Hand injuries are the leading cause of workplace injuries. For employees, the personal impact of a hand injury can be financially, physically, and emotionally life changing. Although they happen, hand injuries are very avoidable, and protective gloves can reduce them by up to 60%
Cuts and lacerations are among the most common hand injuries at work, making cut resistant gloves an essential part of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
What are cut resistance gloves?
Cut resistance gloves offer protection against lacerations caused by sharp edges. These gloves use materials such as high-performance polyethylene, Kevlar, or metal mesh that can withstand slicing actions from knives or sheet metal.
Why are cut-resistance gloves important?
Cut resistance gloves are a crucial part of PPE for a few reasons.
- Worker safety is the most obvious and important reason. Safety gloves prevent injuries that could lead to infections, long recovery periods, and potentially permanent and irreversible damage.
- Cost savings are also another benefit of an effective hand protection solution. Preventing injuries leads to fewer absences and medical costs, leading to significant business savings. Investing in high-quality safety gloves is also a smart financial decision in the long-term.
How do I know which glove I need?
Choosing the right safety glove for a task can be challenging. It is important to consider a careful assessment of the specific hazards of the job and the functionality needed.
- Standards: Looking for products that meet recognised standards, such as EN388, is crucial. These standards provide a reliable measure of a glove’s capabilities and an internationally recognised benchmark. It is recommended to select a glove that meets or exceeds your needs, to ensure maximum safety.
- Job requirements: Assess the specific hazards you will be exposed to. For example, when handling cutting materials, gloves with high cut and puncture resistance are needed. In contrast, the healthcare sector would require protection against needlesticks and provide tactile sensitivity for complex procedures.
- Protection vs Dexterity: Balance the need for protection with the ability to perform tasks comfortably. Heavy duty gloves offer maximum protection but can sometimes impede dexterity. For tasks requiring precision, such as assembling small components in manufacturing, gloves that provide high protection whilst maintaining flexibility are essential.
What standards do I need to know?
In Europe, EN 388 is used to determine the physical protective characteristics of hand protection. This is tested on multiple aspects such as abrasion, cut, tear, puncture, and impact resistance.
Every glove tested under EN 388 achieves a performance rating representing the level of cut protection met. This is scored from Level A to F, with F depicting the highest level of cut protection, and A depicting the lowest.
The letter given is based on how much pressure is required to cut the glove with force from a vertical blade.
The Skytec Tricolore Range
The Skytec TRC range is an easy-to-use solution to protect against cut hazards in the workplace. The simple colour-coded system provides an efficient way of identifying the correct glove for the task at hand. Red gloves offer the lowest level of cut protection, orange offers intermediate protection, and green gloves provide enhanced resistance to cuts and punctures.
Each glove is professionally constructed using different coating types to provide the wearer with secure handling options for a wide array of conditions. Suitable for various industries including aerospace, construction, manufacturing, and automotive.
The TRC range also includes added capabilities to ensure functionality as well as protection. Various gloves in the range are waterproof and oil proof to ensure confident handling in wet and slippery environments. The majority of the high cut protective gloves are also touchscreen compatible to alleviate the risk of workers removing their gloves. Not only does this save time but it also contributes to safety as workers are not exposing themselves to hazards by removing gloves to operate devices. Ideal for the colder months and applications, the Skytec Tundra and TRC850 provide thermal protection whilst maintaining flexibility and comfort.
A sustainable choice
Another key benefit of the Tricolore range is measurable and accredited sustainability claims. The range includes gloves made from recycled plastic bottles and with an accredited reduction in carbon dioxide usage.
With up to 32g of CO2 savings, switching to the TRC range can help contribute to business goals of improving sustainability.
