SAFETY GLOVES
status. If not, the glove is subjected to further testing, this time up to 500 cycles, before being checked again (performance level 2). After 4,000 cycles, the glove is checked again (performance level 3) and again at 8,000 in order to grant the maximum performance level 4 classification.
The second figure given is based on blade cut resistance. This is measured using specimen material taken from the palm of the glove, which is then subjected to repeated cutting motions from a rotating tungsten steel circular blade under a specified load. If the glove is made up of several unbonded layers, the test is performed on all of the layers together.
In order to get an accurate figure, two specimens are used and each is tested five times. The final performance level is taken as the lowest of the pass scores recorded with the two specimens.
The third figure is granted according to the tear resistance of the glove. This process is defined as the force necessary to propagate a tear in a rectangular specimen slit halfway along its length. This means that the tear resistance is therefore not an indication of the protection against a specific risk, but of the mechanical resistance of the glove’s fabric. As such, the number awarded will also relate to different jobs.
For example, a higher tear resistance classification would be better for jobs where a more rugged glove is required whereas a lower number would be ideal if there is any risk of entanglement in moving machinery.
The test is performed on four different glove samples and, like the abrasion resistance testing procedure, the test is performed on each layer if the glove is made from several unbonded layers. The highest score is taken as the performance level.
44
The final performance number given is based on puncture resistance. This denotes the force required for a steel stylus to puncture the fabric. This is not an indication of the resistance to piercing with a sharply pointed object – such as a hypothermic needle – but the resistance to contact with sharp edges.
If the glove is made up of several unbonded layers, the layers are tested together to arrive at the puncture resistance of the complete garment.
Specimen samples are cut from four gloves and each one is tested by mechanically pushing the stylus down onto the sample with a different force (20, 60, 100 and 150 Newtons) before noting the force that the material was able to withstand each time. The overall performance level is taken to be the lowest of the forces that was recorded across the four tests without breaking the garment sample.
While the maximum overall score available on each performance test would be 4544, this does not necessarily mean it is the ‘best’ score. Each task will have different risks involved and will therefore need a glove with suitable attributes. For example, a glove selected for use while painting walls will not require a high cut resistance or resistance to punctures. In this instance, a glove with an EN388 rating of 4131 may be the best fit for this kind of task.
Of course, the only way to overcome the counterfeit issue, ensuring gloves have been manufactured properly and tested in line with the EN 388: 2003 standard is to ensure that safety gloves are sourced directly from the manufacturer – that way, you know exactly what you are getting and can be confident in the products supplied.
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