Force 360 continues to provide industry-leading safety equipment, certifying to Australian and New Zealand standards, as well as European standards.

AS a market-leading designer and manufacturer of personal protective equipment, Force360 is at the forefront of delivering innovative products to various industries around Australia.

An essential part of ensuring wearer safety is to certify all products to their relevant standards, as this validates the claims made by a manufacturer.

Force360 has set a new industry benchmark by certifying its entire range of hand protection, to not only the current Australian and New Zealand hand protection standards, but also the current European hand protection standards.

This dual certification claim consolidates its position in the safety industry and has resulted in many major end users relying on its products throughout key projects.

AS/NZS 2161 is the overriding standard for hand protection in Australia and New Zealand.

Australian Standards usually adopts the European Standards as its own; for example, AS/NZS 2161.4 is word for word the same as EN407:2004. However, in the case of mechanical performances there is now a difference between AS/NZS 2161.3 and EN388:2016, as the Australian Standard continues to use EN388:2003.

The discrepancy in standards means abrasion, cut and impact testing results can vary as they are tested in different ways.

By way of example, Force360 gloves may be marked ‘Cut Level 5’ and ‘Cut Level F’: this is because under AS/NZS 2161.3 the cut resistance is tested and measured using the Coupe test method and scored 1-5, whilst under EN388:2016 gloves are tested and cut resistance is measured using the ISO 13997 test method and scored A-F.

Force360 has adopted the position of certifying its hand protection to both standards, as both are current, and both are relevant.

The most important difference may not be the variation in the testing methods as such, but rather in how these tests are scrutinised and validated.

AS/NZS 2161 itself says that one stark difference lies between the way the Australian market and the European market sell gloves under either standard.

“There are no Australian or New Zealand legislative requirements that compel manufacturers to submit their products for testing and certification by accredited testing authorities,” it says.

“Not all manufacturers may consistently follow this process for the products that they market outside the EU.

“In Australia, glove manufacturers can undertake their own testing and issue their own compliance statements.”

Private Brands general manager Jason Kearney said that the only way to ensure the highest level of protection for its glove wearers was to certify them to both standards.

“In Australia gloves can be sold as compliant to Australian and/or European standards,” he said.

“In Europe under EU PPE Regulation 2016:425 it is legally mandated that glove manufacturers certify their PPE products, so they are safe for their intended applications.

“All products designed to protect against medium level risks described by the EU as Category Two, and high risk described by the EU as Category Three, are subject to mandatory testing and certification by accredited testing authorities and notified bodies”.

Essentially this means that all product claims – including cut resistant performance scores – are not only tested in accredited laboratories, but also validated by a notifying body.

Furthermore, gloves must be periodically tested, and the manufacturing facilities must undergo annual surveillance auditing to ensure consistency and quality.

The product must also be exactly the same as its Declaration of Conformity in every way and have correct instructions and markings.

In the case of Force360, BSI Benchmark has been entrusted with this certification.

Mr Kearney said that the best way to ensure products are certified is to look at the back of the hand print, insert sheet and/or packaging-

“All should have a notifying body number or logo as well as the accompanying license number the notifying body issues the manufacturer”

Can you get a safer glove than Force360?

The answer is no.

Force360 firmly believes that certifying a product is best practice.

Self-declaration or compliant claims are simply not reliable and can have serious safety implications for all stakeholders, so they should not be trusted or accepted.

By engaging a notifying body to validate claims and certify glove performance to both hand protection standards, Force360 believes its gloves are the most scrutinised and ultimately the safest in Australia.

Certification is not proof that a business has ‘passed a test’, it’s proof that a business is constantly maintaining the highest of standards, a feat that demonstrates a deeper commitment to going above and beyond.

It is an ever-ongoing process and Force360’s point of difference.

More information:
Website: www.force360.com.au
Phone East Coast: (02) 9603 3824
Phone West Coast: (08) 9331 1141

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