Work Gloves That are Light & Cut-Resistant
By M.B. Sutherland, Sr. Safety Writer, Magid
Even just a few years ago, cut or impact protection usually meant a thick and often uncomfortable pair of gloves. The situation was even worse for extreme hazards with exposure to very sharp edges or a high incidence of crush and pinch hazards. For these jobs, manufacturers had to incorporate tougher materials like wire into glove yarn or add a thick layer of TPR onto the back of gloves to keep workers safe.
Human nature being what it is, these measures to make workers safer sometimes actually made them less safe as stiff, hot gloves got in the way of doing the job and left workers with sweaty, uncomfortable hands. That discomfort led workers to remove their gloves whenever they could. And once the gloves are off, it’s easy to forget to put them back on or to decide it’s worth the risk to do the job unprotected. The problem is so pervasive, studies have shown that 72% of injured workers reported not wearing gloves at the time of an injury.
The problem was clear to Magid and we got to work on innovating lighter, more comfortable materials that would keep people both safe and compliant.
LIGHT WORK GLOVES: THE MATERIAL OF THE FUTURE IS NOW...WITH AERODEX!
Yarns are generally made with an inner core, surrounded by an outer wrap. Both core and wrap may be made of various different materials and each one has its benefits and its drawbacks. Magid’s latest and greatest AeroDex® technology is stronger and more flexible than stainless steel. This one-of-a-kind innovation provides cut-resistance as high as ANSI A9 that’s a full 50% lighter than comparable gloves with the same protection.
But it’s not all about the lighter weight! AeroDex® is thin enough to fit like a second skin so workers can pick up and assemble even very small parts without taking them off. And the material’s natural flexibility and breathability makes hot, sweaty cut-resistant gloves a thing of the past. The biggest “problem” some safety managers have had is getting workers to understand that such a thin, cool, and comfortable glove is really cut-resistant!
ONE ADVANCEMENT LEADS TO ANOTHER
After this initial advancement, the question became, what else can we do with this amazing material? The answer of course, was to use it as a base to make even more useful and comfortable PPE!
Palm Coatings, Reinforcements, Touchscreen Compatibility, & Sleeves
This incredible new glove shell was the perfect base for different palm coatings like polyurethane and foam nitrile to improve grip for various wet, dry, and oily applications. And now, Magid's VersaTek™ palm coating can enhance your workers' natural grip power and adapt to any work environment without sacrificing comfort or dexterity.
We also provided ten-finger touchscreen compatibility for workers who need to access an electronic device during the workday. Again, making sure there’s no reason to remove a glove ensures that it stays on for the whole job! Reinforcements at wear points like the thumb saddle make every part of the glove as strong and durable as possible for a longer glove-life. And looking beyond hand protection, we expanded to make AeroDex® sleeves so workers’ arms could be as comfortable and protected as their hands.
Comfortable Impact Protection
Old impact glove designs were stiff and bulky with a single piece of thick TPR across the back of the hand and over the fingers. These heavy designs also held in sweat and heat, making an already uncomfortable situation even worse. We solved the TPR problem years ago with new designs that included flex points at the back of the hand to allow workers to stretch and move their hands naturally. Then we took it a step further by putting flexible TPR on our new glove shell bringing unheard of lightness and comfort to impact protection!
Add in different palm coatings and even partial leather shells when needed, and we’ve expanded the lightweight revolution in comfortable cut protection to create a whole new world of impact protection that keeps workers protected while making them more comfortable than they would have imagined possible.
See the Revolution in Action!
