Overview
| Glove Material | General Uses |
|---|---|
| Butyl | Offers the highest resistance to permeation by most gases and water vapor. Especially suitable for use with esters and ketones. |
| Neoprene | Provides moderate abrasion resistance but good tensile strength and heat resistance. Compatible with many acids, caustics and oils. |
| Nitrile | Excellent general duty glove. Provides protection from a wide variety of solvents, oils, petroleum products and some corrosives. Excellent resistance to cuts, snags, punctures and abrasions. |
| PVC | PVC Provides excellent abrasion resistance and protection from most fats, acids, and petroleum hydrocarbons. |
| PVA | Highly impermeable to gases. Excellent protection from aromatic and chlorinated solvents. Cannot be used in water or water-based solutions. |
| Viton | Exceptional resistance to chlorinated and aromatic solvents. Good resistance to cuts and abrasions. |
| Silver Shield | Resists a wide variety of toxic and hazardous chemicals. Provides the highest level of overall chemical resistance. |
| Natural rubber | Provides flexibility and resistance to a wide variety of acids, caustics, salts, detergents and alcohols . |
OSHA’s PPE Standard requires an evaluation of hazards involved in a particular operation and the selection of appropriate hand protection. In the above table, a summary of various glove construction materials and their respective chemical resistances are provided.
It is important to note that no single glove material provides effective protection for all uses. When selecting a appropriate chemical-resistant glove, laboratory staff will need to consult the Safety Data Sheet for the chemical of concern and review the chemical resistance data provided by the glove manufacturer. When evaluating the appropriateness of glove material consider the toxicity of the chemical and the circumstances of potential contact (e.g., incidental contact or extensive contact).
Also consider the tasks at hand and whether the glove should also be resistant to abrasion, tears, punctures, etc. These considerations will assist in determining the desired material(s) of construction (e.g., nitrile, butyl rubber, neoprene) and glove thickness, and the need for layering of gloves for maximum protection.
Disposable Gloves: Thin exam-like gloves provide a low protection barrier but a high level of dexterity, while thicker gloves provide greater chemical resistance but less dexterity. For highly toxic materials that are absorbed through the skin, specialized gloves may be necessary even for protection against incidental contact only. For example, at EHS, we use thinner nitrile gloves for incidental handling of chemicals. However, we use a much thicker nitrile gloves that extend further up the forearm for bulking activities where much more extensive chemical contact may occur.
Reusable gloves: These gloves should be washed after each use and inspected for integrity prior to each use. If a lab has reusable gloves, look for signs of deterioration (e.g., discoloration, punctures, tears, etc.). If deteriorated gloves are present, the lab would be cited under PPE01. Investigate the process for which the gloves are used to ensure appropriate construction and that other means are used for worker protection prior to implementing glove use. For example, use of tongs to remove items from an acid bath instead of just a gloved hand.
Note that latex is missing from this list. Latex is a form of rubber that can provide protection from the transmission of infectious disease and skin contact with some chemicals. However, traditional latex gloves can cause skin contact allergic reactions to the individual wearing the glove. Additionally, latex gloves can also cause allergic reaction through inhalation of latex proteins, which can affect the wearer of the glove, as well as, individuals who may be working nearby. It is generally recommended that a substitute glove material is used, and if latex is necessary, then a powder-free type is used to reduce the inhalation hazard.