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Understanding ANSI/ISEA Cut Resistance Ratings
Full Brim Safety: Build Smart, Build Safe
The Safety Man
November 25, 2025
Understanding ANSI/ISEA Cut Resistance Ratings
Welcome back, let's Build Smart & Build Safe! Yesterday, we covered the general categories of work gloves. Today, we're diving into the single most important metric for protecting against severe injury: the ANSI/ISEA Cut Resistance Rating.
If you work with sharp materials, knowing this rating is vital. It tells you the exact level of force a glove can withstand before a sharp blade cuts through the material.
Decoding the ANSI/ISEA 105 Standard
In North America, we rely on the ANSI/ISEA 105 Standard (updated in 2016) for cut resistance. This standard uses a clear, nine-level scale, ranging from A1 to A9.
The rating is determined by how much weight (in grams) it takes to cause a blade to penetrate the glove material in a laboratory setting.
Cut Level | Grams to Cut (Approx.) | Common Use |
A1 | 200–499g | General maintenance, warehousing, light assembly. |
A2 | 500–999g | Box handling, utility work, cabling. |
A3 | 1000–1499g | General construction, handling some rebar/block. |
A4 | 1500–2199g | High-Risk: Light sheet metal, HVAC ductwork, medium glass handling. |
A5 | 2200–3399g | Severe Risk: Heavy sheet metal, glass handling, razor knife handling. |
A6–A9 | 3400g and up | Extremely high-risk applications (e.g., slaughterhouse, oil & gas pipe handling). |
Match the Glove to the Task
A common mistake is using a low-rated glove (like A2) for a high-risk task (like handling cut sheet metal, which requires A4 or A5). An A2 glove will offer better grip, but it will fail catastrophically under the force of a sharp edge, leading to a severe laceration.
The Rule: Always check the JSA for the minimum required cut rating for tasks involving knives, sharp tools, metal, or glass. Your hands are worth the upgrade.
Tomorrow, we'll examine other critical ratings: Puncture Resistance and Abrasion.
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-The Safety Man
