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The Problem

Numerous security professionals, police officers, prison officers and other homeland security professionals have suffered from severe cut wounds sometime, during physical confrontations or forced entry operations.

From the point of the employer, injuries of this type can often lead to legal, moral and financial repercussion. From the point of the injured professional, and depending on the severity of such injury, it can often lead to long lasting emotional scars, ongoing distress or in very serious cases even post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

No common PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) or protective clothing used by any of the above sectors offers sufficient, as commonly used materials would restrict movement and agility.

However, many frontline professionals have long asked for better slash and cut protection, and a solution has just been launched.

High performance cut resistant fabrics, such as Cut-Tex® PRO have now been developed, offering ISO 13997:1999 Blade Cut Resistance Level 5 (the highest possible), EN 388:2003 Blade Cut Resistance Level 5 (the highest possible) and ASTM F-1790 Level 4.

This type of fabric exactly what was needed in order to design, develop and manufacture garments, which will help to protect those who serve. Cut resistant clothing is now available and it is user friendly.

The Reality

Attacks on frontline professionals are occurring rather frequently. One unprovoked attack on prison officers at Frankland High Security Prison inDurham,UK, left one prison officer severely injured after one of his auxiliary arteries was slashed during the incident. He luckily survived.

A female police officer was brutally slashed during Notting Hill Carnival in London, UKon 28th August 2011.

There are many reports of frontline professionals being slashed or suffering from major cuts. Reports of this type of assaults are readily available on the internet or security and law enforcement related publications.

Images here are not on display in order to shock or ‘sell’ such product, but rather to emphasise the severity of some cut or slash wounds:

Many frontline professionals by instinct will lift their arms and hands during a potential hostile situation, in order to protect the face and head. This is absolutely normal, and only highly trained Special Forces soldiers would respond differently due to many years of extensive training. However, we must acknowledge that this ‘normal’ and subconscious action would expose an extremely vulnerable area under your arms. A cut, injuring the auxiliary artery under your arms, can lead to rapid blood loss and even death.

Prison, police and security officers often receive cut wounds along the forearm or open hand. These wounds are the most common injuries and classed as ‘defensive wounds’, often seen as evidence the wearer was protecting him or herself, rather attacking the opponent.

We have to accept the fact that all frontline professionals dealing with potentially hostile members of the public or intoxicated individuals are obviously working in a higher risk environment. We believe that a new generation of cut resistant clothing made out of Cut-Tex® PRO will improve their personal safety and reduce the risk of workplace violence related injuries.

‘Forced Entry Teams’ are part of all major special police units. Part of their operational responsibility might well be to enter properties through doors and windows, meaning forcing their way in through broken and smashed windows and glass. There are numerous of reports of partly serious cut related injuries as many of these professionals have not been issued with appropriate cut resistant gloves, sleeves or boiler suits.

Professionals, working within mental health care facilities and other related sectors, such as severe learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, special needs or autism, are also frequently subject to a type of assault, often resulting in cut related injuries, which could easily be prevented.

The Solution

I strongly believe that personal protective clothing is something that can effectively reduce the risk of workplace violence related injuries, in the context of this article cut related injuries.

Cut resistant body armour base layer for example make a lot of sense. The area, which is covered by most body armour can be made out of breathable Coolmax® or similar fabric to make the wearing of body armour even more comfortable and bearable in hot and humid conditions. However, the exposed area, such as under the arm, the arms and the side of the upper body can be covered, made out of Cut-Tex® PRO slash resistant textile, offering the wearer exceptional cut protection during a situation where self defence or physical action is required.

A number of very specific areas of our body are at notable risk. Our throat, which harbours the carotid artery is certainly among the most at risk locations of our body. A cut through the carotid artery would most likely result in death. The radial artery can be found in our wrists, which often is subject to cuts during self defence or whilst protecting our face. The femoral artery is a general term comprising a few large arteries in the thigh. Cutting of the femoral artery would lead to a massive loss of blood within e very short period of time. I believe protective clothing, shielding these three main arteries should be available to all professionals dealing regularly with aggressors and potentially hostile situations.

My emphasis would be to design and manufacture cut resistant clothing that is none-aggressive or none-confrontational looking. We certainly want to enable those professionals to let their personality shine, use their diplomatic and interpersonal skills in order to defuse the risk of any potential escalation without giving away that protective clothing is being worn. We do not want them to look like ‘the aggressor’. Personal protective clothing just needs to ‘be there’ in the background, on stand by, ready to protect and perform when things go wrong.

We all know… violence can sometime erupt within seconds, often without any prior warning signs and without any fault of the law enforcement, security or mental heath care professional. Going back to the office and putting on some appropriate gear is not always a realistic option, hence cut resistant clothing should be comfortable enough to be worn at all times.

Cut resistant clothing made out of 100% Cut-Tex® PRO is now available and can be designed around specific operational risks, threats and operational duties.

For cut resistant clothing please view the entire range of PPSS cut resistant garments on the PPSS website

PPSS Group, the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO is also renowned for ultra light and extreme thin covert ballistic vests and the most robust and durable stab vests in the world.

If you wish to speak with us, please dial +44 (0) 845 5193 953
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