When choosing the right safety gloves you must seriously consider the fit, function, and what’s most important, the protection level required for the job. Selecting the right glove is crucial if safety is your number one priority, especially when it comes to handling various chemicals and liquids at your workplace. Hence, you’d better get your PPE from a reliable glove supplier. If you’re looking for a glove safety Brisbane located supplier, look no further and contact PIP Aus to ensure you get the best hand protection either for yourself or your company’s workers.
As we already mentioned, hand protection is of high importance when handling chemicals and thus you need to determine the appropriate type of glove required for the job at hand. To do so, you should ask yourself some questions and carefully think about and determine the following factors that will help you select the right pair of gloves for you:
- Types of chemicals being handled
- The nature of contact – total immersion or splashes only
- The duration of contact
- The body parts that need protection – hand, forearm, or arm protection
- The grip and dexterity level needed
Now that you know which elements will affect your decision and choice, we may move on and discuss the different materials used for manufacturing chemical-resistant gloves.
Namely, such gloves are generally made from various kinds of rubber including natural (latex), neoprene, butyl, nitrile, and fluorocarbon (Viton), and several types of plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyethylene. All of these materials can be combined or covered with an extra layer to provide better protection and performance.
So, let’s have a look at the most commonly used chemical and liquid-resistant gloves and their application:
- Butyl Gloves
This type of glove is commonly used when a person is exposed to a substance for an extended period of time. They are made of synthetic rubber and provide protection not only from many different chemicals but also from oxidation, water, steam permeation, and abrasion. What’s more, is that they keep their flexibility even at low temperatures. Butyl rubber gloves protect from:
- Ketones, esters, alcohols
- Peroxides
- Rocket fuels
- Nitric acid
- Sulfuric acid
- Hydrochloric acid
- Strong bases
- Natural (Latex) Gloves
Natural (latex) rubber gloves are designed to protect from incidental chemical contact. They are suitable for people handling biological hazards or water-based liquids. Plus, they offer great tensile strength, flexibility, comfort, and temperature resistance. Also, they protect from grinding or polishing abrasions. These gloves protect from:
- Acids
- Alkalis
- Salts
- Ketones
Furthermore, in case of latex allergy, they can be replaced with hypoallergenic gloves, glove liners, and powder-less gloves.
- Neoprene Gloves
Made of synthetic rubber, these gloves offer good flexibility, finger dexterity, and resistance against high density and tear. In general, they have higher chemical and wear-resistance features than natural latex gloves. Neoprene gloves protect from:
- Hydraulic fluids
- Gasoline
- Alcohols
- Organic acids
- Alkalis
- Peroxides
- Hydrocarbons
- Bases
- Nitrile Gloves
These gloves are made of a copolymer and are considered to be versatile, general-use safety gloves. Nitrile disposable exam gloves are suitable for incidental contact whereas nitrile thicker gloves are intended for extended contact. They offer protection from:
- Chlorinated solvents
- Petroleum oils
- Greases
- Gasoline
- Certain acids and bases
- Caustics
- Alcohols
However, they aren’t the best glove safety choice when it comes to handling strong oxidizing agents, acetates, ketones, and aromatic solvents.
