Cut Resistant Gloves
Cut and puncture wound hazards in the workplace come from handheld sharp and cutting tools, including scissors, knives, razors, pruners, chisels, and snips, etc. as well as the handling of materials such as metal, glass, and sharp-edged plastics as is found in welding and window and vehicle manufacture. You can use a number of methods to reduce these types of hazards such as 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 personal protective equipment (PPE), namely cut-resistant gloves.
Metal Cutting
The basics
There is really no such thing as a "cut proof" glove. Work gloves can be cut resistant but, with enough pressure, all gloves will allow a sharp-edged object through. Also, how well the glove performs depends on how you maintain the glove, and the manufacturer's recommendations for glove care need to be followed for optimum performance. For example, Kevlar gloves are ideal until you launder them with bleach, which breaks down the fibers.
Work gloves, such as cotton gloves, leather gloves, or Kevlar gloves will provide protection against cuts from sharp tools. Cotton gloves provide minimal protection, while Kevlar or metal mesh gloves provide the most. Thick leather gloves provide medium-range protection. (However, the majority of chemical protective gloves generally provide little or no protection from cuts or punctures.)
When purchasing work gloves to protect from cuts, remember that in order for the glove to be useful, it needs to fit properly. Gloves that are too tight restrict movement; work gloves that are too loose make gripping difficult. Another factor in the selection of cut-resistant work gloves is the environment in which they will be used such as high-heat applications or applications with aggressive chemicals.
Kevlar gloves
Dupont Kevlar® is a man made fiber with a unique combination of properties, one of which is its ability to provide protection from punctures. Kevlar is extraordinarily strong and light, making for work gloves that are flexible and better fitted to the hand than some other types of similar gloves. In addition to cut resistance, Kevlar gloves protect against thermal burn and do not melt or drip around open flame. This makes Kevlar work gloves a good choice in applications where both cut and heat resistance are necessary such as welding and manufacturing facilities such as glass plants and refineries. Kevlar also finds use in automotive manufacturing, lumber falling, law enforcement, veterinary or animal control operations, construction, steel and metal working applications, and garment manufacturing. As noted above, Kevlar can deteriorate if laundered in bleach, therefore, the manufacturer's care instructions should be followed when cleaning Kevlar gloves. In addition to bleach, other chemicals may cause Kevlar gloves to deteriorate, reducing the protection they provide. For this reason, it is important to check the manufacturer's information if Kevlar work gloves will be used in applications with chemicals. In these instances, metal mesh gloves may be a more appropriate selection. Kevlar gloves can be combined with Kevlar sleeves to provide both hand and arm protection.
Metal mesh gloves
Metal mesh gloves are generally made of high-grade, fine stainless steel mesh. One downside of metal mesh gloves is that they may be able to trap soil and feed the growth of bacteria. However, some fairly recent additions to the market are metal mesh gloves that are constructed so that the trapping of soil and the subsequent risk of contamination is reduced. Metal mesh gloves are resistant to water, chemicals, and soiling. In the past, metal mesh gloves were extremely "clunky." However, recent improvements in manufacturing have improved the fit, weight, and comfort of metal mesh gloves-gloves that are ambidextrous are available as well as glove with adjustment that allows for improved fit and comfort. Metal mesh gloves find use in meat and poultry processing, knife and blade sharpening and cleaning, food and restaurant operations, sheet metal work, fishing trades, and woodworking. Because metal readily conducts heat, metal mesh gloves are generally not appropriate for high-heat applications.
