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The term "abrasion" refers to the process of scraping or wearing away by means of friction. Workers face a multitude of hazards in the industrial workplace, many of which are associated with the risk of abrasion to the hands when handling various tools and materials. Lack of proper hand PPE can leave workers vulnerable to injuries such as irritation from repetitive rubbing and scraping of the skin. Abrasion resistant gloves provide a barrier against the wear and tear of abrasive environments and materials using protective layers of synthetic fabrics and deliver the comfort, performance, and protection needed to keep workers safe throughout their workday.
Updated in 2016, the EN 388:2016+A1:2018 standard is set up for European regions and also taken over by other regions such as Asia, Australia & New Zealand and South American regions as part of their local standards. The EN 388 shield pictogram reports up to 6 different mechanical performance measures with the first position (“a”) representing abrasion resistance on a scale of 1-to-4. The EN 388:2016+A1:2018 standard leverages a Martindale abrasion machine to measure the abrasiveness of each glove. A piece of the glove's palm is cut and placed before a wheel covered in abrasive paper. The glove material is then abraded until a hole is present. The test is performed a total of four times. The test results demonstrate that the lowest number of cycles before creating a hole between the four trials becomes the glove's abrasion rating. The greater the number of cycles it takes to break down the safety material, the greater the abrasion safety rating. Shown below are the EN 388:2016+A1:2018 abrasion standard ratings:
The best protective solutions are designed for defined tasks. Abrasion-resistant gloves reduce on-the-job injury and deliver the comfort, performance, and protection needed to keep workers safe and productive throughout the day. Explore our trusted Hyflex® range of high-performance abrasion resistant solutions that include Ansell’s FORTIX™ Abrasion Resistance Technology — a proprietary technology that applies a thin, resilient, and breathable nitrile foam coating to knitted gloves, providing greater flexibility, enhanced breathability and most importantly, improved abrasion resistance for extended durability.
To search through our EN Abrasion Resistant gloves, click here.
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