The hands are the most often injured part of the body while working, with almost half a million workers in the UK suffering a hand injury every year.cut proof gloves This can lead to pain, loss of work time and even a reduced quality of work. This is why a good pair of cut proof gloves is essential for anyone who works with sharp tools or materials.

With ongoing advances in material science, today’s work gloves offer an excellent balance of protection and dexterity with a wide range of options.cut proof gloves Choosing the right pair depends on the specific requirements for each job, as well as personal comfort considerations. In recent years you have seen the emergence of finger-sensitive gloves, which provide good protection without limiting dexterity. These are particularly suitable for fine tool work or when the gloves will come into contact with oil.

Whether the glove will be worn by workers in a food preparation environment or for any other job that requires use of sharp objects, a good level of protection is vital.cut proof gloves The most common levels are 1 to 4, with higher ratings offering increasing protection against hazards.

A higher rating means that the gloves are more able to withstand the amount of pressure applied before they start showing signs of a cut. In order to achieve a certain level of cut resistance, the fabric used to make the glove is engineered with various materials to increase strength, performance and thickness. This is usually done by knitting multiple strands of different yarns together. Some examples of these include a three-ply Kevlar yarn, or one made from blended high-performance fabrics that may feature a mix of fiberglass, stainless steel and synthetic fibres.

In addition to the level of cut resistance, gloves are also rated for their abrasion and tear resistance properties. Gloves are tested using a machine that sands down sample swatches until the fabric is breached, and then the force required to tear the swatch is measured in newtons. In some cases, this test is combined with a Coup test, which looks at the ability of a glove to hold onto an object. If the glove passes both tests, the gloves will receive a level 4 rating.

The rejigging of the EN 388 system in 2016 saw the introduction of new ratings. The ISO based ratings reflect how the gloves compare with each other rather than with their EN 388 equivalents, but the same levels still apply. As a general rule, gloves accredited to levels 1 to 3 will be appropriate for warehouse and factory work, where contact with small blades and sharp edges are possible. Gloves accredited to levels 4 and 5 are best for work where the risk of serious cuts is high, such as when handling glass, metal or ceramic knives. They tend to be thicker and less dexterous than lower rated gloves, but this is to reduce the likelihood of cutting injuries in the case of an accident.