Diplomat HexArmor Needlestick Resistance Catalogue

needle

needle SAFETY GLOVES

THE INDUSTRY LEADER IN CUT, PUNCTURE, AND NEEDLE PROTECTION

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NEEDLESTICK INJURIES: WHAT IS THE RISK? Although there are not exact numbers on how many work-related needlesticks occur each year across the US, estimates indicate that 600,000 to 800,000 injuries occur annually, about half of which go unreported.

Of those, a recent CDC study estimates that an average of 385,000 needlestick injuries occur in hospital settings. This means roughly half of all needlesticks occur outside of hospitals where the ramifications can be more severe.

THE COST OF NEEDLESTICK INJURIES The precise cost of needlestick injuries is difficult to quantify. According to the American Hospital Association, one case of serious infection by blood borne pathogens can add up to $1 million or more in expenses for testing, lost work time and disability payments. Even when no infection occurs, the cost to organizations is estimated to be more than $3,000 per injury for testing, counseling and time off work.

WHO IS AT RISK OF NEEDLESTICK INJURIES? • Children with relatives or neighbors using needles • Cleaners of public toilets, parks, trains, cinema seats • Healthcare workers • People who maintain areas where needles may be used for illegal drug use • Police and security officers especially while searching suspects or their property • Sanitation and recycling workers dealing with refuse Needles are used to draw blood or deliver medicines.

A dirty needle may contain infected blood causing disease or infection. These diseases may be spread to anyone who gets stuck by the dirty needle. There are many diseases which can, and have, been spread through contaminated needlesticks: • HIV/AIDS • Hepatitis B • Hepatitas C • Blastomycosis • Brucellosis • Cryptococcosis • Diphtheria • Cutaneous gonorrhea • Herpes • Malaria • Mycobacteriosis • Mycoplasma caviae • Rocky Mountain spotted fever • Sporotrichosis • Staphylococcus aureus • Streptococcus pyogenes • Syphilis • Toxoplasmosis • Tuberculosis

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Puncture and Needle Testing For years the EN388 and ASTM 1342 were the main tests used for measuring puncture resistance for PPE. The shortcoming of the EN388 and ASTM 1342 tests are that they do not replicate real-world puncture hazards such as needles, slivers, burrs, frayed wire, wire rope or glass shards.

IS THE TRUTH IN THE TEST? The reason that these tests are not relevant for puncture is simple. The test probe for the EN388 test is rounded and blunt, larger than the end of a ball-point pen. The test measures more of a tear, or burst hazard, but has almost no relevance when it comes to needle or industrial testing. The test probe for the ASTM 1342 is thinner and more pointed than the E388 probe, but it still does not come close to replicating a needlestick hazard.

According to a March 11, 2011 ASTM Newsroom Press Release (#8815), this is an issue that the standards committees recognized, as well as other manufacturers: Due to risk of infection from bloodborne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C, hypodermic needlesticks pose a life-safety risk to healthcare professionals, law enforcement officials, sanitation workers and others.

A new ASTM International standard addresses the unique mechanics of hypodermic needle puncture as related to protective clothing. ASTM F2878, Test Method for Protective Clothing Material Resistance to Hypodermic Needle Puncture, was developed

by Subcommittee F23.20 on Physical, part of ASTM International Committee F23 on Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment.

“Over the past several years, a number of new protective equipment technologies have been developed to prevent needlestick, however, there has been no standardized test method available for technology developers and users to reference when conducting comparative analysis,” says John Cronin, product manager, Warwick Mills Inc., and an F23 member. “With the publication of ASTM F2878, there is

From left to right: EN388 Probe, ASTM 1342 Probe, 25G needle, ball point pen

now an appropriate method for conducting comparative analysis of hypodermic needle puncture resistance.”

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HEXARMOR® AND NEW ASTM F2878 TESTING HexArmor® has long understood these shortcomings and has been testing using a modified ASTM 1342 test using 25 gauge hypodermic needles. With the new ASTM F2878 test we are able to now standardize testing based on international standards.

OVERVIEW OF THE ASTM F2878 TEST • Testing can be done using a 21G, 25G or 28G needle.

• The following tests used a 25G needle • Puncture probe (25G needle) travels at a 90˚ angle into a specimen at a velocity of 500mm/min • Amount of force necessary to puncture through the material specimen is recorded in Newtons* to the nearest .01 N • This test is done 12 times for every material/specimen • The average of the 12 results is reported

Our needle–resistant gloves and arm guards aren’t just lab tested, we test them with actual 25 gauge needles to give you maximum protection and peace of mind.

THE RESULTS We tested our needlestick and puncture resistant gloves, as well as competitive gloves, using the ASTM F2878 methodology producing the following results:

1000

10.0

800

8.0

600

6.0

400

4.0

200

2.0

Newtons

Grams of Needle Resistance

ASTM-F2878 Needle Resistance Comparison

0

0

Interlock Cotton

Superior Dynastop

1.4mm Turtleskin Turtleskin Leather Full Coverage Insider

Tilsetec AG

HexArmor 6044

®

HexArmor 9014

®

HexArmor 7082

®

*The Newton is the Standard International unit of force. One Newton is the force required to cause a mass of one kilogram to accelerate at a rate of one meter per second squared in the absence of other force-producing effects. We have converted Newton’s to grams.

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The Clear Industry Leader Needles are sharp, beveled cutting instruments designed to pierce the skin. To stop them you need to stop the cutting action by putting something hardened in front of them, such as the protective guardplates found in SuperFabric® brand materials.

HexArmor® needle resistant products work by layering SuperFabric® materials over each other. SuperFabric® guardplates block and deflect needle hazards, or trap and arrest them in the small gaps between guardplates.

Multiple aligned layers of fabric provide extra resistance against needle hazards.

HexArmor® products are also tested in real world applications and are proven to reduce needlestick injuries.

Using the correct test will ensure you have the right glove to protect your employees, and as always we recommend proper field testing to validate the appropriate level of protection necessary for your application.

HexArmor® needle resistant products work by layering SuperFabric® materials over each other.

“The best hand protection on the market.”

- Regional Safety Manager, Large US Waste Handler/Recycler

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SharpsMaster II® 9014

SharpsMaster HV™ 7082

Recommended Uses:

Recommended Uses:

Available in sizes 7/S–10/XL

Available in sizes 7/S–10/XL

Waste/recycle sorting, laundry & linen, wastewater/sewage treatment

Waste/recycle sorting, laundry & linen, wastewater/sewage treatment

3 Layers SuperFabric® Protection

3 Layers SuperFabric® Protection

4544

4533

PointGuard® X 6044

Hercules™ NSR 3041

Recommended Uses:

Recommended Uses:

Available in sizes 5/XXS–11/XXL

Available in sizes 7/S–11/XXL

Glove liner, waste/recycle sorting, laundry & linen, wastewater/sewage treatment

Waste/recycle sorting, laundry & linen, wastewater/sewage treatment

2 Layers SuperFabric® Protection 3 Layers SuperFabric® Protection

3 Layers SuperFabric® Protection

4523

NSR 4041

4522

Search & Duty 4045

Recommended Uses:

Law enforcement, waste/recycle sorting, laundry & linen Available in sizes 7/S–11/XXL

Recommended Uses:

Law enforcement, seizure/pat downs, correctional operations Available in sizes 7/S–11/XXL SuperFabric® Protection Zone 2 Layers SuperFabric® Protection

3 Layers SuperFabric® Protection

4522

4532

Leather Tactical Enforcement 4046

8” Needle-Resistant Arm Guard AG8TW

Recommended Uses:

Recommended Uses:

Available in sizes 7/S–11/XXL

Available in sizes 7/S–11/XXL

Law enforcement, seizure/pat downs, correctional operations SuperFabric® Protection Zone 2 Layers SuperFabric® Protection Protective Shell

Recycle sorting, hospital waste, laundry & linen, wastewater

2 Layers SuperFabric® Protection

4512

Australian Distributor:

For further information on HexArmor products, please contact us on:

Ph: (03) 8710 4777 Fax: (03) 8710 4700 Email: sales@diplomatblades.com.au Website: www.diplomatblades.com.au

Australian Distributor:

For further information on HexArmor products, please contact us on:

Ph: (03) 8710 4777 Fax: (03) 8710 4700 Email: sales@diplomatblades.com.au Website: www.diplomatblades.com.au