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Many people make hand protection choices based on cost. The assumption has been that a glove is a glove, and therefore the cheapest glove is best. However, this may not take into account the material performance of gloves in relation to the hazards and demands of the workplace. When choosing a glove, the purpose of the glove, what it must protect against and the skin sensitivities of the user need to be considered. Disposable gloves are generally made from natural rubber latex, synthetic nitrile, or vinyl. Gloves can vary in quality from one manufacturer to another. The quality of the raw materials, manufacturing formulations and manufacturing processes directly affect the consistency of the glove and its’ overall performance. Gloves of the same material and even of the same thickness or mil from different manufacturer’s can have very different in use performance. Below are some very general properties of three different glove materials followed by some other general guidelines for glove selection. Natural Rubber Latex Gloves Merits |
Demerits |
Excellent barrier properties against viral transmission |
Resistance to oil and grease is not as good as synthetic substitutes |
High resistance to tears and punctures during use |
Low resistance to ozone, oxygen and ultraviolet rays |
High tensile strength and elasticity |
Contains proteins * |
Excellent finger dexterity to reduce hand fatigue |
Contains residual chemicals |
Excellent tactile sensitivity for better feel |
| Highly durable |
| Biodegradable and environmentally friendly |
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* Significantly reduced now. The availability of low-protein, low powder or powder-free gloves has reduced the risk of protein sensitization. CAUTION:If you have already developed a latex allergy or may come in contact with someone who is allergic to latex do not use latex gloves.Use a synthetic alternative such as vinyl or nitrile.
Vinyl Gloves Merits |
Demerits |
Protein free |
Inferior barrier properties against viral transmission |
Good resistance to light and ozone |
Low resistance against tears and punctures during use |
| Most susceptible to sharp objects, e.g. needle sticks |
| Poor elasticity and strength |
| Less comfort and fit |
| Poor tactile sensitivity or feel |
| Releases dioxin during incineration or disposal |
| High content of plasticizers, e.g. DEHP |
| Not biodegradable nor environmentally friendly |
Nitrile Gloves Merits |
Demerits |
Protein free |
Low resistance to tears |
Good resistance to oil and grease |
Not as flexible nor elastic as latex |
Good elasticity but lower than latex |
Less comfort, fit and feel |
Good strength and durability |
Contains residual chemicals (similar to natural rubber latex) |
Good barrier properties against viral transmission |
Releases cyanide during incineration or disposal |
| Not biodegradable nor environmentally friendly |
| Poor resistance against benzene, methylene chloride and many ketones |
Source: http://www.smg-online.biz/glove_select.htm Medical Grade Gloves - All medical grade gloves have FDA oversight and approval.
- Medical grade gloves must meet certain standards for size and allowable amount of defects in the gloves that can cause them to fail prematurely.
- Medical grade gloves are mandatory for anyone coming in contact with blood borne pathogens (blood, urine, saliva, etc.).
- If the box does not say “EXAM” or “EXAMINATION”, the gloves are not medical grade.
- Quality can definitely vary even among exam gloves. The designation of exam means only that the glove meets the minimum standard for exam gloves.
Industrial Grade Gloves - Industrial grade DOES NOT mean stronger than exam or medical grade.
- Industrial grade is a term used to distinguish disposable gloves used only for industrial or non-medical purposes.
- Industrial grade gloves are popular in industrial and food service markets where there are no blood borne pathogen issues.
- There is no oversight for industrial grade gloves and quality can vary widely since the quality of the glove relies only on the manufacturer’s discretion. There are many “B” grade gloves on the market.
Powdered Gloves - Cornstarch is used to powder gloves and keep them from sticking to their mold during manufacturing. The powder helps with donning but this is not the main reason gloves come powdered.
- All other things being equal powdered gloves are usually less expensive than powder free gloves since their manufacturing process is faster and less expensive.
- Powder can go airborne during donning and removal, which can be inhaled into the lungs. Anything attached to the powder (bacteria, etc.) is also inhaled. This is one reason why powder free gloves are more popular. Another reason powder-free gloves have become more popular is due to their manufacturing process. The more extensive washing and sometimes chlorinating of powder-free gloves reduces latex protein and residual chemical levels in the glove and therefore the risk of latex allergies or allergies to chemicals used in the manufacturing process.
Powder Free Gloves - Powder-free gloves have risen in popularity because of latex allergies. Powder-free gloves generally have lower latex protein levels than powdered gloves, so the risk of latex allergy is less.
- Since powder free gloves do not have powder, the chance of latex proteins or bacteria attaching to the powder and going airborne is virtually eliminated.
- Because of their more extensive manufacturing process powder free gloves are more expensive than powdered gloves.
- Manufacturing processes for powder-free gloves can vary greatly in quality and cost. Lower quality powder-free gloves will use a less extensive and cheaper process which results in unevenness from batch to batch. You may find a lot of gloves stuck together. Commonly the gloves will be weak, and difficult to don. High quality powder-free gloves will show even color from batch to batch. These gloves will also be easy to don and much more durable.
Mil Thickness 1 mil equals 1/1000 th of 1 inch. Contrary to what many people think mil thickness is not the sole determining factor of a glove’s strength. While glove strength is partially determined by thickness one must also consider the quality of the raw materials used in making up the mil thickness, the manufacturing process and the quality control at the factory. A thin high quality glove can easily surpass a thick low quality glove in strength. With the rise in raw material costs many manufacturers have resorted to the use of filler material in their gloves to pump up the thickness of their gloves without increasing their raw material costs. This misleads the consumer into thinking they are getting a great deal on their gloves because the gloves have a high mil thickness but are cheap in price. For most gloves it is very difficult to determine if a glove has fillers or not without sending the gloves to a lab to be tested. Generally the user will notice that the gloves tear very easily and once there is a small hole in the glove it will quickly spread. For latex and nitrile gloves the SMG program has provided independent oversight and has been successful in eliminating some unfair marketplace practices while helping consumers choose a good quality glove. The easiest way to find a good quality latex or nitrile glove is to look for SMG approval when selecting latex or nitrile gloves. Price
You get what you pay for! Generally speaking the lower the overall price the lower the overall quality. There is a lot that goes into making gloves that determines their quality. This guide is only an overview of some of the main differences between gloves for more detailed information regarding your situation please email or call us and we will be happy to assist you in finding the right glove. |
Latex Gloves
