How Much Cut Protection Do Your Workers Need?

You know your workers need cut protection, but how do you decide which level of cut protection to buy?

To solve this problem, industry standards were established that refer to specific test methods to assign protection levels for safety gloves, including cut resistance. These standards were introduced to create a common language for safety managers, distributors, and manufacturers to define protection levels and be held accountable for their claims.

There are three industry standards governing cut protection:

1. In North America, the ANSI/ISEA 105 North American Standard

2. In Europe, the EN388 European Standard (CE)

3. In UK, UK Standard (UKCA)—the newest standard developed when the UK split from the EU

All of these standards specify certain tests in which cut-resistant gloves are measured by the force it takes for a blade to cut through the material.

The ANSI/ISEA Standard established the ASTM F2992-15 test method for measuring cut resistance. The standard identifies nine cut levels (A1-A9), ranging from 200 grams to 6000+ grams of cut resistance.

When looking for the protection level on gloves, the ANSI cut level is displayed inside a badge resembling a shield.

Testing Method: A Tomodynamometer Machine (TDM-100) is used to conduct the cut-resistant test on gloves. Materials are tested under three varied weights with a straight-edge blade that moves across five times in the same direction at approximately the length of 20mm. After each cut, a new blade is used, and the weight (in grams) is added until a cut is achieved. The test is repeated a total of three times and the average of the three tests gives the final rating in grams, ranging from 200 grams to 6000+ grams of cut resistance. This determines a cut score between A1-A9.

Below, we breakdown some general references around cut hazards as it relates to each level.

Generally, low cut-resistance levels (A1-A3) provide protection against minor nuisance cut hazards found in lower-risk environments, such as in a warehouse where workers are handling boxes. Cut-resistance levels of A4 and above are better suited for applications where cut risks are much higher, like handling glass sheets, metal press work, or heavy assembly. However, ultimately, the task and risk level of the hazard determines the cut protection level required for the job.

The EN388 Standard, used to evaluate mechanical ratings for hand protection (abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture) uses two different methods for testing cut resistance in gloves:

1. The Coup Test

2. ISO 13997 methods (more commonly known as the TDM-100 Test)

The TDM-100 was added in 2016 and relates closely to the ANSI/ISEA 105 Standard test. Gloves manufactured more recently only perform the TDM-100 testing due to improved accuracy in determining the cut-resistance level of a glove.

Testing Method:

Coup Test: In this test, test material is placed beneath a rotating circular blade that moves back and forth under a fixed weight until cut-through occurs. A cut score is recorded on a scale of 1-5. The problem with this testing method is that the blade dulls if used on high cut-resistant material, which results in inaccurate scores.

If no cut-through occurs after 60 rotations, the second test is used and required: the ISO 13997. The result is measured in Newtons.

ISO 13997: The ISO 13997 uses the TDM-100 test method which uses a straight razor blade under variable weight to measure cut resistance, similar to the ASTM F2992-15. Results are measured in Newtons, ranging from 2-30 Newtons, and are graded from A-F. Cut resistance for materials tested using this method will only have an “X” placed under the Coup Test score marking to indicate “not tested” on the EN388 Standard shield. An example of this can be seen in the image below.