EN 388 – A Guide To Hand Protection

Accidents causing damage to hands are the leading cause of workplace injury in the UK. During 2023, there were over 16,000 non-fatal workplace injuries affecting the hand and wrist, accounting for 25% of all non-fatal injuries. Of those incidents, which ranged from minor cuts to serious conditions, over 11,000 resulted in workers needing more than seven days off work, significantly impacting both individuals and businesses. Understanding the mechanical risks involved and developing safety procedures, and cutting risks through the supply of the correct protective equipment is essential.

It goes without saying that our hands play an absolutely crucial role in our daily lives, and especially in the workplace. They allow us to perform intricate tasks, manipulate objects, communicate effectively, and, as the primary tools we work with, ensure our continued productivity and effectiveness. Hand injuries often result in pain, disability, and long-term physical issues, with a detrimental effect on our health and wellbeing. It is therefore vital that the choice of gloves for protection of your workforce is informed by approved protection ratings.

What is EN 388?

EN 388 is the European safety standard used to evaluate mechanical risks for protective gloves. They undergo resistant tests and are rated having been assessed in five key areas:

1. Abrasion Resistance: Measures how well a glove withstands wear and tear when subjected to abrasion. The rating ranges from 0 (least resistant) to 4 (most resistant). The testing method is based on the number of cycles it takes for the glove to become damaged.
2. Cut Resistance: Evaluates a glove’s ability to resist cuts from sharp objects. Ratings range from 1 to 5, with higher numbers indicating better cut protection.
3. Tear Resistance: Assesses how well a glove resists tearing. Like abrasion resistance, it’s rated from 0 to 4.
4. Puncture Resistance: Determines a glove’s resistance to punctures. The rating ranges from 0 to 4.
5. Impact Resistance: Tests how well a glove provides impact protection. If a glove passes this test, it’s marked as “Pass.”

There is an additional test procedure, measuring ISO Cut Resistance. This evaluates the cut resistance of a pair of gloves up to Level E.

How To Read EN 388 Ratings

There is a practical system in place to enable the safety managers and operatives to check the performance levels of protective gloves.

In the table below, the numbers show the level of resistance performance score that has been awarded to a particular glove after testing, aligning the resistance rating with the applicable mechanical hazards.

These figures are then marked on the glove by an official symbol following the order in which the scores are applied.

Traffi Glove

Clad Safety is a distributor of the world renowned safety glove brand, Traffi Glove. This industry-leading source of cut resistant gloves have an inspiring goal, we are fully in support of – “We’re on a misson to reduce hand injuries, costs, waste and carbon emissions.” Traffi have developed a large range of market-leading carbon neutral safety gloves, which Clad distribute throughout the UK. These multi-purpose gloves are an essential piece of kit, providing protection to the operator, and our planet!

Other Popular Glove Styles

To ensure that the correct protection level is being provided for the job in hand, and you are providing your team with the gloves that can guarantee top performance, why not call our highly experienced team today on 01423 881266 or email us at [email protected].