It happens all too quickly. You drop something, or your hand is in the wrong place at the wrong time and
suddenly you’re smarting. The back of the hand, with its intricate make up of bones and soft tissues, is very prone to injuries in the workplace. In 2018-2019 in Australia, nearly 7,000 compensation claims were made due to impact-related hand injuries (including fingers and thumbs). Some of the industries most affected include mining, construction, manufacturing and transport.
As with all other pieces of PPE, it’s imperative that gloves suitably fit the wearer and are appropriate for
the work task. This process has been made easier by the voluntary standard introduced in 2019 by the International Safety Equipment Association.
In short, ISEA 138 provides a more thorough analysis of impact resistance, one that benefits workers across a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, mining, construction, warehouse, and transport.
ISEA 138, which is the American national standard for performance and classification of impact
resistant hand protection, has increased the critical data obtained from the testing of industrial gloves, and as a result, has helped employers and workers make more-informed decisions about the gloves they use.
Traditionally, testing of gloves only covered abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture performance ratings. However, in 2016, the European Standard EN 388 introduced impact testing. ISEA 138 followed suit, but there are notable differences between the Standards and their testing regimes. Significantly, EN 388 monitors impact only on the knuckles. This measurement is recorded in Kilonewtons (Kn), and depending on the transmitted force, either a Pass (with considerable ranges in performance) or Fail is registered. In contrast,
ISEA 138 tests impact on the knuckles and fingers, and performance levels of 1, 2, or 3 are recorded and displayed on the glove to provide a simple yet effective protection performance mark. The addition of finger impact is highly consequential because industrial workers know just how vulnerable their digits are to injury.
In short, ISEA 138 provides a more thorough analysis of impact resistance, one that benefits workers across a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, mining, construction, warehouse, and transport.
