Hand injuries are among the most common workplace injuries in New Zealand, and most are preventable. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, businesses have a duty to manage risks to workers — and where cuts and lacerations can't be designed out of a task, the right cut-resistant gloves are a critical last line of defence.
But glove packaging is covered in numbers, letters and pictograms that can be hard to decode. Choose a level that's too low and you leave workers exposed; choose one that's too high and you sacrifice the dexterity they need to do the job safely. This guide explains the standards you'll see on gloves in New Zealand, what the cut levels actually mean, and how to match the right glove to the task.
The standard you'll see in New Zealand: AS/NZS 2161.3 and EN 388:2016
Cut-resistant gloves sold in New Zealand are assessed against AS/NZS 2161.3:2020 – Occupational protective gloves, Part 3: Protection against mechanical risks. This standard was updated in 2020 to align with the European standard EN 388:2016, so the two use the same test methods and markings. In practice, most gloves you'll buy carry the EN 388 pictogram — a small shield containing four numbers followed by up to two letters.
Here's how to read it. The EN 388 marking looks like 4X43C P and each character reports a different type of mechanical protection:
- 1st number – Abrasion resistance (0–4): how well the material stands up to rubbing and wear.
- 2nd character – Coupe cut test (0–5, or X): the original circular-blade cut test. An "X" means this test wasn't suitable for the material (common with high-performance cut fibres, which blunt the blade and give unreliable results).
- 3rd number – Tear resistance (0–4).
- 4th number – Puncture resistance (0–4): resistance to being pierced by a pointed object like a nail or needle.
- 5th character – Cut resistance to ISO 13997 (A–F): the newer, more accurate cut test — this is the one to focus on for cut protection.
- 6th character – Impact protection (P), if tested: a "P" means the glove passed the optional back-of-hand impact test.
For choosing cut protection, the letter (A–F) is the number that matters most.
Cut levels explained: the EN ISO A–F scale
The A–F rating comes from the ISO 13997 (TDM) test, which drags a straight blade across the glove material under increasing force until it cuts through. The result is measured in newtons (N) — the more force required, the higher the rating.
| EN ISO cut level | Force to cut through | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| A | 2 N (≈200 g) | Minimal cut protection — light assembly, general handling |
| B | 5 N (≈500 g) | Low risk — light materials handling, packaging |
| C | 10 N (≈1,000 g) | Moderate risk — warehousing, some construction |
| D | 15 N (≈1,500 g) | Higher risk — metal pressing, glass handling, HVAC |
| E | 22 N (≈2,240 g) | High risk — sharp metal edges, sheet metal, food processing |
| F | 30 N+ (≈3,060 g+) | Extreme risk — blade changing, meat/knife work, glass cutting |
A quick note on imported gloves and ANSI ratings. Some gloves — particularly those made for the US market — carry an ANSI/ISEA 105 cut rating instead, graded A1 to A9 and measured in grams rather than newtons. The two scales use similar machines but different units, so they are not directly interchangeable. If you're comparing gloves across both systems, check the underlying gram/newton figure rather than assuming, say, that an EN level "C" equals an ANSI "A3." When in doubt, ask your supplier for the test data.
How to choose the right cut level for the task
The correct level depends on the sharpness of what's being handled, the force involved, and how much the material can move against the hand. As a starting point for common New Zealand industries:
- Level A–B: General warehousing, dispatch, packing, light assembly, gardening and horticulture handling where sharp edges are incidental.
- Level C–D: Construction, building materials, timber and steel handling, automotive, HVAC and general engineering.
- Level D–E: Metal fabrication and pressing, sheet-metal work, glass and glazing, appliance manufacturing, recycling and waste sorting.
- Level E–F: Meat, poultry and seafood processing, knife and blade work, glass cutting, and any task involving deliberate contact with sharp blades.
New Zealand's meat processing, seafood, horticulture, viticulture, construction and engineering sectors all sit at different points on this scale — so don't default to "one glove for the whole site." A boning room needs very different protection from a dispatch bench.
Critically, cut level is not the only factor. A glove that's rated Level F but too bulky to grip a knife safely can create a bigger hazard than a well-fitted Level D. When you've narrowed the cut level, also weigh up:
- Fit and dexterity — a snug glove in the correct size improves control and reduces fatigue. Poor fit is a leading reason gloves get taken off mid-task.
- Grip and coating — nitrile, polyurethane (PU) and latex coatings suit different conditions. Oily or wet work needs a coating designed to channel liquid away; dry precision work suits a thin PU.
- Other hazards — do you also need protection from chemicals, cold, heat or impact? Look at the full EN 388 marking, and consider dedicated ranges for those risks.
- Comfort and breathability — if a glove is uncomfortable, it won't be worn. Comfort drives compliance.
Put PPE in its place: the hierarchy of controls
WorkSafe New Zealand is clear that personal protective equipment sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls — it's the last line of defence, not the first. Before relying on gloves, work through whether the cutting hazard can be eliminated, substituted, engineered out (guards, safer blades), or reduced through better systems of work. Gloves protect the worker when a residual risk remains after those higher-order controls, and they should be chosen as part of a documented risk assessment for the specific task.
Also remember gloves are consumables. Cut protection degrades with wear, washing, cuts and contamination. Inspect gloves regularly, set a replacement schedule, and train your team on correct fit and when to swap them out.
Getting it right for your team
Choosing cut-resistant gloves comes down to three questions: how sharp is the hazard (which sets your minimum A–F level), how much dexterity does the task need, and what other risks are present. Get those right and you protect your people without slowing them down.
At NZ Packaging we stock a full range of cut-resistant gloves across the EN 388 cut levels, alongside our wider work & specialty gloves and disposable gloves ranges — so you can match the glove to the hazard for every role on site. Not sure which level your team needs? Get in touch, or open a trade account for bulk pricing and fast NZ-wide delivery.
This guide is general information to help you compare cut-resistant glove ratings and is not a substitute for a workplace risk assessment. For guidance on your health-and-safety obligations, refer to WorkSafe New Zealand and the relevant AS/NZS standards.
