What Does
Gauntlet Cuff Mean?
A gauntlet cuff is a piece of protective material used to provide wrist and forearm protection on some types of safety glove. They are typically 4.5 inches in length, and feature an open design that allows the glove to be removed quickly if necessary. Gauntlet cuffs are one of several cuff types commonly used in safety gloves; others types include the safety cuff, the knit-wrist cuff, the slip-on cuff (i.e., no-cuff), and the band-top cuff.
The use of safety gloves that are equipped with gauntlet cuffs is legally required in a variety of different work situations; for example, the electrical gloves that must be used for work with electrical equipment typically use gauntlet cuffs.
Safeopedia Explains Gauntlet Cuff
Gauntlet cuffs have the same design as safety cuffs, with the distinction between the two being the gauntlet cuff’s 4.5 inch length, which is two inches longer than the length of a standard safety cuff. Because of their open-ended design, gauntlet cuffs are appropriate for use in situations where both forearm protection and good ventilation are desired, such as work in hot environments. The gauntlet cuff is not suitable for situations in which it is desirable to prevent dirt and grime from entering the cuff—in these situations a knit-cuff (knit wrist cuff) is more desirable.
Gauntlet cuffs are commonly used to protect against mechanical injuries, such as abrasion, as well as to protect against exposure to sparks (when used in welding and other situations). Many chemical protection gloves also use gauntlet cuffs to protect against exposure to liquid splashes and similar hazards. Gauntlets used to protect against chemical exposures may be significantly longer than the 4.5 inch standard used to protect against physical hazards.
Gauntlet cuffs may be manufactured as an inherent part of a safety glove, or they may be an additional piece of material that is attached to the glove during the manufacturing process. For example, chemical protection gloves may use a gauntlet that provides less protection than the glove itself if there is a low probability that the gauntlet area will be exposed to significant amounts of chemical. Different materials may be used in order to lower the cost of manufacturing the glove or to make it more comfortable to wear.
OSHA requires safety gloves used for certain activities, such as electrical work (standard 1910.137), to be regularly tested in order to ensure that their protective capacity has not decreased due to wear.