Cut-Resistant Gloves: How to Pick the Right Level

Step 1 — set the cut level from the hazard, not the habit

ANSI/ISEA 105 rates cut resistance A1 through A9 by the gram load that cuts through the material. Higher is not automatically better: heavier yarns cost dexterity, and a glove crews take off protects nobody.

• A1–A3: general assembly, warehouse, packaging, light material handling
• A4–A5: sheet metal, glass, HVAC, framing, most construction handling
• A6–A9: plate steel, stamping, blade changes, meat and knife work

Step 2 — pick the coating for the conditions

The coating drives grip and how long the glove lasts more than the liner does.

• Polyurethane: thin, high dexterity, best for dry precision work
• Nitrile foam / micro-foam: all-round oily and damp grip
• Sandy nitrile or latex: aggressive wet and muddy grip
• Uncoated / HPPE liner: heat handling and glove-liner layering

Step 3 — add impact protection where hands get pinched

Cut level says nothing about back-of-hand impact. ANSI/ISEA 138 rates impact 1–3. Pipeline, oilfield, rigging, demo and mechanic work usually justify a TPR-backed impact glove.

Step 4 — cover the forearm too

Most cut injuries above the wrist come from reaching past the glove. Cut-rated sleeves in the same level as the glove close that gap and are far cheaper than a recordable.

Buying for a crew

Gloves ship by the dozen, so sizing runs matter. We build a size run per crew, keep the pattern on file, and can hold them in an FB3 stock-and-deliver plan so replacement gloves show up before anyone starts stretching a worn pair.