American National Standard for Hand Protection Selection Criteria ANSI/ISEA 105-2000

OSHA mandates that employers select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection where there is workplace exposure to chemical burns, severe cuts and lacerations, or other hazards. Employers and employees can use this American National Standard from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) to select appropriate gloves for common workplace hazards.

ANSI/ISEA 105-2000, American National Standard for Hand Protection Selection Criteria, provides guidance for selecting the correct gloves that will protect workers and assist employers in compliance with OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.138, according to ISEA technical director Janice Comer Bradley, CSP.

"The past practice of rating work gloves' protection level as 'good, fair or poor' created inconsistencies among glove manufacturers in rating their gloves' ability to provide protection," Bradley said. "The new standard provides a consistent, 'numeric scale' method for manufacturers to rate their products against certain contaminants and exposures. With classification based on this scale, users can make better-informed decisions about which gloves are suitable for which tasks."

Glove performance and pass/fail criteria are included for the following hazardous exposures: cut, puncture and abrasion resistance; protection from cold; chemical permeation and degradation; detection of holes; and heat and flame resistance. The new standard also includes reference information on special considerations such as biological protection, electrical protection and radiation hazards.

"Every end use is different, and no single test method can fully replicate the variety of hazards that a worker may encounter," Bradley added. "The new standard offers consistent ratings for glove performance based on reproducible, standardized test methods. Users should contact glove manufacturers for information on the new glove ratings and labeling of their products that meet this standard."

ANSI/ISEA105-2000 is available from ISEA for $30 a copy. Discounts for bulk orders are available. To order, download the order form and fax it to ISEA at 703-528-2148, or call 703-525-1695. ISEA accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards. For more information, contact ISEA Publications. To order online, go to: http://www.safetyequipment.org/order.html.