Safety always comes first whether you are working in a kitchen or heavy-duty construction site, warehouse, or even inspecting the materials. You may already have been aware of the special types of gloves known as Cut Resistant Gloves, used to protect your hands from cuts and abrasions.
But, do you know these gloves come in different levels to handle various types of risks? If not, then read this blog to find out what are those levels and which one is suitable for your work.
What are Cut Resistant Gloves and Why it is Important to Understand their Levels?
Cut resistant gloves are made from high-quality materials such as stainless steel mesh, Kevlar, or high-impact fibers. These materials provide different levels of protection and understanding cut resistance levels helps you to identify them and select the one which is most suitable for your tasks.
Understanding Cut Resistant Levels
When it comes to the safety of your hands, understanding the standards for cut resistant gloves is important. In the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) measures cut resistance on a scale from A1 to A9, with A9 offering the highest level of protection and A1 offering the lowest.
In Europe, the EN 388 standard serves a similar purpose but uses a different system. EN 388 originally rated gloves for abrasion, tear, and puncture resistance on a scale from 0 to 4, and for cut resistance on a scale from 0 to 5.
Cut Resistant Level 1:
Gloves with this protection level offer minimal cut defense, suitable for low-risk tasks like light assembly work or general material handling where sharp objects are not a concern.
Cut Resistant Level 2:
These Cut Resistance Level 2 gloves provide slightly better cut protection, ideal for light-duty construction work or handling cardboard. For example, the Level 2 Cut Resistant Gloves CR533 rated CE EN 388 4544, are made with a mix of materials for comfort and protection against light cuts.
Cut Resistant Level 3:
Cut Resistance Level 3 gloves offer moderate cut protection, making them suitable for tasks like handling glass or sharp metal objects.
Cut Resistant Level 4:
These gloves provide high-cut defense, perfect for jobs involving sharp tools or machinery, such as metalworking or handling sheet metal.
Cut Resistant Level 5:
Cut Resistance Level 5 Gloves with this protection level offer very high cut resistance, ideal for handling extremely sharp objects or high-risk tasks like working with glass panels or sharp blades.
For instance, the Cru553 gloves Thin have a 3D comfort fit design for comfort and flexibility, making them the best heavy duty work gloves.
Cut Resistant Level 6:
These gloves provide exceptional cut protection, designed for handling extremely sharp materials or machinery in industrial settings, like glass handling or metal stamping.
Cut Resistant Level 7:
Offering the highest cut protection, these Cut Resistance Level 7 are suitable for the most extreme cutting hazards, such as using chainsaws or working with razor-sharp blades in meat processing plants.
The Level 7 Steel Fiber Cut Resistant Gloves SSF710, made with steel fiber and UHMW PE, offer top-tier cut resistance, making them perfect for kitchen safety and handling sharp objects with comfort and breathability.
EN 388 Levels |
ANSI Levels |
Suitable For |
Level 1 |
A1 - Light Risk |
Small parts assembly, packaging, material handling |
Level 2 |
A2 - Light Risk |
Construction, Pulp & Paper, General Purpose |
Level 3 |
A3 - Light Risk |
Warehousing, Light material handling, General labor |
Level 4 |
A4 - Medium Risk |
Light metal stamping, Sheet metal handling, Construction framing |
Level 5 |
A5 - Medium Risk |
Light metal stamping, Sheet metal handling, Construction framing, Manufacturing |
Level 5 |
A6 - High Risk |
Metal stamping, Recycling & waste sorting, Oil & Gas refinery, Extraction |
Level 5 |
A7 - High Risk |
Glass manufacturing & installation, Meat processing, Heavy metal stamping |
Level 5 |
A8 - High Risk |
Glass manufacturing & installation, Meat processing, Heavy metal stamping |
Level 5 |
A9 - High Risk |
Glass manufacturing & installation, Meat processing, Heavy metal stamping |
The level of protection you need depends on the tasks you perform. For example, if you work with glass or sharp metals, go for gloves with a higher cut resistance rating like A7 to A9.
Conclusion:
Remember, investing in the right pair of cut resistant gloves is essential for ensuring your safety on the job. Understand the levels of these gloves and pick the one that is most perfect for performing your tasks. Stay safe and keep those hands protected!
Visit our website "Muveen" to explore a wide range of gloves along with other PPE at affordable prices.