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Ansell White Paper Answers Questions About Cut Protection
Red Bank, New Jersey—Many factors must be considered when selecting hand protection products that will effectively protect workers against cut injuries. A new white paper from Ansell, “Understanding Cut Protection,” is available on the company’s Web site at www.ansellpro.com to explain cut protection and provide insight into factors that impact a product’s ability to protect against cut, including abrasion resistance, grip, dexterity, and comfort.
The paper describes the differences between cut resistance and cut protection and discusses how protective clothing is evaluated for cut resistance in the United States and Europe. It addresses Ansell’s Guardian process, which is designed around seven key cost savings practices and incorporates tools to capture information such as non-compliance, ergonomic risks, process waste reduction and opportunities for improving worker efficiency.
“Cut resistance is often the primary factor considered when gloves are evaluated for cut protection because it can be easily measured using standard devices such as the Cut Protection Performance Test (CPPT),” said Bill Bennett, Ansell Marketing Manager and Cut Protection Team leader. “Cut protection results from a combination of influences that prevent cut injuries-from a product’s material properties such as cut resistance tear strength and abrasion resistance to factors unrelated to protective apparel, including machine guarding, workplace set-up and worker training.”
“Understanding Cut Protection” provides cut protection rating scales along with CPPT data and American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/International Society of Exposure Analysis (ISEA) performance ratings for specific cut resistant gloves available from Ansell. A glossary helps readers understand the various cut protection standards organizations, test methods used, testing equipment and general cut terminology.
According to Bennett, the Ansell occupational team works closely with leading universities, agencies and organizations to improve the test procedures used to determine cut resistance and foster a better understanding of the factors that influence cut protection and worker safety. Ansell is continuing to research improved cut test methods that standards-setting organizations may use in the future.
“The goal is to enhance worker safety while improving the tools used to identify and evaluate protective clothing,” Bennett said. “The Ansell Cut Protection team hopes to create measurement tools to help plant safety and management professionals make the best decision when choosing cut protection products.”
Ansell has pioneered a number of products and technologies, including its HyFlex® and Vantage® glove lines, styles that offer exceptionally high levels of cut resistance and address the need for comfort, dexterity and productivity. In addition, Ansell recently introduced the “U Challenge” Interactive Cut Selection Game, which determines the user’s knowledge and skill in selecting the right cut protective glove for the application. The game may be played for free at www.ansellu.com.
For more information about cut protection and Ansell’s line of cut resistant products, call 800/800-0444 or visit www.ansellpro.com.
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