Impact-Resistant Gloves: ANSI/ISEA 138

What do ANSI/ISEA 138 impact levels mean?

Published June 22, 2026 · Last updated July 27, 2026

Short answer: ANSI/ISEA 138 rates how well a glove's back-of-hand and finger armor absorbs impact, on a 1-3 scale based on the force transmitted through to the hand. Level 1 transmits the most force (least protection) and Level 3 transmits the least (most protection). It is a separate rating from cut resistance, so an impact-resistant glove still needs its own cut level for blade hazards.

Struck-by and pinch injuries to the back of the hand are among the most common — and most preventable — hand injuries in oil and gas, construction, and demolition. Until ANSI/ISEA 138-2019, there was no U.S. standard to rate the molded TPR (thermoplastic rubber) armor on the back of an impact-resistant glove, so "impact" claims were unverifiable marketing. Now the rating is standardized. This guide is written for safety managers and crews who need to specify impact protection objectively, and it explains how the test works, what the three levels mean, and how impact rating interacts with the separate cut and EN 388 scales. OSHA's hand-protection rule, 29 CFR 1910.138, requires gloves matched to the hazard, and for struck-by work that means a verified impact level.

Why this matters.
The back of the hand has little natural padding, and a pinch against a pipe or a struck knuckle can fracture metacarpals and end-of-finger bones, causing long lost-time injuries. Before ANSI/ISEA 138, buyers could not compare impact gloves objectively; an unrated "impact" glove might transmit nearly all the force. Specifying a verified level under ANSI/ISEA 138 is how OSHA 1910.138 hazard-matching becomes auditable.

How ANSI/ISEA 138 tests impact

The test drops a striker to deliver a measured impact energy onto specific points — the knuckles and each finger's back — and records how much force is transmitted through the glove's armor to a sensor beneath. Because every knuckle and finger zone is tested, a glove must protect the fingers, not just the back of the hand, to earn a level. The result is reported as the mean transmitted force in kilonewtons (kN): the lower the transmitted force, the higher the protection level.

ANSI/ISEA 138 impact level decode table

The three levels, by transmitted force — lower force means more protection:

The level is marked with the ISEA 138 pictogram (a hand with a falling weight) and the number. Every glove in our Impact-Resistant Gloves range carries back-of-hand armor; check the marked level against the table. A compliant glove is marked with that pictogram, the level number, and the standard citation — treat a glove that only says “impact resistant” with no ANSI/ISEA 138 level as unrated: padded TPR styling without a marked level has no tested performance claim behind it.

Impact is separate from cut, abrasion, and vibration

An impact level says nothing about cut resistance. A glove can be ANSI/ISEA 138 Level 3 for impact yet only A2 for cut, or vice versa. For blade hazards you must also read the cut level — see our ANSI/ISEA 105 cut-level guide. The European EN 388 standard reports impact only as a pass/fail P, whereas ANSI/ISEA 138 grades the depth of protection 1-3. If the hazard is sustained tool vibration rather than impact, that is a different category again — see our Anti-Vibration Gloves range.

How to choose an impact glove level

1. Rate the impact hazard. Light handling points to Level 1; construction and maintenance to Level 2; oil and gas, drilling, and demolition to Level 3.
2. Add the cut requirement. Determine the cut level you need separately and look for a glove that meets both, not just one.
3. Check finger coverage. Confirm the armor extends over the fingers and thumb, not just the back of the hand, since the standard tests those zones.
4. Balance dexterity. Higher impact armor adds bulk; choose the lowest level that covers the hazard to preserve grip and feel.
5. Size for fit. Consider the correct size so the armor sits over the knuckles — use the glove size chart.

Worked example: gloves for a pipeline crew

A pipeline crew faces pinch points, swinging tools, and sharp pipe edges — high impact plus meaningful cut. Here is the selection on real SKUs:

1. Target Level 2-3 impact. Oil and gas work justifies the highest impact armor; specify ANSI/ISEA 138 Level 2 or 3 from the impact-resistant gloves range.
2. Pick an impact shell. The MCR Safety PD6901 Predator impact gloves or the lighter MCR Safety PD4900 Predator impact gloves deliver back-of-hand TPR armor.
3. Combine impact with cut. For pipe edges, choose a glove that pairs impact with a high cut level, such as the MCR Safety 36136KDP CutPro impact gloves; verify the cut level in the cut-level guide.
4. Confirm the EN 388 mark. If the glove is imported, check for a trailing P on its EN 388 rating as a secondary impact indicator.
5. Size and stage spares. Order across sizes with the glove size chart and keep the cut-resistant gloves range on hand for edge-only tasks.

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: WC Safety participates in the Amazon Associates Program and earns commissions on qualifying purchases made through the button below.

Shop impact-resistant gloves on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

What do ANSI/ISEA 138 impact levels mean?

ANSI/ISEA 138 rates how well a glove's back-of-hand and finger armor absorbs impact, on a 1-3 scale based on the force transmitted through to the hand. Level 1 transmits the most force (least protection) and Level 3 transmits the least (most protection).

What is impact glove rating chart?

The test drops a striker to deliver a measured impact energy onto specific points — the knuckles and each finger's back — and records how much force is transmitted through the glove's armor to a sensor beneath. Because every knuckle and finger zone is tested, a glove must protect the fingers, not just the back of the hand, to earn a level.

What is ANSI / ISEA 138?

The level is marked with the ISEA 138 pictogram (a hand with a falling weight) and the number. Every glove in our Impact-Resistant Gloves range carries back-of-hand armor; check the marked level against the table.

What is ANSI impact level gloves?

An impact level says nothing about cut resistance. A glove can be ANSI/ISEA 138 Level 3 for impact yet only A2 for cut, or vice versa.

Further reading on this site

• EN 388 glove standard explained — the European mechanical-risk rating.
• ANSI/ISEA 105 cut levels — the separate cut scale.
• Glove size chart — fit the armor over your knuckles.
• Chemical-resistant glove guide — for chemical exposure.
• Impact-resistant gloves — full lineup with back-of-hand armor.
• Cut-resistant gloves — for blade and edge hazards.
• Anti-vibration gloves — for sustained tool vibration.
• Material-handling gloves — coated grip for general work.
• Trade gloves — general-purpose work gloves by application.
• Nitrile gloves complete buyer's guide — coatings, grip, and grades.
• Nitrile gloves — disposable grades for light tasks.

Related reference

Related on this site: chemical resistant glove guide, heat resistant gloves guide, anti vibration gloves guide, how to choose work gloves, cut resistance glove levels explained: ansi/isea 105 a1 through a9, and cut-resistant vs impact-resistant gloves: what's the difference?.

Why trust WC Safety

WC Safety is an independent, affiliate-supported review site. It is not a retailer: it holds no inventory, takes no orders, and earns only from qualifying purchases through clearly marked links — which never changes what a product is rated to do. Standards language is taken from the regulation text directly, and ratings are reported as the manufacturer publishes them. We run no laboratory and perform no testing of our own. Where published sources disagree, we say so and plan on the conservative figure rather than the flattering one.

Our methodology

Figures come from the regulation and the published specification, in that order. Derated numbers are calculated, not estimated. Nothing here is presented as a measured result, because we measure nothing.

Researched and written by Steven Eaton, editor of WC Safety. Steven holds no safety certification and does not test products; this page compares what manufacturers and regulators publish, with the gaps in that record marked. Last reviewed August 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions