PPE Procurement Checklist: HexArmor Cut Level A6 Gloves, Face Shields, Boots, and the Questions That Get Missed

I've managed PPE purchasing for our company since 2021. That's roughly $180,000 a year across six vendors, and between 60 and 80 individual orders. I report to both operations and finance, so I care about two things: does it work, and does the paperwork survive an audit. The honest answer is that my first year was full of expensive lessons. This checklist is the one I wish someone had handed me before I placed my first large order.

The fundamentals haven't changed: PPE only works when it matches the hazard, fits the person, and actually gets worn. But the execution has transformed. What was best practice in 2020 may not apply in 2025. Better materials, better fit options, and more choices mean the real battle is no longer finding a product; it's making sure you pick the right one for your specific team.

When to use this checklist

Use this when you're doing a PPE refresh, adding a new task site, or consolidating PPE vendors. It works best if you're buying for at least 20 people. If you're only buying one item for yourself, you can skip the sample-testing part.

The checklist: six steps that have saved me

These six steps are in order. Don't skip the early ones just because you have a brand already in mind.

Step 1: Audit the real work sites before you open a catalog

Don't start by searching for 'hexarmor' or 'skechers work boots.' Start by walking the floor. I know it's tempting to jump to a brand you've heard of. But a product spec sheet isn't the hazard. The hazard is what the task looks like at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday.

Example from my own building: we added a glass deck railing to the rooftop break area in 2024. The obvious hazard was falls, so the hard hat part was covered. But the maintenance crew had to handle the glass panels during cleaning and repairs. Glass edges are sharp, and the risk of impact is real. That one addition forced us to add cut-resistant gloves and impact-rated eyewear to the list. If your site has a glass deck railing, don't treat it as a furniture item. Treat it as a PPE hazard.

Walk with someone who does the job, not just the facilities manager. Ask them what they hate about their current gear. You'll learn more in 20 minutes than from any brochure.

Checkpoint: You can name the top three actual hazards for each crew before you look at any product.

Step 2: Match the PPE to a tested level, not a marketing story

Once you know the hazards, assign each one to a standard. For cut-resistant gloves, the relevant standard is usually ANSI/ISEA 105-2016, with cut levels from A1 to A9. If employees handle glass, metal, or blades, a higher cut level gives better protection. But the highest level is not automatically the best choice.

Take HexArmor PointGuard cut level A6 gloves as an example. I've ordered them for tasks where employees handle sharp metal and need puncture resistance without losing grip. A6 sits high enough for many industrial cutting hazards, and the PointGuard design is comfortable enough that people don't take it off. But if someone is only handling light cardboard, A6 is overkill. If they're doing precision work, a thicker glove can hurt dexterity. Choose based on the hazard, then let the brand prove it.

Here's the subtle part that caught me: higher cut resistance often means less tactile feedback. It's easy to assume a higher score is always better. It isn't. The question you should ask is not 'how many cut levels does this have?' It's 'will workers keep it on during the task?'

If a supplier uses the word 'cut-proof' in a spec, that's a red flag. Per FTC guidelines on advertising substantiation (ftc.gov), performance claims need to be supported. No PPE is cut-proof. What you want is a tested cut level.

Checkpoint: You can state the required cut level, impact rating, or lens marking for each hazard.

Step 3: Test samples with the people who will actually wear them

This is the step I used to skip. When I took over purchasing in 2021, I found what looked like a great deal on a high-cut glove. The price per pair was about 30% below our regular supplier. I ordered 400 pairs based on the spec sheet. The workers hated them in the first hour. The gloves were too stiff, made hands sweat, and people started taking them off near the sharp edges (ugh). We ended up donating the cartons and eating the cost. That's a $2,800 mistake I'm still annoyed about.

Now I never place a wholesale order without a pilot test. Order 5-10 sample pairs from at least two vendors. Have the actual workers use them for a full shift. A glove that sits in a locker is not PPE.

Same goes for boots. Skechers work boots became a surprising favorite in our warehouse because they fit like athletic shoes and people wear them all day. In our 2024 boot pilot, they beat two heavier brands. I wouldn't have guessed that from a brochure.

Checkpoint: You have feedback from the crew, not just from the sales rep, before you place the full order.

Step 4: Check how the new PPE works with the gear you already own

PPE doesn't exist in a vacuum. This is the compatibility miss that gets overlooked because it happens after approval. We picked a HexArmor face shield for our maintenance technicians. On its own, it's excellent. But the first time we sent a crew out, the face shield didn't attach securely to the hard hats we already had. We had a shelf full of face shields that didn't work with our existing helmets. That's a deal-breaker.

Before you approve a face shield, a helmet, or a hearing protector, check the mounting system. Ask whether it meets ANSI Z87.1 for eye and face protection. If you're buying for multiple locations, create a one-page compatibility matrix. It sounds bureaucratic, but it saves returns, delays, and safety gaps.

Checkpoint: Every new item has been tested on the actual helmet, frame, or harness your team already uses.

Step 5: Make a glove-by-task decision matrix, including foodservice

One question that comes up every time we plan an event or remodel a breakroom is: can you use latex gloves for food? Short answer: it depends. The FDA Food Code requires single-use gloves for handling ready-to-eat food, but it doesn't tell you exactly what material to use. That part is left to your local health department.

In practice, many facilities avoid latex gloves for food handling because latex allergies are a real issue, and some local codes restrict them. Nitrile is the safer default for most food prep, and it holds up better to oils and cleaning chemicals. If you're answering the can you use latex gloves for food question for your own team, check your state and local code, then buy nitrile unless you have a specific reason not to.

If you're buying for a mixed facility that does both industrial work and foodservice, keep those as separate line items. The cut-resistant glove for the shop floor is not the same glove for the kitchen. Mixing them up is a red flag in an audit.

Checkpoint: You can point to the exact glove used for each task group and explain why it's the right level.

Step 6: Verify the total cost, not just the unit price

In 2023, I almost switched to a cheaper supplier for safety glasses. The unit price was 25% lower. Then I added shipping minimums, longer lead times, and no online invoicing. Finance would have rejected half of the orders. The 'cheaper' option would have ended up costing us more.

When you're comparing vendors, look at the whole package: shipping cost, lead time, minimum order, payment terms, and whether the invoice has enough detail for your finance team. I've learned this one the hard way. A vendor who couldn't provide a proper invoice cost us $2,400 in rejected expenses. That's not a safety issue, but it is a procurement issue. Basically, if you can't prove you bought compliant PPE, an auditor won't care how cheap it was.

Checkpoint: You have a ballpark total cost per employee per year, and you know what the invoice will look like.

Mistakes I'd rather not repeat

• Buying by brand alone. HexArmor makes great gear, but it only works when the spec matches your task.
• Skipping sample tests. The best spec on paper can be a flop in real work.
• Assuming one glove fits every job. Cut-resistant A6, food-safe, and general-purpose are different categories.
• Forgetting about compatibility. Face shield plus hard hat, respirator plus glasses: they all have to work together.
• Ignoring the invoice and supply chain. If you can't document it, you can't defend it.

Bottom line: the fundamentals haven't changed. PPE has to match the hazard, fit the worker, and be worn. What has changed is the execution. In 2025, we have better materials and more options, which means more decisions, not fewer. It took me four years and about 300 orders to understand that the best brand is the one people will actually wear. Trust me on this one.