In hazardous work environments where you run the risk of cuts, you wear cut-resistant work gloves that protect your hands. Cut resistance is available in 5 classes, with class 5 gloves being the most popular in sectors such as the glass industry, metal and steel industry, automotive industry and offshore.
Cut resistant gloves class 5

Work gloves with class 5 for cut resistance they offer the highest protection against cuts according to the EN 388 standard. The class indicates the performance level for the resistance that the gloves offer to cuts. Work gloves are tested for cut resistance according to the EN 388 standard by looking at the number of cycles that are needed to cut through the glove at a low pressure of 5 newtons. However, this test does not look at whether the knife becomes blunt in the meantime. For this reason, a new test method has been developed (ISO 13997) that only applies if the knife remains undamaged. The result of this test is indicated with a letter from A to F, where F indicates the best performance level.
Meaning of the numbers (from left to right):
- 1st digit: Abrasion resistance
- 2nd digit: Cutting resistance (Couptest)
- 3rd digit: Tear resistance
- 4th digit: Puncture resistance
- 1st letter: Cut resistance (TDM test ISO 13997)
- 2nd letter: Shock resistance (P (Passed) is shown here or not)
- More information about the Couptest
- More information about the TDM test
Choosing the right cut-resistant work gloves
Now that it is clear what changes have taken place in the field of testing cut resistance, it should be easier to choose the right work gloves. However, for the vast majority of work gloves, you are still dependent on the old cut resistance display. Of course, this does not mean that these work gloves are bad, the way of testing is just different. It should be noted that the new way of testing is more reliable.
View all cut resistant work gloves