START WITH THE TASK
Look at what your teams are doing day to day:
- Handling materials with sharp edges
- Working with tools or equipment
- Carrying out repetitive handling tasks
- Each of these introduces different types of mechanical risk.
EN388 GLOVES AND CUT LEVELS EXPLAINED
EN388:2016 is the European standard used to assess the performance of protective gloves against mechanical risks.
If you're responsible for selecting safety gloves, understanding EN388:2016 ratings helps you compare products consistently, interpret cut levels correctly and choose protection that's appropriate for the hazards involved.
This guide explains how EN388:2016 works, how glove markings should be interpreted and how to apply them when selecting gloves for real working environments.
WHAT DOES EN388 MEASURE?
EN388:2016 tests how gloves perform against mechanical risks commonly found in working environments. Each glove is rated across four key areas, giving you a clearer picture of how it will perform in practice.
Abrasion resistance
Measures how well a glove withstands surface wear from repeated friction. Higher ratings indicate better durability in handling and repetitive tasks
Cut resistance
Assesses how well a glove protects against sharp objects and materials. This is one of the most important factors when working with metal, glass, or tools
Tear resistance
Measures how much force is required to tear the glove material. Higher tear resistance helps maintain protection during demanding tasks
Puncture resistance
Tests how well a glove resists penetration from sharp points. Important when handling materials that could pierce the glove
These ratings are combined to give an overall EN388:2016 score, helping you compare gloves based on how they perform across different types of risk.
HOW ARE CUT LEVELS MEASURED?
Cut resistance within EN388:2016 is shown using a rating system that helps you understand how well a glove protects against cutting hazards. Rather than a single score, EN388:2016 uses a graded scale to indicate different levels of cut protection.
CUT LEVELS (A-F)
Cut resistance is typically shown using a scale from A to F, where:
- Level A represents lower cut resistance
- Level F represents the highest level of cut resistance within the standard
Each level reflects how much resistance the glove provides when exposed to a cutting force.
WHY CUT LEVELS MATTER
Different tasks involve different levels of risk.
For example:
- Lower cut levels may be suitable for light handling tasks
- Higher cut levels are used where there is greater exposure to sharp materials or tools
Understanding this scale helps you match the glove to the level of risk, rather than selecting protection based on guesswork.
Cut resistance is one part of the overall EN388:2016 rating, so it should always be considered alongside abrasion, tear, and puncture performance.
UNDERSTANDING THE COUPE TEST AND TDM TEST
EN388:2016 tests how gloves perform against mechanical risks commonly found in working environments.
Each glove is rated across four key areas, giving you a clearer picture of how it will perform in practice.
The Coupe Test
The Coupe Test measures cut resistance using a rotating circular blade that moves backwards and forwards across the glove material under a constant force. The result is shown as a performance level from 0 to 5.
This test is suitable for many glove materials and remains part of the EN388:2016 standard.
Why was the TDM test introduced?
Some modern cut-resistant fibres are extremely durable and can blunt the rotating blade used during the Coupe Test. When this happens, the test can overestimate the glove's cut resistance because the blade becomes less effective as testing continues.
To provide a more reliable measurement for these materials, the ISO 13997 TDM Test was introduced into EN388:2016.
Unlike the Coupe Test, the TDM Test uses a new straight blade for every cut, ensuring the blade remains sharp throughout testing. The force required to cut through the glove material is then measured and converted into a cut resistance level from A to F.
When is each test used?
Both tests form part of the EN388:2016 standard.
- The Coupe Test continues to be used for gloves where the test method provides reliable results.
- Where glove materials cause significant blade dulling during the Coupe Test, the ISO 13997 TDM Test provides a more accurate assessment of cut resistance. In these cases, the Coupe Test result may be shown as "X", while the glove's cut resistance is represented by the A-F rating from the TDM Test.
For modern high-performance cut-resistant gloves, the ISO 13997 rating is generally the most meaningful indicator of cut resistance, particularly in applications involving sharp materials or higher cutting forces.
HOW TO READ AN EN388:2016 RATING
EN388:2016 ratings are shown as a sequence of numbers and letters that represent how a glove performs across different types of mechanical risk. Each position in the rating corresponds to a specific test. A typical EN388:2016 rating looks like this: EN388: 4X43F
- First number (Abrasion Resistance)
Indicates how well the glove resists surface wear. Performance is rated from 0 to 4, with 4 representing the highest level of abrasion resistance.
- Second number (Cut Resistance – Coupe Test)
Measures resistance to cutting using a rotating blade and is rated from 0 to 5. An "X" indicates that this test was not performed or the result is not applicable.
- Third number (Tear Resistance)
Shows how much force is needed to tear the glove material. Performance is rated from 0 to 4, with 4 representing the highest level of tear resistance.
- Fourth number (Puncture Resistance)
Indicates resistance to penetration from sharp objects. Performance is rated from 0 to 4, with 4 representing the highest level of puncture resistance.
- Final letter (Cut Resistance – TDM Test)
Ranges from A to F, with F representing the highest level of cut resistance under the ISO 13997 test.
WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE
An EN388:2016 rating allows you to compare gloves across multiple risks, not just cut resistance.
For example, a glove with...
- High abrasion resistance
- Moderate cut protection
- Strong tear resistance
...may be more suitable for one task than a glove with a higher cut level but lower durability.
Understanding how to read the full rating helps you select gloves based on the specific risks involved, rather than focusing on a single performance measure.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT EN388 GLOVES FOR YOUR TASK
Understanding EN388:2016 ratings is only useful if you can apply them to real working conditions. The right glove is the one that matches both the level of risk and the way the task is carried out.
MATCH THE RISK TO THE RATING
Use the EN388 rating to identify the level of protection required:
- Higher cut levels for tasks involving sharp materials
- Strong abrasion resistance for repetitive handling
- Higher puncture resistance where there is a risk of penetration
- This helps ensure protection reflects the actual hazards involved.
CONSIDER HOW THE GLOVE IS USED
A glove also needs to work in practice.
That means considering:
- Dexterity for handling and precision work
- Comfort for extended wear
- Durability across repeated use
- A glove that meets the standard but isn’t worn consistently will not provide effective protection.
WHY EN388 MATTERS FOR SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE
EN388:2016 provides a recognised way to assess how gloves perform against common mechanical risks, giving you a consistent standard to work from when selecting hand protection.
In practice, this helps you:
- Demonstrate that gloves meet recognised protection standards when reviewing safety requirements
- Align glove selection with identified workplace risks rather than relying on assumptions
- Support consistency across teams and sites by using clearly defined performance ratings
For organisations responsible for workplace safety, using EN388-rated gloves supports a more structured approach to managing risk. It also helps ensure that decisions are based on measurable performance, making it easier to review, compare, and improve hand protection over time.
EN388:2016 should always be used as part of a wider safety approach, where risks are identified, protection is selected accordingly, and gloves are tested in real working conditions.
SUPPORTING COMPLIANT GLOVE SELECTION
Understanding protection standards like EN388:2016 is an important part of selecting the right gloves, but applying them correctly in real environments is just as important.
At Traffi, we support this by helping you interpret protection ratings and relate them to the tasks your teams carry out.
This includes:
- Providing clear guidance on protection standards so you can understand how EN388 ratings apply in practice
- Helping you link risks to appropriate glove performance rather than relying on specification alone
- Supporting product selection with technical information and datasheets to help you compare options with confidence
This approach helps ensure that EN388:2016 ratings are used as part of a practical decision-making process, not just a technical reference.
APPLY EN388 STANDARDS IN YOUR WORKPLACE
Reviewing how gloves perform in your environment, comparing protection levels, and testing products in real conditions helps ensure the right level of protection is in place.
If you’re assessing your current glove use or selecting new products, you can explore the range, review technical information, and take the next step.
FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS
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If you would rather discuss things directly, you can speak with our team.
EN388:2016 is a European standard used to test how gloves perform against mechanical risks such as abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture. When you see an EN388:2016 rating on a glove, it indicates how that product has been tested under controlled conditions. This helps you compare different gloves and understand the level of protection they offer for specific tasks.
EN388:2016 gloves are safety gloves that have been tested against the EN388:2016 standard for mechanical protection. This means they have been assessed for performance in areas such as durability, cut resistance, and puncture protection. When selecting gloves, choosing EN388-rated products helps ensure that protection is based on recognised testing rather than assumptions.
Cut levels in EN388:2016 are shown using a scale from A to F, indicating different levels of resistance to cutting forces. Higher levels represent greater resistance. These ratings are determined through standardised testing methods and provide a consistent way to compare gloves. Understanding these levels helps you select protection that matches the risks involved in your specific tasks.
An EN388 rating is made up of a sequence of numbers and a letter that represent performance across different tests. These include abrasion, cut resistance, tear, and puncture, followed by a letter indicating cut resistance under higher force. Learning how to interpret this rating helps you compare gloves more effectively and select the right level of protection.
Cut levels A to F represent increasing resistance to cutting hazards under EN388:2016. Traffi simplifies these ratings with the colour-coded TraffiSystem: Red (Level A), Amber (Level B) and Green (Levels C-F). This makes selecting the appropriate level of cut protection quicker, clearer and easier to apply in the workplace.
Higher EN388:2016 ratings provide greater resistance in specific areas, but they are not always the best choice for every task. Gloves need to balance protection with usability, including comfort and dexterity. Selecting the highest rating without considering how the glove will be used can lead to reduced adoption or performance issues in practice.
Choosing the right EN388:2016 gloves starts with understanding the tasks your teams carry out and the risks involved. From there, you can use the rating system to match protection levels to those risks. We recommend combining this with real-world testing to ensure gloves perform as expected in your environment before making wider decisions.
EN388:2016 supports workplace safety by providing a consistent way to measure and compare glove performance against common mechanical risks. This helps you make more informed decisions when selecting hand protection and ensures that gloves are chosen based on tested performance rather than assumptions. It forms part of a wider approach to managing workplace risk.
EN388 focuses specifically on mechanical risks such as abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture. It does not cover all types of hazards, such as chemical or thermal risks, which are measured under different standards. This means EN388:2016 should be considered alongside other relevant standards depending on the tasks and environment involved.
If you want to explore EN388:2016 in more detail, our full guide to glove standards explains ratings, testing, and how to interpret results so you can make more informed decisions about glove selection.
