You probably think that disposable gloves don’t require much thought but hand protection is mandatory especially when handling harsh chemicals and solvents. Statistics show that the risk of hazards is substantially reduced when appropriate hand protection is utilized. Wearing protective gloves can prevent most hand injuries, exposures, and skin diseases. Gloves, in all forms, are designed to serve as protective barriers against heat, cold, vibrations, burns, cuts by sharp objects, bacteriological risks, and chemical contamination. Besides the obvious safety benefits, using protective gloves in your work of line can add significant productivity gain. That’s why it’s important to choose gloves that suit both your needs: dexterity and personal protection.
But with so many hand protection choices, where do you start and how do you know you got the right glove for the job? In addition to picking the right size, consideration must be given to the material being handled, the particular hazard involved, and their suitability for the job at hand. Think medical gloves. These are widely versatile across several industries. Medical gloves are typically used by health care personnel to prevent the spread of infection or illness, but they also have application in the foodservice, tattoo shops, automotive and janitorial. There is a huge range of medical gloves, including powdered, non-powdered, latex, nitrile, and more. Each has pros and cons, however, many people choose nitrile disposable gloves due to their superior durability, strength, and resistance to chemicals.
Choosing Nitrile Gloves
When it comes to choosing the best disposable gloves, nitrile gloves have been increasing in popularity among various industries over the last few years, and for good reason. Nitrile is a synthetic rubber compound that offers excellent puncture resistance properties. These types of gloves are stronger and with greater resistance to tearing or punctures as well as much thinner and more flexible than any other type of glove material. Since nitrile gloves are extremely chemical resistant, they make the perfect disposable glove throughout laboratories and healthcare settings, the foods service, and the automotive industry. The dexterity offered by this type of gloves is second to none, allowing you to perform fine work with increased precision and accuracy. Nitrile disposable gloves are breathable and promote stable hand temperature in all weather conditions.
Powdered vs. Powder-Free Nitrile Gloves
When you consider using nitrile gloves in your line of work, there are two options to choose from, namely powdered and powder-free. Each type has its pros and cons. Several countries have banned the use of glove powder, particularly Germany and The United States, and the UK has restricted the use of powdered medical gloves due to concerns associated with wound inflation and allergic reactions. It’s important to note that powdered gloves are not generally an allergy concern with nitrile gloves. Typically, nitrile powdered gloves are lightly powdered to aid the application, especially when dishwashing and cleaning, and absorb perspiration, which can help to easily put the gloves on.
On the other hand, powder-free nitrile gloves are topped with a chlorinated or polymer finish that makes them less form-fitting so that powder is not needed and you don’t have to worry about the messiness. This type of nitrile glove is especially great for safe food handling. The downside of powder-free gloves is that they may be harder to remove quickly and can reduce the firmness of the glove’s grip.
Nitrile vs. Latex Gloves
Both nitrile and natural rubber latex are commonly used as disposable glove material, providing excellent biological barrier properties. Latex replicates many of the positive characteristics of nitrile, that is, flexibility, strength, and durability. Latex gloves are less expensive and not very chemical-resistant but they do well protect against bloodborne pathogens so they are mainly used in the food industry and medical settings. It’s important to note that using latex gloves has the potential for allergic reactions to the powder coating in the gloves, ranging from skin irritation to anaphylaxis. On the other hand, nitrile reduces the risks of allergic reactions by being latex-free. So if you are suffering from a latex allergy, consider using nitrile gloves.
