ASTM E3212-19

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3212 − 19
Standard Guide for
Selection and Procurement of Protective Gloves Worn by
Law Enforcement and Corrections
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3212; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1 This guide addresses selection and procurement of
protective gloves worn by law enforcement and corrections
2. Referenced Documents
officers.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 Thisguideexplainstoendusersthecontentandvalueof
E3108 Practice for Conformity Assessment of Protective
the two below listed standards and how to procure gloves that
Gloves Worn by Law Enforcement and Corrections Offi-
meet their requirements.
cers
1.2.1 Specification E3109:
E3109 Specification for Protective Gloves Worn by Law
1.2.1.1 The purpose of Specification E3109 is to provide
Enforcement and Corrections Officers
performance requirements, performance ratings, and test meth-
F2010 Test Method for Evaluation of Glove Effects on
ods for the evaluation of protective gloves used in law
Wearer Finger Dexterity Using a Modified Pegboard Test
enforcement and corrections applications.
2.2 ISO Standards:
1.2.1.2 Test methods and performance ratings are included
ISO/IEC 17000 Conformity Assessment – Vocabulary and
to aid glove purchasers and end users in their evaluation of
General Principles
whether a protective glove meets their needs. It is not required
ISO/IEC 17050-1 ConformityAssessment – Supplier’s Dec-
that a glove meet every performance requirement specified in
laration of Conformity – Part 1: General Requirements
this specification.
ISO/IEC 17050-2 ConformityAssessment – Supplier’s Dec-
1.2.2 Practice E3108:
laration of Conformity – Part 2: Supporting Documenta-
1.2.2.1 Practice E3108 establishes the conformity assess-
tion
ment requirements for protective gloves worn by law enforce-
ment and corrections officers and provides two options for
3. Terminology
verifying that protective gloves meet requirements: (1) suppli-
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
er’s declaration of conformity (SDOC) and (2) certification.
3.1.1 conformity assessment, n—demonstration that speci-
1.2.2.2 The practice is intended to be used by purchasers
fied requirements relating to a product, process, system,
and suppliers in the procurement of gloves that meet Specifi-
person, or body are fulfilled. ISO/IEC 17000
cation E3109, and the purchaser is responsible for selecting
either SDOC or certification.
3.1.2 dexterity, n—a hand function referring to the ability of
the individual to manipulate objects with their hands. E3109
1.3 This guide and the aforementioned standards were
developed based on a survey of end users regarding hazards of
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Dexterity may be classified as requir-
concern and operational requirements of officers. (See Section
ing fine motor skills in which relatively small objects are
5.)
manipulated, or those involving gross motor skills in which
relatively large objects are handled.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 3.1.3 supplier’s declaration of conformity (SDOC), n—the
declarationbywhichafirstpartyorsupplierconveysassurance
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E54.04 on the ASTM website.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
Current edition approved May 1, 2019. Published May 2019. DOI: 10.1520/ Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier,
E3212-19. Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E3212 − 19
that the object of conformity fulfills specified requirements. 5.4.2 Protection against chemicals (for example, illicit
ISO/IEC 17000 drugs, chemical warfare agents, or toxic industrial chemicals),
because no single glove is resistant to all types of chemicals.
4. Significance and Use 5.4.3 Protection against biohazards, because officers are
issued medical gloves for this purpose.
4.1 This guide is intended to assist law enforcement and
5.4.4 Protection against flame or heat from pyrotechnic or
corrections officers in selecting and purchasing protective
distraction devices, because officers are trained on safe opera-
gloves that both meet their needs and have been demonstrated
tion of those devices.
to meet relevant performance requirements of Specification
E3109. 6. Explanation of Hazards Identified by Officers
6.1 The specification addresses protection against five haz-
4.2 The guide explains the performance requirements, per-
ardsidentifiedbyendusersasimportant:28-gaugehypodermic
formance ratings, and test methods for assessing performance.
needle puncture resistance, puncture resistance, cut resistance,
abrasion resistance, and tear resistance.
5. Understanding Officer Needs Related to Protective
Gloves
6.2 Protection against Needle-stick:
6.2.1 It is not uncommon for an officer to come into contact
5.1 To determine the protection needs and hazards of
with an illicit drug user; therefore, the risk of a needle stick is
concern to law enforcement and corrections personnel, a
a major concern, not only because of the risk of sustaining an
survey was developed and released to US agencies through
injury but also the possibility of infection or the transference of
multiple channels including:
a disease.This is especially true during the search of a suspect.
5.1.1 Interagency Board for Emergency Preparedness and
6.3 Protection against Puncture:
Response
6.3.1 Puncture wounds, although not overly common, are
5.1.2 National Tactical Officers Association
always a concern for officers mainly because of the risk of
5.1.3 National Sheriffs Association
infection. Officers respond daily to a variety of scenes and are
5.1.4 International Association of Chiefs of Police
constantly moving around in unknown and unpredictable
5.1.5 International Association of Women Police
environments. Simple things, such as the handling of an item
5.1.6 FBI National Academy Associates
which contains nails or manipulating barb wire fencing when
5.1.7 American Jail Association
trying to access a secured piece of property, all pose a potential
5.1.8 American Correctional Association
puncture risk for the officer.
5.1.9 United States Marshal Service
6.4 Protection against Cut:
6.4.1 This is a common hazard for the law enforcement/
5.2 More than 700 responses were received from officers
correctional officer. The risk of being cut is more likely on
across the United States, and details and results from the
scenes and in situations where sharp objects exist.An example
survey are provided in Appendix X1.
of this is when an officer must search a vehicle, structure, or
5.3 The survey revealed needlesticks, puncture, and dexter-
confinement cell. In addition, the risk of being cut typically
ity to be the highest priorities for the surveyed officers.
increases when these search locations are cluttered and in
5.3.1 Specification E3109 includes performance
disarray.Another example is an officer attempting to gain entry
requirements, protection levels, and test methods for needle-
into a vehicle or structure by breaching an access point. The
sticks and puncture but not for dexterity. The reason for not
combination of the forceful action of the breaching motion, the
including dexterity requirements in Specification E3109 is that
type of breaching tool (such as, halligan bar or battering ram),
existing dexterity tests are completed by performing tasks that
and the material of the intended target breach point (such as, a
do not directly relate to officer activities.
glass window or a wooden door) greatly increases the likeli-
5.3.1.1 To understand how gloves may impact an officer’s
hood of an officer being cut during this task after repeated
dexterity and ability to perform expected tasks, a set of
attempts to breach.
practical evaluation procedures was developed and validated
6.5 Protection against Stabbing or Slashing:
by multiple end users from different agencies. The dexterity
6.5.1 Although not addressed in Specification E3109 be-
evaluation procedures are provided in Appendix X2, and it is
cause of the reduction in dexterity associated with such
recommended that these procedures be done using candidate
protection, the risk of sustaining an injury from a stab wound
gloves prior to purchase.
is a concern for officers. There are times when an officer’s
5.4 Other hazards of concern identified in the survey are not
encounter with a suspect may become confrontational and
addressed in Specification E3109 are listed below along with
potentially violent. If the suspect’s weapon is a knife, edged
the reason for excluding them from the specification:
blade, or similar sharp item, the officer faces the potential risk
5.4.1 Protection against stabbing or slashing, because of the of being slashed or stabbed. A stabbing/slashing injury (de-
reductionindexterityassociatedwithsuchprotection,whichin pending on the severity and location of the wound), has the
turn reduces the officer’s ability to manipulate weapons (in- potential to be life threatening. At very least, the officer faces
cluding firearm operations of trigger press, clearing the potential risk of infection, scarring, or disfigurement, or
malfunctions, and reloading), to detect small objects, and to combinations thereof, from an injury of this type so protection
pick up small objects. is paramount.
E3212 − 19
6.6 Protection against Toxic Chemicals: being routinely cleaned without the fear of damage or degra-
dation caused by cleaning methods or products. Specification
6.6.1 There is a wide range of chemicals, including illicit
E3109 does not address this need, and it is recommended that
drugs, chemical warfare agents, and toxic industrial chemicals,
supplier guidance on appropriate cleaning methods be fol-
that an officer may encounter and need protection against.
lowed.
Because no single glove is resistant to all chemicals and not all
chemicals are immediately identifiable, Specification E3109
7. Understanding Specification E3109
does not include this type of protection. Officers must be very
7.1 Specification E3109 includes five performance require-
cautious when responding to a scene where a chemical
ments for gloves, performance ratings for each performance
exposure is likely, such as in a civil disturbance or evidence
requirement, and test methods for assessing whether require-
collection where it is likely that the officer will be exposed to
ments are met.
a harmful drug or chemical agent. Officers should select and
wear gloves that provide the appropriate chemical protection.
7.2 Law enforcement gloves are complex with many differ-
ent seaming and material designs, both inside and outside a
6.7 Protection against Biohazards:
glove. Adding to the complexity is the fact that a glove is not
6.7.1 Officers may be involved in incidents where contact
uniform in terms of the protection it provides, and different
with either a victim, suspect, or the scene itself results in the
portions or areas of a glove (for example, palm, fingertip) may
exposure to biohazards in blood, saliva, urine, or feces. Many
offer different pr
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