In the safety glove category, legal requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction and specific work environment. For most general industrial roles, specific safety certifications are not legally mandated for the buyer to purchase a glove, but they are mandatory for the manufacturer to provide if the glove is marketed as protective. Voluntary marks, such as those indicating specific cut levels or chemical resistance, are meaningful because they provide a standardized metric for performance that marketing claims cannot offer. Decorative marks, such as “heavy-duty” or “professional-grade” labels without accompanying standards, provide no verifiable protection and should be disregarded during the selection process.
What does the ANSI/ISEA 105 standard mean?
The ANSI/ISEA 105 standard is the primary US standard for hand protection performance and classification. It is issued by the American National Standards Institute and the Industrial Safety Equipment Association to provide a framework for testing and rating protective gloves.
This standard guarantees that a glove has undergone specific laboratory testing for mechanical risks, including abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture resistance. It provides a numerical rating system that allows you to compare the physical durability of different materials under controlled stress.
The ANSI/ISEA 105 standard does not guarantee that a glove will protect against all hazards. It specifically measures mechanical resistance; it does not certify a glove for high-voltage electrical work, extreme heat, or hazardous chemical permeation unless those specific sub-tests are also performed and listed.
Where these choices show up in our reviews
From $117.06 to $159.99: the 3 in this category we have reviewed in full.
PIP 34-844 MaxiFlex Endurance Knit Gloves
$117.06 price checked August 2026
Read our full MaxiFlex Endurance Gloves review
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What is the EN 388 certification?
The EN 388 standard is the European standard for mechanical risks, including abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture resistance. It is issued by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and is used globally as a benchmark for industrial work gloves.
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This mark guarantees that the glove material meets specific performance levels across four tests: abrasion resistance, blade cut resistance, tear resistance, and puncture resistance. The result is typically expressed as a four-digit code (e.g., 3X4X2), where each digit represents the score for a specific test.
EN 388 does not guarantee protection against chemical splashes, thermal hazards, or electrical shocks. It is strictly a mechanical protection standard. A glove with a high EN 388 rating may still fail if the primary risk in your environment involves liquid chemicals or high-temperature surfaces.
Which safety failure modes do these standards address?
Cut-through protection
Cut-through occurs when a blade or sharp edge penetrates the glove material and reaches the skin. Both ANSI/ISEA 105 and EN 388 address this through standardized blade tests, providing a rating that tells you how much force the material can withstand before failing.
Abrasion and tear resistance
Abrasion resistance measures the glove’s ability to withstand surface wear over time, while tear resistance measures the material’s ability to resist being ripped apart. These standards ensure the glove maintains its structural integrity during repetitive handling of rough materials.
Puncture resistance
Puncture resistance measures the ability of the glove to resist sharp objects piercing through the material. This is a critical metric for tasks involving wood, metal shards, or heavy-duty industrial waste.
How do you verify a safety mark is real?
Verifying that a safety mark is legitimate rather than just printed on the packaging requires checking for specific documentation and manufacturing details:
- Check for a manufacturer’s compliance statement or a test report number printed on the product packaging or the glove itself.
- Verify that the certification number corresponds to a recognized laboratory or a known testing body.
- Look for the specific testing icons (such as the EN 388 logo) which should be accompanied by the specific test scores.
- Confirm that the manufacturer provides a technical data sheet that lists the specific test results for the material used in that specific model.
Which marks are non-negotiable for work gloves?
Non-negotiable marks are those that directly correspond to the primary hazard of your work environment. If your work involves sharp objects, an ANSI/ISEA 105 or EN 388 rating is non-negotiable because it provides the only verifiable data on cut and puncture resistance.
For most industrial applications, these mechanical standards are the baseline. You should weigh these marks against other factors, such as dexterity requirements or grip material, only after the glove meets the minimum mechanical rating required for your specific task. If the work environment involves chemicals or electricity, you must prioritize the specific standards for those hazards (such as ASTM D120 for electrical) over general mechanical ratings.
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