The 3 Differences Between Cut Resistant Gloves and Nitrile Gloves

The 3 Differences Between Cut Resistant Gloves and Nitrile Gloves Author - Andy Potts July 27th 2020 (reading time 3 mins)

cut resistant gloves

Traffigloves tiered cut resistant system 1 - 5

If you're confused about which safety gloves to use in your workplace, you're not alone. At Ultrimax, customers often ask us the difference between cut resistant gloves and nitrile gloves, and which type they should use. Here's the lowdown.

There are three main differences between cut-proof and nitrile gloves:

They offer different types of protection
They have different design features
They use different protection rating systems

Understanding these distinctions will help you to choose the most suitable type and level of protection for the task in hand (no pun intended).

Protection

As the name suggests, cut resistant gloves such as TraffiGloves protect the wearer from cuts when using sharp tools or when handling materials with sharp edges. They are suited to manual work in a variety of industries including:

Automotive
Construction and utility
Engineering and manufacturing
Gardening
Oil and gas
Rail
Warehousing
Waste and recycling

A Boiler Repair Engineer sports a pair of Traffi cut resistant gloves in the latest British Gas ad.

You can buy cut resistant gloves that offer additional features such as resistance to water, oil, heat, cold and hazardous chemicals. However, basic cut-proof gloves are best suited to dry working conditions that do not expose the wearer to dangerous chemicals.

Nitrile gloves do protect the wearer against chemicals and other hazardous substances. They offer puncture resistance but not cut protection, as is the case for latex and vinyl gloves. Nitrile gloves are suited to painters and medical professionals.

Design features

Standard cut resistant gloves generally have two skins - an inner nylon glove, and a protective polyurethane (PU) outer coating. Nitrile gloves are made from one layer of synthetic rubber, making them the most suitable choice for intricate tasks that require a high level of dexterity.

Protection rating systems

For safety gloves to be effective, they must provide the right type of protection for the task, and at the correct level. It is therefore essential to understand the different protection rating systems for nitrile and cut-proof gloves.

Nitrile gloves - thickness ratings

Nitrile gloves are rated by their thickness. The thicker the glove, the higher its chemical resistance and general durability. For example, a 4.5mm thick blue nitrile glove is ideal for mechanics, and the 5mm thick Ultrimax Professional Painters Glove offers painters optimal protection from a wide range of substances. You can learn more about different types of nitrile gloves and their suitability for the paint shop in our article, How To Choose the Right Painters Glove.

Cut resistant gloves -Traffi System

Cut-proof gloves follow the colour-coded (RED, AMBER, GREEN) TraffiSystem, devised by safety glove manufacturer Traffi. This innovative protection rating system is based on the EN388 test for cut resistance. It uses a universally understood traffic light colour system, making it easy to identify the right level of protection for a task at a glance.

RED TraffiGloves provide the lowest cut resistance. The red colour signifies danger, reminding the worker to check they are wearing sufficient cut protection for the task they are completing.

AMBER gloves offer mediumcut protection - ideal for handling materials with sharp edges. They suit most day-to-day tasks in second-fix construction trades, mechanical and electrical trades and steel fixing.

GREEN work gloves deliver the greatest cut performance. The green colour is internationally recognised as meaning "safe to go" in situations where there is a higher risk of cuts, such as working with sheet metal.

TraffiGloves explained

Check out our review of TraffiGloves and the TraffiSystem. We think these strong and durable gloves are one of the most reliable hand PPE products on the market.

Need more details?

Our Total Paint Shop Support Team can help you with any enquiries, from product advice to looking after each other in the face of COVID-19.

For more information:

Call: 01302 856666

Email:sales@ultrimaxcoatings.co.uk

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