ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Cut Resistance Levels

Our hands are one of our most important tools, so we need to make sure that they are adequately protected.

The ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Standard uses various testing methods on work gloves in order to determine the level of protection they will provide.

The test results are displayed on the gloves with a letter and number combination.

Here’s a chart that will hopefully help translate what those markings actually mean:

CUT LEVEL BEST SUITED FOR…
A1 Light cut hazards: material handling, small parts assembly with sharp edges, packaging, warehouse, general purpose, forestry, construction
A2 Light/medium cut hazards: material handling, small parts assembly with sharp edges, packaging, warehouse, general purpose, forestry, construction, pulp & paper, automotive assembly
A3 Light/medium cut hazards: material handling, small parts assembly with sharp edges, packaging, warehouse, general purpose, forestry, construction, pulp & paper, automotive assembly
A4 Medium cut hazards: appliance manufacturing, bottle and light glass handling, canning, drywall, electrical, carpet installation, HVAC, pulp & paper, automotive assembly, metal fabrication, metal handling, packaging, warehouse, aerospace industry, food prep/processing
A5 Medium/heavy cut hazards: appliance manufacturing, bottle and light glass handling, canning, drywall, electrical, carpet installation, HVAC, pulp & paper, automotive assembly, metal fabrication, metal handling, packaging, warehouse, aerospace industry, food prep/processing
A6 High cut hazards: metal stamping & recycling, pulp & paper (changing slitter blades), metal fabrication, automotive assembly, sharp metal stampings, glass & window manufacturing, recycling plant/sorting, HVAC, food prep/processing, meat processing, aerospace industry
A7 High cut hazards: metal stamping & recycling, pulp & paper (changing slitter blades), metal fabrication, automotive assembly, sharp metal stampings, glass & window manufacturing, recycling plant/sorting, HVAC, food prep/processing, meat processing, aerospace industry
A8 High cut hazards: metal stamping & recycling, pulp & paper (changing slitter blades), metal fabrication, automotive assembly, sharp metal stampings, glass & window manufacturing, recycling plant/sorting, HVAC, food prep/processing, meat processing, aerospace industry
A9 High cut hazards: metal stamping & recycling, pulp & paper (changing slitter blades), metal fabrication, automotive assembly, sharp metal stampings, glass & window manufacturing, recycling plant/sorting, HVAC, food prep/processing, meat processing, aerospace industry

**This is to be used as a general guideline and is for informational purposes only.**

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