injury in the workplace than those to industrial workers' hands. In a U.S. Department of Labor Study, of all injuries reported, injuries to fingers and hands accounted for more than 23% - making them the highest in preventable workplace injuries.
EASY INJURY PREVENTION
Cut injuries make up a large portion of reported injuries in industrial workplaces, yet 70% can be prevented. One of the easiest ways to prevent cut injuries, or to at least reduce the severity, is to make sure you are wearing the correct hand protection.
INDUSTRIAL WORK GLOVES
If you are a safety director, foreman or production supervisor searching for industrial work safety gloves to prevent hand lacerations from razors, glass, metal, plastic molding, knives, steel banding, saws, and more, we would like you to know MDS has an amazing portfolio of high performing ASTM ANSI/ISEA safety rated cut-resistant hand protection designed by leading glove suppliers available for purchase.
From mechanics to ANSI/ISEA 138 Level 3 impact resistant gloves, from cut level A9 palm coated knits to leather drivers, to cold weather rated safety gloves, arc-rated work gloves to heat-resistant and chemical-resistant cut gloves, we sell the most innovative hand protection in the industry and sold at wholesale prices. Below is some information and terminology to help you zero in a style or brand so you can equip and keep your staff safe.
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL PERFORMANCE
Many of our cut protection work gloves have multiple safety features or secondary safety features designed to protect operators against one, two or more industrial hazards such as punctures, impacts, cold conditions, heat, abrasions and more. Many cut-resistant glove styles are available with high-visibility accents, swipe or touchscreen compatibility and thermal insulations.
CUT-RESISTANT MATERIALS
Cut protection is provided by high performance materials offered in different gauge thicknesses such as para-aramid (Kevlar®), Dyneema®, Dyneema® Diamond®, HPPE (high performing polyethylene), leather and stainless steel mesh.
GLOVE THICKNESS
A glove's wieght is referred to as a gauge - the number of rows of stitches per inch - a higher gauge means less bulk, greater dexterity and better tactility feedback. Many glove manufacturers incorporate blended and proprietary engineered yarn blends using filament fibers or continuous length fibers twisted to form filament yarns that offer higher tenacity resistance.
CUT-RESISTANT GLOVE COATINGS
Many seamless string knit glove styles incorporate a palm coating in various colors dipped in nitrile, foam nitrile, micropore nitrile, neoprene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), latex or polyurethane (PU). Palm coatings improve resistance to snags, abrasion, tears and offer liquid resistance. Many glove coatings feature a textured grip surface to enhance gripping performance in wet, oily conditions. Below are the differences of each palm coating.
- NITRILE -Excellent dry grip, thicker coating offers superior resistance to snag, cut, puncture and abrasion. When enhanced by a foam coating, it offers very good grip in chemicals including oils, petrochemicals, fuels and most acids.
- LATEX - Offers good dry and wet (aqueous-based liquids, animal fats, caustics, acids and alcohols) grip as well as resistance to snag, cut, puncture and abrasion.
- NEOPRENE - Offers good dry and wet (heavy oils, acids, caustics, grease and solvents) grip as well as excellent resistance to snag, cut, puncture and abrasion.
- POLYURETHANE (PU) - Offers good abrasion resistance and dry grip, and fair grip in slightly wet conditions. PU properties allow for a very thin coating, which results in excellent tactility and dexterity.
- POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) - Durable resistance and barrier protection against petrochemicals, oils and grease. While it is flexible, PVC does not provide the tactile sensitivity associated with most rubber products.
CUT-RESISTANT GLOVE GRIPS
No coatings are complete without some type of grip texture. Below are the differences of each.
- SMOOTH - Smooth coatings provide the wearer an excellent dry grip. Liquids will not absorb into the coating which will keep the hands dry and available in a variety of polymers such as latex, nitrile, PVC, Neoprene and Polyurethane.
- MICROFINISH / MICROSURFACE - A soft and flexible compound such as latex or nitrile is filled with thousands of tiny suction cups. As these suction cups come into contact with a surface, they create a vacuum like effect that disperses fluids away from the object to allow clean contact with the object. Works well in handling wet and dirty applications.
- FOAM / MICROFOAM - Provides excellent grip and tactile sensitivity in dry applications and designed to channel away liquids to allow better handling in wet and dirty conditions. Available on nitrile, latex and PVC coatings.
- CRINKLE - Crinkle coatings are typically latex designed to channel away liquids to allow a better handling in heavy duty wet and dirty conditions. The thicker coating provides additional protection for cut and puncture applications.
- ROUGH - Rough finishes provide an economical choice of enhancing abrasion and cut protection while providing good protection in wet and dry applications.
- SANDY - Premium Sandy finishes enhance abrasion and cut protection while providing excellent protection in wet and rugged applications.
- RAISED DIAMOND - Diamond patterns are commonly used on unsupported products which provide added grip on wet or dry surfaces. Diamond patterns are more commonly used in food handling and processing applications.
- HONEYCOMB - Honeycomb patterns are commonly used on unsupported products which provide added grip on wet or dry surfaces. Honeycomb patterns are more commonly used in janitorial, sanitation and general maintenance applications.
WHAT IS YOUR CUT-LEVEL?
Cut-resistant hand protection is rated from ANSI Level A1 to A9; A1 cut resistance is designed to protect against light threats such as paper cuts whereas A9 protects against extreme hazards. Gloves are tested and certified to North American Standard (ANSI/ISEA 105-2016) using the TDM-100 machine (see more below) and then the level stamped on the viewable surface of the glove.
ANSI CUT LEVEL A1 (Light Cut Hazards) : Light Assembly, Forestry, Maintenance and Repair, Material Handling, Warehouse Shipping and Receiving, Automotive Maintenance and Electronic Manufacturing.
ANSI CUT LEVEL A2 (Light-Medium Cut Hazards): Light to Medium-duty Assembly, Automotive Assembly, Masonry, Construction, Maintenance and Repair, Forestry, Material Handling and Metal Handling.
ANSI CUT LEVEL A3 (Light-Medium Cut Hazards): Light to Medium-duty Assembly, Automotive, Construction, Maintenance and Repair, Material Handling, Light Duty Glass handling, Forestry, Light Metal Stamping and Metal Handling.
ANSI CUT LEVEL A4 (Medium Cut Hazards): Medium-duty Assembly, Oil and Gas, Bottle/Glass Handling, Automotive, Construction, Glass Fixture Installation, Carpet Install, Aerospace, Food prep/processing, Material Handling and Light Sheet Metal Handling.
ANSI CUT LEVEL A5 (Medium-High Cut Hazards): Medium to Heavy-duty Assembly, Automotive, Construction, Glass Handling, Material Handling, Metal Handling/Fabrication/Stamping, HVAC, Plate Glass Handling, Food Prep/Processing, Sorting, Aerospace, Some Pulp and Paper Applications (changing slitter blades).
ANSI CUT LEVEL A6 (High Cut Hazards): Heavy-duty Assembly, Automotive, Construction, Glass Handling, Material Handling, Metal Handling, Metal Stamping, Recycling, Plate Glass Handling, Some Pulp and Paper Applications.
ANSI CUT LEVEL A7 (High Cut Hazards): Heavy-duty Assembly, Automotive, Construction, Glass Manufacturing, Metal Handling, Metal Stamping, Plate Glass Handling, Some Pulp and Paper Applications.
ANSI CUT LEVEL A8 (High Cut Hazards): Heavy-duty Assembly, Automotive, Construction, Glass Manufacturing, Metal Handling and Metal Stamping, Meat Processing, Plate Glass Handling, Some Pulp and Paper Applications.
ANSI CUT LEVEL A9 (High Cut Hazards): Heavy-duty Assembly, Automotive, Construction, Glass Manufacturing, Metal Handling, Metal Stamping, Blade Handling, Float Glass and Pulp and Paper Applications.
How Cut-Resistant Gloves are Tested to the North American Standard (ANSI/ISEA 105-2016)
- The glove sample is placed on a conductive strip and loaded onto the TDM-100 machine. When the metal blade touches the metal strip, the test is terminated.
- A straight blade is loaded into the machine.
- Weight is added to serve as force.
- The blade moves across the fabric.
- The blade is replaced with a new one to ensure accuracy.
- The sample is cut five times, each with three different load.
- The distance traveled to cause cut through at various forces is recorded.
- The data is used to determine the load required to cut through the sample.
- The glove receives a rating based on the above information between A1 and A9, with A1 being the lowest and A9 being the highest level of cut protection.
GLOVE BRANDS YOU CAN TRUST
We distribute industrial cut-resistant work safety gloves from reputable glove suppliers such as Protective Industrial Products (PIP®), SHOWA®, Wells Lamont Industrial, TurtleSkin®, Hexarmor®, Superior Glove®, Ansell®, U.S. Mesh®, QRP®, Boss®, Caiman®, Guardian, Majestic® Glove and more.
Shop MDS for popular, high performing brands such as G-Tek®, G-Tek® Suprene™, G-Tek® Polykor®, G-Tek® PolyKor® Xrystal®, G-Tek® KEV™, G-Tek® 3GX®, Barracuda®, G-Tek® PolyKor® X7™ Gloves, MaxiCut®, MaxiFlex® Cut™, Maxiflex® Ultra™, Scrap King™, Kut Guard®, U.S. Mesh®, Emerald CX®, Dexterity®, Tenactiv™, Clutch Gear®, Contender™, Chemstop™, Endura®, Sure Knit™, Superior Touch®, Dragon™, Cut-Less Watchdog®, Whizard®, IronCat®, Cut-Less Annihilator, Powercut®, X15®, Polar Penguin®, Hyflex®, Emperor Penguin, Claw Cover®, ActivArmr® and more!
When choosing the best cut-resistant glove for your needs, consider the hazards you're facing, the likelihood of an accident, the comfort and dexterity needed. By determining these additional factors, you can find a glove that fits your job (and your hand) perfectly. Knowing your stuff will help you keep your employees safe and elevate safety compliance in the workplace. Now, all you need to do next is tap the link and…
+shop for Cut-Resistant Hand Protection here
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