24 June 2015 Best Disposable Gloves Tips
Warehouse Safety Made Easy
Disposable Gloves
Australian Safety Council* research shows that correct glove use reduces hand injuries by 60%.
The industries recording the most hand injuries are the construction, food and manufacturing sectors, however hand protection is required in many other areas including medical, chemical and agricultural environments.
ABL's 7 'Must Know' Tips For Disposable Glove Usage In Your Workplace
1. Assess Your Workplace Environment And Needs
When assessing any workplace hand protection it is important to know the exact task you require the glove to perform to ensure that it will do the job it is intended for.
In the case of disposable gloves, these are intended for single usage and not for situations of mechanical risk/protection from cold/thermal risk/welding/cut resistance etc.
Many disposable gloves are appropriate for cleaning, medical and food preparation tasks. Some may even have particular chemical resistance.
2. HACCP & TGA Approval
Many disposable gloves are used in the food and medical industries.
Where applicable the HACCP approval (food industry standards), and/or listing with the Therapeutic Goods register (medical use standards) will be noted on the packaging and sales material for the gloves.
3. What Materials Are Used To Manufacture Disposable Gloves & Why?
Natural Rubber / Latex Gloves
- Very elastic and resistant to wear and tear
- Good chemical resistance against alcohols and solvents (eg. Cleaning solvents)
- Give excellent wearer dexterity and feel
- Latex may cause allergic reactions in some cases, and so alternative materials should be sought if this is the case (usually nitrile is the best alternative option)
Nitrile Gloves
- Nitrile rubber is very durable and resistant to cutting and punctures
- Very resistant to oil and petroleum based solvents and grease
- Great dry grip on many surfaces
- Nitrile is often used in situations where latex allergies are present.
- It is also particularly recommended for medical use and are the glove of choice for most frontline ambulance and first aid wearers
- A great choice where latex is failing due to chemical exposure, for example in the fibreglass/marine industry
Vinyl / PVC Gloves
- Provide good durability and wet/dry grip
- Offers protection against many water soluble chemicals (such as those used for cleaning) but only limited protection against organic solvents
- Vinyl gloves are also suitable for those with latex allergies
- New technology has developed Vinyl gloves that have examination grade fit and dexterity similar to latex suitable for medical and food use
Neoprene (Polychloroprene) Gloves
- Very good chemical protection
- Less resistance to wear and tear, but more tensile strength and elongation than Nitrile gloves
- Latex free and suitable for use by latex allergy sufferers
- Not used for food but rather for medical purposes
4. Powdered vs. Powder Free
Traditionally, disposable gloves are often lightly powdered with corn starch for easy donning. The powdering does not affect the HACCP approval of gloves as powder is a food safe substance.Powdered gloves are often NOT recommended as the best option for use in medical situations due to the many potential issues with cross contamination etc.
With advances in technology powder free gloves are now available in every different material and these are often specially treated to allow for easy donning anyway.
Please assess your need for powdered/unpowdered gloves based on what the gloves are used for.
5. What's Colour Got To Do With It?
Colour has nothing to do with the chemical resistance or functionality of a glove.
However, there are often industry based reasons why coloured gloves are required.
In food industries, for gloves and other protective wear, blue is usually the colour of choice.
This is so that the gloves will be easily identified in food processing or handling areas which helps reduce any contamination.
Black disposable gloves such as the Blax range of nitrile gloves are useful in industries where discolouration of the gloves could be an issue, like in hairdressing.
In other workplaces, it may be useful to buy different material gloves in differing colours so that their specific purpose is easily identified by workers.
However, there are often industry based reasons why coloured gloves are required.
In food industries, for gloves and other protective wear, blue is usually the colour of choice.
This is so that the gloves will be easily identified in food processing or handling areas which helps reduce any contamination.
Black disposable gloves such as the Blax range of nitrile gloves are useful in industries where discolouration of the gloves could be an issue, like in hairdressing.
In other workplaces, it may be useful to buy different material gloves in differing colours so that their specific purpose is easily identified by workers.
6. Easy Storage Of Multiple Sizes / Ranges Of Disposable Gloves
Space is always an issue in a workplace. To improve your workflow, consider wall mounting products for easy dispensing.
Disposable gloves are easily wall mounted using either 1 or 3 box wall mounted dispenser. These dispensers, strategically placed, offer a hygienic and convenient solution to any workplace.
Disposable gloves are easily wall mounted using either 1 or 3 box wall mounted dispenser. These dispensers, strategically placed, offer a hygienic and convenient solution to any workplace.
7. What Chemicals For What Glove?
Not sure what gloves are required for your workplace?
If you require further information regarding which glove type to use for which chemicals please contact ABL and we will be able to supply you with a general guide as to what gloves are most effective for a given chemical based on published research data supplied by glove manufacturers.
If you require further information regarding which glove type to use for which chemicals please contact ABL and we will be able to supply you with a general guide as to what gloves are most effective for a given chemical based on published research data supplied by glove manufacturers.
