September 28, 2009 at 16:30 by
Dani Deyton
Posted
in
Protective Gear
|
How will you know for sure if your cut resistant gloves will protect you?
You can reduce the risk of cuts using innovative technologies,
advanced materials and scientifically enhanced products, but there are
no guarantees when it comes to protective products.
Luckily you can measure cut resistance. The European Committee for
Standardization (CEN) has developed a standard (CE EN 388) for all
protective gloves used in law enforcement and military. This standard
puts the gloves through torturous tests. These tests include abrasion,
blade cuts, punctures, tear, impact and dexterity.
From these tests, the gloves are given a rating ranging from Level 1
(the least protection) to Level 5 (the toughest protection). I really
can’t stress just how important it is to check this rating. Don’t be
fooled by companies who self-certify their own gloves, skip the rating
or only display the CEN-certified logo rather than the rating.
Self-certification only ensures there are no harmful chemicals in the
gloves.
The best protection you have is to check the rating and ensure it meets the standards for your circumstances.