This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
ISHN logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ISHN logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Editions
    • Archives
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Subscribe
  • Topics
    • Environment
    • Environmental Health and Safety
    • Government Regulations
    • Health
    • Industrial Hygiene
    • Occupational Safety
    • PPE
    • Product Case Studies
    • Psychology
    • Safety Culture
    • Training
    • Transportation Safety
    • More Topics
  • Construction
  • Oil & Gas
  • Columns
    • Editorial Comments
    • Best Practices
    • Positive Cultures
    • Training Strategies
    • Closing Time
    • FR Protection
    • Thought Leadership
  • Products
  • Conventions
    • Convention Companion
  • Multimedia
    • eBooks
    • Infographics
    • Photo Galleries
    • ISHN Podcasts
    • Your Digital Mentor Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • ISHN YouTube Videos
  • More
    • Awards
      • 2020 Readers' Choice Awards- Submit Products
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
    • ISHN Store
    • Product Case Studies
    • Product Innovations
    • Showrooms
    • Vendor News
  • Advertise
    • Contact
Home » High-performance cut protection
PPE
IGA Helping Hand

High-performance cut protection

R&D produces lighter, less costly gloves

High-performance cut protection
February 2, 2012
Matt Piotrowski
KEYWORDS gloves / Hand Protection
Reprints
Flash back 15 years ago — the year is 1997 — Bill Clinton is starting his second term in office, the Toyota Prius is unveiled for the first time, and we all watched in disbelief as the tragedy of Princess Diana unfolded. Since that time, there have been two different U.S. presidents in office, the hybrid car is now a household term, and a new beauty has been welcomed to the royal family.

Change is inevitable.

Sometimes it is slow evolution and other times it is lightning fast transition. This holds as much truth in the cut-resistant hand protection industry as it does in everyday events. In our industry, change can be slow or fast, but one thing is for sure — change is here to stay.

Flash back again to 1997. Cut protection for your hands is dominated globally by a single fiber. Para-aramid is at the top of the cut resistance food chain and is an industry favorite. This wondrous yellow fiber single-handedly changed the industrial glove market forever and set in motion a tidal wave of reform in how we protect our workers most valuable assets. No longer was the glove just four fingers and a thumb. It was now truly a vital part of on-the-job safety.

Fifteen years later, para-aramid continues to be an industry leader and end user favorite. However, much like the effect the hybrid car had on the automobile industry, people began to take notice of the alternatives. End users became more educated, more informed and more cognizant of the fact that reducing hand injuries saves money. Yarn and glove manufacturers in turn responded by trying new ideas, new formulas and new technologies — all in the quest to supply what every customer wants — better protection at a lower cost.

Innovative ideas

Ingenuity and innovation have allowed us to benefit from this new wave of technology. What once was only available in open end yarn or basic ring spun design can now be produced in dozens of configurations with multiple fibers or filaments, in any number of yarn constructions. New high performance fibers have paved the way for more application-specific hand protection solutions. Polyethylene, ballistics grade nylons, high performance synthetics and even improved para-aramids have changed the way we look at the cut-resistant glove today.

The advent of implementing fiberglass and stainless steel into yarn construction has allowed the average cut-resistant glove to not only be lighter and less costly, but also more protective and more comfortable. Customers with smaller budgets for safety and hand protection are now able to provide innovative solutions for their workers, without having to break the bank. Cut protection, in varying levels, can now be extremely affordable and maintainable.

Fiber manufacturers and suppliers continue to churn out new ideas and products that can enhance a glove in just about any safety category. No longer is a glove that protects its wearer from cut and slash injuries only yellow in color. As the awareness and importance of workplace safety continue to grow, customers are always hunting for that double whammy — reduced recordable injuries and reduced costs. Many end users feel they can now reach that once unobtainable goal.

What once was an industry with only a handful of selections to choose from has now exploded into a virtual “grocery store” of selections. Seamless knit, cut and sew, flat dipped, sewn on, reinforced, fully lined, etc. — can all be provided now in very application-specific designs or in broad, one-glove-fits-all configurations.

The introduction of industry-accepted cut resistance testing and qualification has also aided in the growth of new fibers and technologies by supporting claims of superior cut results with scientific facts. Many apparatuses are available for use to demonstrate or qualify a product’s cut resistance level and more and more people at the end user level are beginning to demand and rely on testing and certification as benchmarks for their applications. Throwing a glove onto your desk and dragging a box cutter across it is no longer an acceptable measure of protection level. Customers want solutions that actually work, and that can be cost-effective, and they want proof to back up their claims.

Several groups, such as the International Glove Association, continue to advocate for increased awareness and updates to current industry-accepted ratings. This will prove to be paramount in supporting the continual growth of innovative and unique products.

The ultimate glove

Awareness within the industry continues to grow as everyone scrambles to make the “ultimate glove.” Though a glove that can work in every single application will likely never exist, think of the incredible new designs manufacturers will think of trying to get there.

Subscribe to ISHN Magazine

Recent Articles by Matt Piotrowski

Avoid the wrong glove syndrome

Matt Piotrowski is in Research and Development at Worldwide Protective Products and is based in the company’s Buffalo, NY, facility. He can be reached at (877) 678-4568, mpiotrowski@wwprotective.com, www.protective.com.

Related Articles

New packaged fume and dust collector for metal cutting offers high performance, safety, ease of use

Related Products

Fall Prevention and Protection: Principles, Guidelines, and Practices

Safety, Health, and Asset Protection: Management Essentials, Second Edition

Preparing for OSHA s Voluntary Protection Programs: A Guide to Success

Related Events

Proof Of Performance Testing For Industrial Ventilation Systems webinar

Related Directories

Peavey Performance Systems/Safety Jackpot

Subscribe For Free!
  • Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • ISHN eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Today's News

2 young part-time UPS workers killed in California

incident investigation

How to investigate a worksite incident

ambulance

Buffalo Wild Wings manager dies after exposure to toxic cleaning product fumes

house

Potted plants are irrelevant to indoor air quality

Tesla

Report finds worker injuries are “routine” at Tesla’s Nevada plant

ISHN Readers' Choice Awards 2020 product submissions


Events

March 7, 2019

Safety and Wellness: The Combination that Drives Engagement and Profitability

On Demand Attend this webinar for the keys to success, as well as mistakes to avoid, when targeting safety and wellness with a Recognition & Reward Program.

View All Submit An Event

ISHN Podcasts


ISHN Podcasts

ISHN Magazine

ISHN1219_cover.jpg

2019 December

Among the articles in the December 2019 issue of ISHN Magazine, we have expert insight on selecting the right respirator, a link to the 2020 Buyers’ & Resource Guide, 10 safety mistakes that can land you in a courtroom, and much more.
View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • List Rental
    • Safety A-Z
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Web Exclusives
    • Privacy Policy
  • Want More
    • Connect
    • Subscribe
    • Survey And Sample

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing