The ANSI/ISEA 138:2019 standard fills a critical gap in the industrial glove standards infrastructure. One question often asked by end-users is: what performance level is appropriate for application needs? This question is not unique to the dorsal impact glove standard. This article will discuss how impact is measured to provide context for end-users to determine the appropriate impact performance per the ANSI/ISEA 138:2019 dorsal impact glove standard. When assessing the appropriate dorsal impact glove is it critical to conduct a hazard assessment and obtain guidance from a certified industrial hygienist or safety engineer
Consider this example: Shoot an armor piercing bullet at a brick wall and it will likely pass through. If a baseball were hurled at the same wall with the same kinetic energy of the bullet it would bounce off. The difference in outcomes in these two examples is due to the significant difference in impact areas of the ball vs. the bullet – where a smaller contact area translates into a much higher concentration of energy. And the fact that the bullet is several orders of magnitude harder than the ball.