ANSI PROTECTION STANDARDS HELP IMPROVE WORKPLACE HAND SAFETY

-> Skip the Blog and +SHOP for Industrial Work Gloves here now 

Everyday American workers on construction sights, factories and recycling/sorting lines handle sharp metal, broken glass, razors, discarded hypodermic needles, construction waste and abrasive materials that cause serious hand injuries, sometimes long-term.

No matter the task, giving your team the right personal protective equipment (PPE) helps them work efficiently and, most importantly, safely.

One critical item that is often overlooked is proper work gloves. When chosen for the application, gloves support both safety and productivity.

Industrial work gloves vary widely, but the ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 hand-protection and cut-level safety ratings help you assess how well they resist hazards to the hands and arms.

WORK GLOVE MISCONCEPTIONS

Unfortunately, industrial safety gloves do not protect workers’ hands equally or universally, and work gloves designed for one type of workplace hazard may not sufficiently protect against another even though the gloves may look or fit similar.

NEED HELP SELECTING GLOVES?

With rising insurance costs and litigation, it is essential to match the proper work safety glove to the task. Effective hand protection supports workplace wellness and profitability, but with so many options on the market, how do you determine which gloves provide the right level of protection for your team?

To help safety professionals select the proper hand protection, industry safety standards were established that refer to specific test methods to assign protection levels for work gloves that include cut, flame, heat, impact, puncture, arc flash, vibration, abrasion, cold, and chemicals.

ANSI SAFETY RATED HAND PROTECTION

The +ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard (which is the sixth edition of the voluntary industry consensus standard on hand and arm protection classification that was first published in 1999) specifies the classification system and testing requirements for industrial hand protection to assist users in their selection of work gloves for specific industrial workplace hazards such as chemical, thermal and mechanical hazards. The ANSI/ISEA 105 uses ASTM or EN (Europe) testing methods to classify work gloves, mitts, sleeve protectors, open finger gloves or other items that cover the hand or a portion of based on abrasion, cut, puncture, and needle resistance.

Check out the pictogram for a quick summary of the ANSI safety standards for protective gloves against hazards including cuts, impact, punctures, heat and abrasion.

WHAT DOES THAT PENTAGON SAY?

Is your glove safety rated? On the back of the work glove there should be a pentagon pictogram that displays ANSI’s numerical cut, abrasion, and puncture resistance ratings together in a single, standardized label.

Positioning within the pentagon should be as follows:

• Cut Level Rating: Location Top Center
• Abrasion Level Rating: Location Left
• Probe Puncture Level Rating: Location Right

SHOPPING FOR INDUSTRIAL WORK GLOVES?

Work gloves come in various styles and can protect against a wide range of occupational hazards. However, because hand-injury risks vary widely, choosing the right pair of safety gloves can be challenging.

As hand-protection specialists, MDS offers a broad selection of competitively priced industrial work gloves—from mechanic’s gloves to ANSI/ISEA 138 Level 3 impact-resistant styles; from ANSI cut level A9 palm-coated seamless knits to leather drivers; and from arc-rated to heat- and chemical-resistant glove options. MDS also offers biodegradable work gloves.

Many of our work glove styles have multiple safety features designed to protect operators against one or more hazards such as punctures, heat, impacts, wintry conditions, fingertip crushing, lacerations, excessive vibrations, abrasion, arc-flash, and snagging/tearing. Many cut-resistant work gloves are available with high visibility accents, swipe or touchscreen compatibility and available with thermal insulation.

GLOVE BRANDS YOU CAN TRUST

AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR

Available at wholesale prices, MDS Associates is proud to distribute industrial work safety gloves from reputable and renowned glove suppliers such as  Protective Industrial Products (PIP®), Showa®, Guardian®, QRP®, U.S. Mesh®, Portwest®, Superior Glove®, Ansell®, Majestic® Glove, QRP®, Caiman®, Turtleskin®, Boss®, HexArmor® and more.

If you are a safety manager, foreman, production supervisor, or a safety professional shopping for industrial work safety gloves to minimize injuries on the job site or production lines, MDS sells an amazing portfolio of high performing ASTM ANSI/ISEA safety rated hand protection for every task.  All you need to do is tap the link and …