WHAT DOES EN 388 MEAN?

EN388 is a European standard that specifies how gloves intended for mechanical risks (such as abrasion, cut, tear and puncture) should be tested and assessed. This standard covers all types of gloves used to provide hand protection against mechanical risks, including those used in industrial, construction, agricultural and horticultural sectors.

The EN388 standard tests gloves on four different criteria, each rated on a scale from 0 to 4, with 4 being the highest score:

1. Abrasion resistance (tested with a rotary sander)
2. Cut resistance (tested with a circular blade)
3. Tearing resistance (tested with a force applied to a notch)
4. Puncture resistance (tested with a pointed object)

These tests are performed on samples of the glove material and not on complete gloves.
After testing, a code is assigned to each criterion, e.g. 4/5/4/3, with the numbers corresponding to the scores for abrasion, cut, tear and puncture resistance. The first digit (in this example 4) indicates abrasion resistance, the second digit (here 5) indicates cut resistance, the third digit (here 4) indicates tear resistance, and the fourth digit (here 3) indicates puncture resistance.

The EN388 standard helps workers and employers choose the most appropriate gloves to protect workers from mechanical risks. At Prosafco, different types of gloves are available that comply with the EN388 standard and are suitable for various applications and working conditions.