At a major aerospace facility, a worker suffered a hand injury while disposing of coiled sheet metal – despite wearing high cut-resistant gloves. The incident revealed a critical gap: cut resistance alone wasn’t enough when puncture hazards were present. After a successful trial, HexArmor’s PointGuard® 4047 glove featuring 360-degree SuperFabric® brand material* protection against cuts, punctures, and abrasions was adopted for high-risk tasks.

The challenge: Injuries despite high cut protection

In the world of aerospace, cut resistance isn’t always enough when it comes to raw material handling. In this case, a worker at a major aerospace facility suffered a puncture and laceration injury while disposing of raw coiled sheet metal.

These slick wires, ranging from two to five inches in diameter, sprang open unexpectedly during handling. The worker instinctively reached out to control the material, but the high ANSI/ISEA 105- 2024 level A9 cut-resistance glove they were using wasn’t enough – it lacked the essential puncture protection needed for the task.

Although this specific task was limited to a small group of workers, the incident exposed a critical gap in the hand protection used at the plant: not all hazards are solved by high cut resistance alone.

The solution: Puncture protection that withstands the demands

HexArmor® provided the PointGuard® 4047 glove for evaluation. With SuperFabric® delivering 360 degrees of industry-leading cut, puncture, and abrasion resistance, the 4047 glove offers an additional and critical layer of protection required for sharp, spring-loaded materials like coiled sheet metal.

Unlike traditional cut-resistant gloves, SuperFabric® technology features small guard plate geometry that helps to block hazards on contact. This structure helps prevent a puncture from reaching the skin, an event that could quickly turn into a laceration, all while maintaining the flexibility workers need to safely grip and maneuver slick materials.

Sizes medium through extra-large were trialed by the team members performing the disposal task – and the results point to superior protection.

The result: Confident handling and immediate adoption

Feedback from the team was strongly positive, with workers reporting improved confidence when handling raw materials. After a successful trial, the site quickly adopted the PointGuard® 4047 as their new go-to glove for high-risk tasks.

See the PointGuard® 4047 safety glove

*SUPERFABRIC® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF HDM, INC.