Things to Know Before Choosing Impact-Resistant Hand Protection for Your Team
Written by the experts at Superior Glove
What parts of the hands are most vulnerable to impact injuries?
The most common impact-related hand injuries occur to the back of the hand. Since impact-resistant material is stiffer than typical glove material, impact protection is typically placed only on the back of the hand. This helps keep hands safer without making it harder for workers to complete everyday tasks.
What makes a glove impact-resistant?
To protect against impact injuries, safety gloves need to:
- Create distance between the impact and the hand through thickness
- Shorten the duration of the impact through elasticity
How much impact protection do safety gloves provide?
The best way to understand how well safety gloves will protect against impact injuries is to:
- Learn the safety industry’s standards for impact ratings as outlined below
- Only use gloves that meet these standards in third-party testing
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) created a standardized rating system, commonly known as ANSI/ISEA 138. This rating system classifies impact protection under three standard levels (Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3).
Performance level is measured in kilonewtons (kN) of force transferred to the hand during impact. The less force that is transferred to the hand when an impact occurs, the higher the impact protection rating as shown in the chart below.
How do you know if a glove meets the ANSI/ISEA 138 standard?
For any glove claiming an ANSI/ISEA 138 classification, there must be a clearly visible symbol on the glove as pictured here. Look for these rating icons when reviewing glove information. These symbols must also appear on the glove itself. When in doubt, ask your supplier to provide third-party impact testing results to prove the gloves meet impact protection claims.
Need help finding impact-resistant gloves that meet the industry standards?
Try a free sample of these popular gloves made with DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber
Light Impact Protection | Level 1
To protect against minor impact hazards, gloves classified as ANSI Level 1 are a good choice. Our Dexterity® SKFGFNVB gloves offer Level 1 impact resistance and their lining made with DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber provides 360° cut protection.
Follow the link to request a Free Dexterity® SKFGFNVB Sample
Medium Impact Protection | Level 2
For mid-level impact protection, gloves like our Endura® 378GKGVB provide ANSI Level 2 impact resistance. In addition, these gloves provide arc flash protection and 360° cut resistance thanks to their lining made with DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber.
Follow the link to request a Free Endura® 378GKGVB Sample
Heavy Impact Protection | Level 3
For maximum impact protection against the most serious impact hazards, it’s best to use gloves classified as Level 3 like our Endura ® 378GKG4P. These gloves were among the first in the industry to achieve a Level 3 impact resistance rating. They also provide arc flash protection and 360° cut resistance thanks to a lining made with DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber.
Follow the link to request a Free Endura ® 378GKG4P Sample
About the Company
Superior Glove is a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of safety gloves and sleeves. For more than 100 years, Superior Glove has been protecting workers across the globe with specialized hand and arm protection for every major industry. Superior Glove’s headquarters is located in Ontario, Canada, and their team and company-owned/operated production facilities span across Canada, the United States, and Central America.
Superior Glove
36 Vimy Street, ActonON, Canada, L7J 1S1
Toll Free: 1 (800) 265-7617
Fax: (519) 853-4496
Email: business.development@superiorglove.com