Hand Protection - Gloves
Glove Selection
Most glove manufacturers have chemical compatibility charts available for their gloves, and most Safety Data Sheets (SDS) recommend the most protective glove material in their Protective Equipment section. SDSs are available from the chemical manufacturers.
The tables below provide guidance for selecting appropriate hand protection. Table 1 helps identify glove materials based on chemical compatibility, while Table 2 provides glove selection guidance based on the hazard or work activity.
Table 1: Chemical-Resistant Glove Materials and Compatibility Guide
| Glove Type | Advantages | Limitations | Common Uses/Chemical Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Rubber | Low cost, excellent dexterity and physical properties | Poor resistance to oils, greases, and many organic solvents | Bases, alcohols, dilute aqueous solutions |
| Natural Rubber Blends | Low cost, good dexterity, improved chemical resistance over natural rubber | Physical properties may be inferior to natural rubber | Similar applications as natural rubber |
| Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | Low cost, very good physical properties, medium cost, medium chemical resistance | Some chemicals may strip plasticizers | Strong acids and bases, salts, other water solutions, alcohols |
| Neoprene | Low cost, good physical properties, moderate chemical resistance | Moderate chemical resistance | Oxidizing acids, anilines, phenol, glycol ethers |
| Nitrile | Good balance of chemical and physical resistance | Poor resistance to benzene, methylene chloride, and many ketones | Oils, greases, aliphatic hydrocarbons, xylene |
| Butyl Rubber | Excellent protection against polar organic chemicals | Expensive, poor resistance to hydrocarbons | Glycol ethers, ketones, esters |
| Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) | Broad resistance to organic solvents | Very expensive, water sensitive | Aromatics, chlorinated solvents, ketones, esters, ethers |
| Fluoroelastomer (Viton™) | Excellent resistance to many organic solvents | Very expensive; limited physical durability | Aromatics and chlorinated solvents |
| Norfoil (Silver Shield®) | Exceptional broad-spectrum chemical resistance | Stiff, poor fit and grip, punctures easily | Hazardous materials and unknown chemical mixtures |
Table 2: Glove Selection by Hazard and Application
| Hazard/Application | Typical Glove Materials | Key Protective Features |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical-Resistant | Butyl, nitrile, latex, PVC, neoprene, rubber polymers | Rated to resist specific hazardous chemicals and liquid exposures |
| Cut-Resistant | Engineered yarns and coated fibers | Designed to meet ANSI/ISEA 105 cut, abrasion, and puncture resistance standards |
| Electrical | Natural insulating rubber | Meets ASTM D120 and NFPA 70E requirements for electrical protection |
| General Purpose | Knit, cotton, leather, rubber, polyurethane | Protection against minor abrasions and contamination |
| Temperature-Resistant | Aramid fiber, aluminized, leather, insulated plastic or rubber, wool, cotton | Protection against hot and cold temperatures, often with cut and abrasion resistance |
Glove Use and Care:
- Inspect gloves for signs of degradation or puncture before use. Test for pinholes by blowing or trapping air inside and rolling them out. Do not fill them with water, as this makes the gloves uncomfortable and may make it more difficult to detect a leak when wearing the glove.
- Change disposable gloves when there is any sign of contamination. Reusable gloves should be washed frequently if used for an extended period of time.
- Do not wear gloves outside of the laboratory. Utilize carts or carriers to transport research materials from lab to other support areas. If materials must be hand-carried, utilize one gloved hand and one non-gloved hand to allow for touching common area objects e.g., door knobs, elevator buttons, etc.
- Be careful not to handle anything but the materials involved in the procedure while wearing gloves. Touching equipment, phones, wastebaskets, or other surfaces may cause contamination. Resist touching your face, hair, and clothing as well.
- Before removing them, wash the outside of the glove. To avoid accidental skin exposure, remove the first glove by grasping the cuff and peeling the glove off the hand so that the glove is inside out. Repeat this process with the second hand, touching the inside of the glove cuff, rather than the outside. Wash hands immediately with soap and water.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for washing and caring for reusable gloves.
Used Glove Disposal:
Gloves should be removed, avoiding skin contact with the exterior of the glove and possible contamination. Disposable gloves should be removed as follows:
- Grasp the exterior of one glove with your other gloved hand.
- Carefully pull the glove off your hand, turning it inside-out. The contamination is now on the inside.
- Ball the glove up and hold it in your other gloved hand.
- Slide your ungloved finger into the opening of the other glove. Avoid touching the exterior.
- Carefully pull the glove off your hand, turning it inside out again. All contamination is contained.
- Discard appropriately - in a hazardous waste container if they were exposed to hazardous materials or bio waste containers if exposed to biological/biohazardous materials.
- Where possible, wash your hands after using safety gloves to help remove any contaminants that may have been on the gloves.
