When Environmental Health and Safety managers focus on hand protection, a critical part of the decision-making process comes down to cut-resistance levels. Today, we'll show you the test used to define a calculated cutting load measured in grams, and translate the grams into an ANSI level based on the 2016 standard seen here.
ANSI levels let you compare gloves with confidence because all manufacturers follow the same standards set by ASTM International using an instrument called the TDM 100. Here's a look at how the tests are performed. First the technician runs this validation test to be sure that blades used meet ASTM specifications. Actual cut test consists of a cutting edge under a specified load moving across the sample of the product, and the distance from initial contact to the point at which the blade cuts through is measured in millimeters. The farther the blade travels and the heavier the load, the higher the cut resistance.
Here, the technician affixes a conductive copper strip to the mandrel, covers it with a layer of glove material, and positions it in the TDM 100. Next, a fresh never-before-used blade is clamped into the apparatus. The technician selects a load weight to test, setting the weights onto the Platinum. The blade is eased into contact with the glove sample, and the TDM 100 is started. You can see the blade moving across the material. The TDM stops automatically when the blade cuts through the sample and touches the conductive copper strip underneath it. Finally, the TDM identifies the cut through distance for this test.
After logging the distance, the technician starts a new test using the same load weight but a fresh blade and sample. In fact, this test will be conducted five times and all five results recorded. And there's more. Following the standard, each product is cut and tested five times at three different load weights to produce cut-through distances ranging from 5 to 20, from 20 to 33, and from 33 to 50.8 millimeters.
All these results are entered into the performance calculator program, which provides the calculated cutting load that produces cut-through at the reference distance of 20 millimeters.
With the calculated cutting load of 1,506 grams, this glove gets an ANSI score of A4. Appropriate for medium to high cut hazards including metal and glass handling, automotive, and appliance manufacturing and more.
Now that you've seen a cut test, it's key to remember all participating manufacturers use this same equipment and follow the same ASTM standard so that you can compare gloves from different manufacturers with confidence and find the best protection for your application.
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How do you calibrate your blades for testing?
Can you send me a video?
Best Regards,
Alisha Andersen
37Hi Alisha,
This would be a great question to take to our metalworking forum: https://www.mscdirect.com/betterMRO/forum
Creating a login is easy, just click on the “Register” button.
28What if the selected load weights do not produce 5 cuts in each of the three range categories? How do you adjust for the inconcistency in the fabric or material being tested? e.g.: I cut once at 500g and get 23mm, next cut at the same weight is 1mm. This occurs often.
38Hi Bill, thank you for visiting Better MRO!
The cut tests are performed by a machine, so that it is a consistent and repeatable test. Is your question regarding a safety manager doing their own cut test?
47Good Morning,
I am a safety manager at a pork processing facility in Sioux City, IA. We're looking at ways to reduce our lacerations across the facility and we're questioning our PPE. I'm wondering if you guys could do some testing on our gloves and provide ANSI Cut resistant results, or point me in the right direction? Our concern is that after several launderings we are losing cut resistance.
Thanks!
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