Getting a Grip on Hand Protection - Your Guide to the Right Glove

With contribution from THE WORKING GLOVE AUTHORITY

Hand Protection – General GuideJune 2016

RSEA Safety – Hand Protection – General Guide – June ‘16 2With contribution from THE WORKING GLOVE AUTHORITY

Contents

1. Did you know?

2. Hand Protection

3. Common tasks that Injure Hands

4. Which Gloves will Protect my Hands?

5. When do I use use Hand Protection?

6. Australian & EU Safety Standards

7. Standards Markings Explained

8. New Standards for Cut Ratings

9. About Cut Injuries

10. How do I make sure I select the right Gloves?

11. Training

12. Accessories

13. Summary

14. Questions & Comments


Did You Know?

Next to our eyes, our hands are probably the most important part of our body when it comes to our

work. They are involved in almost everything we do.

Hand injuries result in lost working days and are a physical and emotional burden on the injured and

their families.

Hand and wrist injuries are a common cause of work related injuries presented to Australian hospital

emergency departments.

Hands and wrists contain 27 bones controlled by 3 main nerves, muscles and tendons.


Hand Protection

Legislation requires that health and safety

hazards are eliminated or minimised from

workplaces so far as is reasonably practicable.

Hands need to be protected from hazards, such as:

Toxic or Corrosive Chemicals;

Sharp, Rough or Jagged surfaces that can Cut,

Abrade or Puncture;

Extreme Temperatures;

Electrical Hazards; and

Biological Hazards.


Common Tasks that Injure Hands

Cutting Handling Extreme Cold Oxy Cutting or Welding

Using Power Tools Using Chemicals Using Hand Tools


Which Gloves will Protect my Hands?

The task you are performing and the hazards involved will

determine the types of gloves you will need to protect your hands.

Some examples are:

• General Purpose work will need gloves made of leather or

coated with synthetic nitrile foam.

• Work that requires cutting or has the potential to abrade or

puncture your hands requires Cut Resistant gloves, such as

Dyneema, Kevlar, Spectra or chain mesh gloves.

• Work with chemicals or toxic substances requires Chemical

Resistant gloves made of Nitrile, PVC, Neoprene or Butyl.

• Work involving the use of heat, such as welding or oxy cutting,

requires woven and felt Kevlar gloves or Kevlar gloves with

aluminised backs.


Which Gloves will Protect my Hands?

There are also specialty gloves, including:

Freezer Cryogenic Anti-Vibration

Electrical Mechanic’s Food Handling


When do I use Hand Protection

Hand protection MUST be worn if you see any of these signs on a Work Site or in a Workplace

Legislation requires you to take reasonable care of your health and safety while at work.

This includes wearing the appropriate PPE for the task you are performing.


Australian & EU Safety Standards

Australia has Hand Protection Standards

AS/NZ 2161 Occupational Protective Gloves, based on

the European Standards.

Safety managers and purchasing officers should ensure

all gloves comply with the Australian standard.

Look for the CE mark to see if the gloves are certified to

meet the European Union’s consumer,

Safety and/or Environmental Requirements.

Gloves of this category are

CE marked as indicated

Gloves of complex design are

CE marked as indicated

Risk Category II: Gloves of Intermediate Design For Intermediate Risk

Risk Category III: Gloves of Complex Design For Irreversible Or Mortal Risk


Australian & EU Safety Standards

Manufacturer’s make it easy for you to choose the right glove for your tasks.

Gloves are marked with a pictogram indicating the type of protection they provide. The pictograms for

some of the common tasks are:

EN511 Cold Protection

Relevant AUS Standard AS/NZS 2161.5:1998

EN374 Low Chemical Resistance


EN374 Chemical Protection


EN388 Mechanical Protection


EN374 Micro-Organisms


EN407 Heat Protection


More details can be found in the RSEA Product Catalogue Ed13 – Pages 114-116


Standards Markings Explained

A series of numbers may appear under a specific pictogram to indicate the performance rating of the

gloves. The higher the number, the more protection the glove offers. Below is an example of the

performance rating for a Glove that conforms to the EN388 Mechanical Standards.

EN388 Mechanical Protection


More details can be found in the RSEA Product Catalogue Ed13 – Pages 114-116

The glove (left) has the

following EN388 Ratings:

Abrasion Resistance: 3

Blade Cut Resistance: 1

Tear Resistance: 2

Puncture Resistance: 1


New Standards for Cut Ratings – EN 388:2016Extract from Performance On Hand whitepaper ‘’ CTC-WD-2016.06.16 The New Cut Standard - EN388’’ July 2016, all references cited.

EN388:2003 has deficiency at higher cut levels, due to the rapid blunting of the test blade.

The European standard ISO13997:1999, gives a more valid representation of the cut resistance of

higher performance materials

Historically, the EN388 cut test (“coup” test) uses a rotating blade – similar to a pizza cutter – to

measure cut resistance. The circular blade is loaded with 5 Newton’s (N) of force (about 0.5 kilograms)

and travels back and forth across the material being assessed until it cuts through.

In contrast, the ISO and ASTM test uses a straight blade – similar to a knife – and is loaded with weight

and drawn across the material being assessed. After each trial the test blade and material is replaced

and more weighted added until a trial results in cutting through the material after travelling 20 mm. It’s a

test that more closely resembles an accidental cut or slash with a sharp object.

ISO13997 and Coup Cut Tests


Continued… New Standards for Cut Ratings – EN 388:2016Extract from Performance On Hand whitepaper ‘’ CTC-WD-2016.06.16 The New Cut Standard - EN388’’ July 2016, all references cited.

The Coup Test runs into problems mostly because it does not represent the most common cut injuries

incurred in workplaces, as it’s an assessment of a light weight, repetitive action.

Furthermore, when testing high performance fabrics, such as stainless steel (used in Bollwerk CAT5

and rCAT gloves, delivering cut protection 250% above ISO cut level 5) they have a dulling effect on the

blade which can yield inaccurate results and an incorrect cut level.

EN388 is being amended to address past shortcomings. Under EN388:2016, the Coup Test is being

changed such that the maximum number of cycles is capped at 60, which is most likely for when testing

highly cut-resistant materials.

In addition, the ISO test is also (optionally) reported to augment the cut performance rating. If the blade

is proved to have dulled then the Coup Test is deemed irrelevant and the ISO Cut Test is used as the

reference; since it is virtually impossible for a blade that fails to cut through a test material after 60

cycles not to have dulled significantly—rendering the result of the Coup Test meaningless.

The Coup Test index calculation is not being modified, other than capping the number of cycles. The

performance rating defined in EN388:2016 as measured by ISO 13997 is listed in Table 1. The highest

level of cut resistance is classified as being 30 N or more.

ISO cut performance level as defined in EN388:2016

Level A B C D E F

Newton Force (approx. weight in kilograms)

≥2(0.2kg)

≥5(0.5kg)

≥10(1kg)

≥15(1.5kg)

≥22(2.2kg)

≥30(3.0kg)


Continued… New Standards for Cut Ratings – EN 388:2016Extract from Performance On Hand whitepaper ‘’ CTC-WD-2016.06.16 The New Cut Standard - EN388’’ July 2016, all references cited.

As a result of these changes the EN388 symbol will also change with the addition of the ISO

performance level being added in the fifth position of the reported rating.

Incorporating the ISO test in the new EN388:2016 is a huge step in the right direction and improves

transparency for interpreting cut resistance.

It reduces confusion among wearers when comparing gloves performance and puts cut resistance, of

all materials, on an equal scale.

Changes to the EN388 symbol

EN388:2003

A C T P

A: AbrasionC: Coup CutT: TearP: Puncture

EN388:2016

A C T P S I

A: AbrasionC: Coup CutT: TearP: PunctureS: ISO CutI: Impact Test


About Cut Injuries Extract from Performance On Hand whitepaper ‘’ CTC-WD-2016.06.16 The New Cut Standard - EN388’’ July 2016, all references cited.

Cuts to hands are among the most common workplace injury and represent around one-third of all hand

injuries.

Cuts are considered by Australian organisations to be the most likely cause of hand injury; measured at

a likelihood of 64 per cent.

Injuries to hands represented about 13 per cent of all Australian Workers Compensation Claims in

2013-14.

According to the National Safety Council, a single hand laceration can cost over $16,000 in direct and

related costs; if a tendon is severed, the cost is more than $90,000.

Most cut injures to hands are caused by an accidental, uncontrolled, single event, such as a slip with a

knife or strike with a sharp-edged object.

This is in contrast to a repetitive cut action caused by (say) handling sheet metal or glass


How do I Select the Right Gloves?

The first place to start when selecting gloves is to call your Performance On

Hand Glove Advisor and together look at the tasks being performed and the

hazards that are present.

10 factors that may influence your selection of protective gloves

includes:

1. Type of Chemicals Handled – Refer to the glove manufacturer’s

chemical recommendation chart and the Safety Data Sheet for the types

of chemicals the glove offers protection against.

2. Nature of contact with the hazards, such as a total immersion & splash.

3. Length of time the gloves will be worn.

4. Duration of contact with the hazard.

5. The area requiring protection - hand only, forearm or arm.

6. Grip Requirements – Are you working with dry, wet or oily surfaces?

7. Thermal Protection.

8. Abrasion / Resistance Requirements.

9. Size.

10. Comfort.


How do I Look After the Gloves?

Storage

Most gloves need to be stored in a clean dry place.

Store chemical resistant gloves flat and not folded.

Wash chemical resistant gloves before storage to prevent damage to the glove’s material.

Many synthetic gloves may be laundered, follow laundry instructions and dry in the shade,

not in a dryer.

Maintenance

Replace gloves when you find:

• Cracks.

• Cuts.

• Hardening.

• Tears.

Gloves should also be replaced if they smell as this may indicate

microbial growth.


Importance of Training

Providing gloves alone will not reduce the hand injuries in your workplace. Workers must be provided with

training on hand care and protection.

Training should include:

Tasks which require gloves.

The potential hazards from which

the gloves will protect the wearer.

The gloves that are suitable for

the task.

How to use, maintain and store

the gloves.

Any limitations of the gloves.


Accessories

There are a number of Hand Protection Accessories available, below are a few examples:

Glove Clips Barrier & After Work Creams, Hand

Cleaners & Sanitisers & Moisturisers

Arm & Wrist Protectors


Summary

1. The Purpose of Hand Protection.

2. Types of Hazards you may face at Work.

3. Types of Hand Protection.

4. Mandatory Signage.

5. Australian & EU Standards.

6. Selection, Storage & Maintenance.

7. Training.

8. Accessories.


If You Only Remember One Thing!

These tools don’t come

with replacement parts.

Make yours last a lifetime!

Questions & Commentshttps://www.rsea.com.au/safety-shop/ppe/gloves

https://www.rsea.com.au/safety-shop/ppe/gloves

Getting a Grip on Hand Protection - Your Guide to the Right Glove

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