Hand injuries are among the most common workplace hazards, often resulting in lost productivity, medical costs, and long-term consequences for workers. To address these risks, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) have updated their glove safety standards, ensuring better protection and clearer labeling for users. The latest ANSI/ISEA labeling system provides detailed information about a glove’s resistance to cuts, impacts, abrasions, punctures, and tears, helping workers select the right gloves for their specific tasks. Whether you work in construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, or warehousing, understanding these labels is essential for making informed decisions about hand protection. In this article, we’ll break down the new ANSI/ISEA labeling system, explaining what each rating means, how gloves are tested, and how to choose the right gloves based on your industry’s safety requirements.

ANSI/ISEA glove standards evaluate gloves based on various protective properties, including:

• Cut Resistance (ANSI/ISEA 105-2016) – Measures how well gloves resist cuts from sharp objects.
• Impact Protection (ANSI/ISEA 138-2019) – Assesses the glove’s ability to absorb and disperse force from impacts.
• Abrasion, Puncture & Tear Resistance – Determines how well gloves withstand friction, punctures, and tearing under stress.

Workers in high-risk industries rely on ANSI/ISEA-certified gloves to prevent injuries. Some key industries that benefit from these updated standards include:

• Construction & Manufacturing – Protection from sharp tools, rough materials, and potential impacts.
• Oil & Gas – Enhanced impact and cut resistance for handling pipes, machinery, and heavy equipment.
• Automotive & Metalworking – High-level protection against abrasions, punctures, and metal cuts.

By understanding these standards, workers can ensure they are using gloves that meet the safety requirements of their specific job roles, reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.

ANSI/ISEA cut resistance ratings are determined using the TDM-100 test machine, which measures the amount of force (in grams) required to cut through the glove material.

• A controlled straight-edged blade moves across the glove fabric. The test records how much weight (in grams) is needed to slice through the material. The glove is then assigned a cut rating from A1 (200 grams) to A9 (6000+ grams) based on the force required to cut it. This standardized testing ensures that gloves from different manufacturers are evaluated using the same criteria, making it easier for users to compare products.

Choosing the correct cut-resistant glove depends on the level of risk in your workplace. Here are some general recommendations:

• A1 – A3 Gloves: Best for light-duty work such as general maintenance, warehouse tasks, and packaging.
• A4 – A6 Gloves: Ideal for medium-risk applications like handling sheet metal, glass cutting, and auto assembly.
• A7 – A9 Gloves: Required for high-cut-risk environments, including sharp metal stamping, meat processing, and heavy industrial work.

Selecting a glove with the right cut resistance level ensures maximum protection without sacrificing flexibility or comfort, keeping workers safe and productive.

Impact-resistant gloves are essential for industries where workers are exposed to falling objects, machinery, and repetitive impact forces. Some key industries that benefit from ANSI/ISEA 138-rated gloves include:

• Oil & Gas: Protects against heavy equipment impact, drilling hazards, and pipe handling.
• Construction: Reduces injuries from falling materials, hammer strikes, and power tool vibrations.
• Heavy Equipment Handling: Shields hands from crushing forces and accidental impact with large machinery.

Workers in these industries face high risks of impact-related injuries, making it essential to wear gloves with the appropriate impact protection level.

Wearing ANSI/ISEA 138-certified gloves offers several advantages, including:

• Reduced risk of hand injuries – Helps prevent fractures, bruises, and soft tissue damage.
• Enhanced durability and safety – Designed with reinforced padding for long-lasting protection.
• Improved compliance with safety regulations – Meets workplace safety requirements for high-impact industries.

By understanding impact protection ratings, workers and employers can choose gloves that provide the right balance of safety, comfort, and dexterity, reducing the likelihood of serious hand injuries in hazardous environments.

Puncture resistance measures how well gloves withstand sharp objects like nails, needles, and glass shards. The ANSI/ISEA standard assigns puncture ratings from Level 1 to 5, based on how much force is required to puncture the glove material.

• Level 1 – 2: Basic puncture resistance – Suitable for light handling tasks with minimal exposure to sharp objects.
• Level 3 – 4: Moderate puncture resistance – Best for construction, packaging, and warehousing where gloves may come into contact with wood splinters, metal edges, or glass.
• Level 5: Maximum puncture resistance – Recommended for waste management, metalworking, and medical applications where exposure to needles, nails, and sharp materials is high. Choosing gloves with the right puncture rating prevents hand injuries and ensures better protection in hazardous environments.

Tear resistance measures how well a glove holds up under stress before it rips or tears. This is crucial in applications where gloves are frequently stretched, twisted, or pulled.

• High tear-resistant gloves are ideal for construction, warehousing, and manufacturing, as they prevent premature failure and ensure gloves remain protective during tough tasks.
• Tear-resistant gloves also improve comfort and flexibility, allowing workers to handle tools, equipment, and materials more efficiently. By selecting gloves with the appropriate abrasion, puncture, and tear resistance levels, workers can ensure they have the right balance of durability, protection, and usability for their specific job requirements.

Selecting the best glove depends on the specific hazards in the workplace. Here’s how to match glove ratings to common industries and tasks:

• Construction & Manufacturing: Look for A4–A6 cut resistance, Level 2 impact protection, and high abrasion resistance to handle sharp materials and heavy tools.
• Automotive & Metalworking: Choose A5–A7 cut-resistant gloves with strong puncture protection for handling sharp metal edges and machinery.
• Oil & Gas Industry: Use gloves with Level 3 impact protection and high cut resistance to prevent injuries from equipment and drilling operations.
• General Warehousing & Handling: Opt for A1–A3 cut-resistant gloves with moderate abrasion and tear resistance for handling boxes and light materials.

By aligning glove ratings with job hazards, workers can ensure maximum protection without sacrificing comfort or dexterity.

The new ANSI/ISEA labeling system for protective gloves provides clear, standardized information on cut resistance, impact protection, abrasion resistance, puncture resistance, and tear resistance. These updates help workers and employers select gloves that match specific job hazards, ensuring better safety and compliance across various industries.

By understanding how to read and interpret ANSI/ISEA glove labels, businesses can reduce workplace injuries, improve productivity, and enhance worker confidence. Choosing the right glove means balancing protection, durability, and comfort, ensuring that employees can perform their tasks safely and efficiently.

As workplace safety standards continue to evolve, staying informed about ANSI/ISEA glove ratings will remain essential for protecting workers and maintaining compliance with industry regulations. Investing in proper hand protection is not just about meeting standards—it’s about ensuring the well-being of every worker on the job.