THE BASICS
Cut and puncture wound hazards in the workplace come from handheld sharp cutting tools which includes knives, razors, pruners, chisels, snips, etc., as well as the handling of materials such as metal, glass, and sharp-edged plastics. These types of hazards can be reduced through training employees to choose, store, and use tools properly, and ensuring maintenance and repair of sharp and cutting tools. Another means of protecting employees is with personal protective equipment (PPE)—namely cut resistant gloves. This guide is all about cutting. Although topics such as abrasion, puncture, and tear are mentioned, they are all very different forms of breaking apart material. You will read below about the two methods of testing cut resistance which our gloves are rated by. Please note, cutting gloves with a pair of scissors involves ‘shear’, which is a different kind of force from the slicing type of cut faced in industrial applications. Scissors have 2 sharp blades applying stress in both directions. Cut resistance can not be categorized through scissor tests. It is important to keep in mind that there is really no such thing as a “cut proof” glove—you will never hear us describe our products as such. Work gloves can be cut resistant, but with enough pressure, all gloves will allow a sharp-edged object through. How well the glove performs also depends on how you maintain the glove—the manufacturer’s recommendations for glove care need to be followed for optimum performance.
Ultimately, being educated about risks and hazards in the workplace is what protects us the best.
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