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Hand injuries caused by impacts and crushing hazards remain a serious concern across industrial workplaces. The ANSI/ISEA 138 Impact Protection Standard provides a clear, measurable way to evaluate how well work gloves protect the knuckles and fingers from blunt force. Understanding this standard helps safety professionals choose the right gloves for the job and improve overall hand protection programs.
Hand injuries caused by impacts and crushing hazards remain a serious concern across industrial workplaces. The ANSI/ISEA 138 Impact Protection Standard provides a clear, measurable way to evaluate how well work gloves protect the knuckles and fingers from blunt force. Understanding this standard helps safety professionals choose the right gloves for the job and improve overall hand protection programs.
PPE, Protective gloves
Update 15.01.26
Hands are among the most frequently injured parts of the body on the job. Workers in industries such as construction, manufacturing, material handling, automotive, and oil and gas are routinely exposed to hazards that can cause bruising, fractures, and crush injuries.
While cut resistance is often considered when selecting gloves, impact protection is just as critical when handling heavy objects, tools, or equipment. The ANSI/ISEA 138 standard was created to address this specific risk by establishing a reliable way to evaluate and compare impact-resistant gloves.
What Is the ANSI/ISEA 138 Impact Protection Standard?
ANSI/ISEA 138 is a testing and classification standard that measures how effectively gloves reduce the force of blunt impacts to the knuckles and fingers.
During laboratory testing, calibrated impacts are applied to designated areas of the glove. Sensors then measure how much force is transmitted through the glove to the hand. Based on these results, gloves are assigned impact performance levels, with higher levels indicating greater impact attenuation and protection.
This standardized testing method allows safety managers and workers to confidently compare gloves and select protection that aligns with specific job hazards.
The ANSI/ISEA 138 standard is especially valuable for jobs where hand impacts are common, including:
By referencing ANSI/ISEA 138 performance levels, employers can match glove protection to the real-world risks their workers face. Gloves designed to meet this standard often combine impact protection with other features, such as cut resistance or thermal insulation, to provide comprehensive hand safety.
For example, gloves like the Delta Plus VV910 offer a balance of cut resistance and impact protection, making them suitable for handling heavy or sharp materials. In colder environments, the Delta Plus VV913 delivers similar impact protection while also providing insulation to help maintain warmth and comfort on cold job sites—all while aligning with ANSI/ISEA 138 performance expectations.
As impact-protection gloves become more widely used, ANSI/ISEA 138 provides a clear and consistent benchmark for evaluating performance. Rather than relying on marketing claims, safety professionals can use standardized impact ratings to make informed decisions and improve worker protection.
This consistency also supports better PPE programs by ensuring gloves are selected based on measured performance, not assumptions.
The ANSI/ISEA 138 Impact Protection Standard gives employers and workers a measurable, reliable way to choose gloves that protect against impact and crushing hazards. By understanding how this standard works and applying it to glove selection, organizations can reduce hand injuries, improve compliance, and create safer work environments.
Choosing impact-resistant gloves backed by ANSI/ISEA 138 isn’t just about compliance—it’s about protecting hands where it matters most.
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