Safety Certifications & Standards

Why Safety Standards Matter?

When you're working in high-risk environments, safety isn’t optional — it’s essential. Kiwi Workwear ensures our products meet or exceed industry-recognized standards for personal protective equipment (PPE). Each certification reflects a commitment to quality, performance, and protection, so you can work with confidence.

Footwear Certifications

Soft toe ASTM F2892-24, EH Certification

Kiwi Workwear soft toe footwear is certified to ASTM F2892-24, the standard governing protective footwear without a safety toe cap. While soft toe styles are not designed to provide impact or compression protection, this certification ensures the footwear meets ASTM performance requirements for a range of workplace hazards beyond toe protection.

Under ASTM F2892-24, certified soft toe footwear may be tested and rated for the following protective features, depending on the specific model:

Conductive (Cd) properties to reduce static electricity buildup and lower the risk of ignition in environments with explosives or volatile chemicals.

Electric Hazard (EH) protection to help insulate the wearer from accidental contact with live electrical circuits.

Static Dissipative (SD) properties to control excessively low electrical resistance where SD footwear is required.

Puncture Resistance (PR) to help protect against sharp objects penetrating the sole.

Slip Resistance (SR) for improved traction on a variety of work surfaces.

Slip Resistance – Oily/Wet (SRO) for enhanced grip in oily or wet conditions.

ASTM F2892-24 certification confirms that Kiwi soft toe footwear is engineered for jobsite performance, safety compliance, and durability, making it well-suited for light- to medium-duty applications where mobility, comfort, and hazard-specific protection are required without the added weight of a safety toe.

Kiwi Workwear footwear is rated for Electric Hazard (EH) protection in accordance with ASTM F2413-24. EH-rated footwear is designed to help reduce the risk of electrical shock by providing a secondary source of insulation from the ground when accidental contact is made with live electrical circuits.

EH footwear is tested to withstand 18,000 volts at 60 Hz for one minute under dry conditions, without exceeding allowable leakage current. This protection is intended for use in environments where exposure to live electrical wiring may occur, such as construction sites, utility work, and industrial settings.

EH-rated footwear is not a substitute for primary electrical protective equipment and does not protect against all electrical hazards. Protection may be compromised if the footwear becomes excessively worn, wet, or contaminated with conductive materials.

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Composite Toe ANSI/ASTM F2413-24 I/75 C/75, EH Certification

Kiwi Workwear composite toe footwear is certified to ANSI/ASTM F2413-24 standards for both impact (I/75) and compression (C/75) resistance. Designed using advanced non-metallic lightweight materials, composite toes provide robust protection while remaining lightweight and non-conductive.

This certification ensures the footwear can withstand a 75-foot-pound impact and 2,500 pounds of compression force, helping protect against falling objects and heavy equipment in demanding work environments. Composite toe footwear is ideal for jobsites where metal-free construction, electrical safety, or reduced fatigue is a priority—without compromising protection.

Kiwi Workwear footwear is rated for Electric Hazard (EH) protection in accordance with ASTM F2413-24. EH-rated footwear is designed to help reduce the risk of electrical shock by providing a secondary source of insulation from the ground when accidental contact is made with live electrical circuits.

EH footwear is tested to withstand 18,000 volts at 60 Hz for one minute under dry conditions, without exceeding allowable leakage current. This protection is intended for use in environments where exposure to live electrical wiring may occur, such as construction sites, utility work, and industrial settings.

EH-rated footwear is not a substitute for primary electrical protective equipment and does not protect against all electrical hazards. Protection may be compromised if the footwear becomes excessively worn, wet, or contaminated with conductive materials.

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Steel Toe ANSI/ASTM F2413-24 I/75 C/75, EH Certification

Kiwi Workwear steel toe boots meet the latest ANSI/ASTM F2413-24 certification for impact (I/75) and compression (C/75) resistance, delivering proven, maximum-strength protection in high-risk environments.

Tested to absorb 75 foot-pounds of impact and withstand 2,500 pounds of compressive force, steel toe footwear remains the industry benchmark for durability and protection. This certification makes Kiwi steel toe boots suitable for construction, manufacturing, warehousing, and industrial applications where heavy objects, machinery, and jobsite hazards are present daily.

Kiwi Workwear footwear is rated for Electric Hazard (EH) protection in accordance with ASTM F2413-24. EH-rated footwear is designed to help reduce the risk of electrical shock by providing a secondary source of insulation from the ground when accidental contact is made with live electrical circuits.

EH footwear is tested to withstand 18,000 volts at 60 Hz for one minute under dry conditions, without exceeding allowable leakage current. This protection is intended for use in environments where exposure to live electrical wiring may occur, such as construction sites, utility work, and industrial settings.

EH-rated footwear is not a substitute for primary electrical protective equipment and does not protect against all electrical hazards. Protection may be compromised if the footwear becomes excessively worn, wet, or contaminated with conductive materials.

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High Vis PPE Certifications

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Class 1 Certification

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Class 1 high-visibility garments are certified for use in low-risk work environments where workers are separated from traffic or where vehicle speeds and traffic density are minimal.

Class 1 certification establishes minimum performance requirements for fluorescent background materials, retroreflective materials, and garment construction to enhance worker visibility during daytime, nighttime, and low-light conditions. These garments are designed to make the wearer conspicuous against complex backgrounds while maintaining lightweight construction and freedom of movement.

Class 1 apparel is typically appropriate for off-road work zones, warehouse and logistics operations, parking facilities, and controlled environments where workers can maintain full awareness of approaching vehicles and hazards.

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ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Class 2 Certification

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Class 2 garments are certified for moderate-risk environments where traffic speeds, weather conditions, or work complexity reduce a worker’s ability to be easily seen.

This certification requires greater minimum areas of fluorescent background material and retroreflective striping than Class 1, providing enhanced visibility from longer distances and in more challenging visual conditions. Class 2 garments are engineered to improve worker recognition in environments with higher traffic speeds, greater vehicle volumes, or reduced visibility due to weather or lighting.

Class 2 certification is commonly required for roadway construction, utility work, rail operations, airport ground crews, and public works projects where traffic speeds typically exceed 25 mph and worker attention may be divided between tasks and surroundings.

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ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Class 3 Certification

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Class 3 garments meet the highest visibility requirements under the standard and are intended for high-risk environments with fast-moving traffic, complex work zones, or limited sight distances.

Class 3 certification mandates maximum coverage of fluorescent background material and 360-degree retroreflective visibility, including visible markings on the arms and legs to ensure the worker’s full body outline is recognizable from all angles. This design significantly increases detection distance for approaching drivers, especially in low-light, nighttime, or high-speed conditions.

Class 3 apparel is typically required for highway and roadway construction, emergency response, traffic flagging, and work performed near traffic traveling over 50 mph or in environments with severe weather, poor visibility, or high vehicle density.

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Work Glove Certifications

EN 388 work Glove certification

EN 388 is the European standard for protective gloves against mechanical risks. Gloves marked EN 388 are third-party tested and labeled to show performance against key hazards like abrasion, cut, tear, puncture, and (when applicable) impact protection.

How to read an EN 388 rating (what the numbers/letters mean)

You’ll typically see a format like:

EN 388: 4 X 4 3 D P

Each position represents a different test result:

A. Abrasion resistance (1–4)

Measures how long the material resists rubbing wear before a hole forms. Higher = better abrasion durability.

B. Cut resistance – “Coupe Test” (1–5 or X)

A rotating circular blade passes over the material until it cuts through. Scores are 1–5 (higher = better).

If the material dulls the blade during this test (common with high-cut fibers), the result is shown as X, and the glove must be rated using the ISO 13997 straight-blade method instead.

C. Tear resistance (1–4)

Measures the force required to continue a tear in the material. Higher = stronger material and better resistance to ripping.

D. Puncture resistance (1–4)

Measures the force required to puncture the glove with a standard stylus. Higher = better puncture resistance. (This is not the same as needle resistance.)

E. Cut resistance – ISO 13997 Straight-Blade Test (A–F or X)

This is the newer straight-blade cut test used when the Coupe test blade dulls (or when manufacturers choose to report it). It reports a letter rating A–F, where F is the highest.

The letter corresponds to the force required to cut through at a defined cut length (reported in Newtons):

A = 2 N, B = 5 N, C = 10 N, D = 15 N, E = 22 N, F = 30 N

F. Impact protection (P (Passed), F (Failed) or blank)

If the glove passes the EN 388 impact test, it will show “P” at the end of the rating. If there’s no P, impact protection is not claimed under the standard.

What does “X” mean on EN 388?

X indicates the test was not performed or is not applicable for that glove/material.

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ANSI/ASTM Cut Resistance Work Glove Certification

In the U.S., cut resistance is commonly communicated using the ANSI/ISEA cut scale (A1–A9), determined by the ASTM F2992 (TDM) cut test method. The test measures the grams of force required for a blade to cut through the material—higher levels mean higher cut resistance.

ANSI cut levels (A1 to A9) — what they mean

Each level corresponds to a cutting load range (grams):

A1 (200–499 g) [Light-duty assembly, packaging, inspection, general material handling]

A2 (500–999 g) [Small parts handling, warehouse picking, light fabrication, maintenance work]

A3 (1,000–1,499 g) [HVAC work, light sheet metal handling, appliance assembly, general construction]

A4 (1,500–2,199 g) [Glass handling, automotive assembly, metal fabrication, recycling operations]

A5 (2,200–2,999 g) [Heavy sheet metal work, industrial manufacturing, panel handling, construction]

A6 (3,000–3,999 g) [Automotive manufacturing, demolition, heavy fabrication, jagged material handling]

A7 (4,000–4,999 g) [Glass manufacturing, aerospace, shipbuilding, high-risk industrial applications]

A8 (5,000–5,999 g) [Foundries, oil & gas operations, heavy steel handling, extreme industrial use]

A9 (≥ 6,000 g) [Severe industrial hazards, high-force blade exposure, specialized manufacturing]

How to use cut ratings correctly (important)

Cut ratings are about the material’s resistance to a blade cut, not “cut-proof.” Real-world performance depends on the hazard (sharpness, pressure, motion, edge type), glove fit, dexterity needs, and whether grip/coatings help reduce slip-related cuts.

For safety managers, the goal is matching the cut level to the job’s hazard severity—higher isn’t always better if it sacrifices dexterity or grip for the task

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