GYMDA PPE Gloves

Gloves are among the most vital pieces of equipment that people need to use when handling certain kinds of substances or materials. They come in a lot of different types but the ones that offer the most protection are the personal protective gloves. These are especially important for people who work around dangerous chemicals, bodily fluids and toxic matter.

Types of Gloves to Protect Hands from Hazardous Chemicals

There are many types of chemicals that are highly toxic and can cause damage to the skin or even more serious health complications. If your job requires you to be in close contact with such chemicals, it is mandatory that you wear personal protective gloves at all times. There are 3 popular types of gloves used for protection, categorized by the kind of their material. It is advisable to learn the pros and cons of each kind so that you can choose the right one depending on your situation.

Nitrile Gloves

Experts consider nitrile gloves to be the best option among all kinds of protective gloves for many reasons. Nitrile gloves are made of synthetic rubber and offer a great alternative for people with allergies to latex.

In terms of durability and resistance to chemicals, they are also much better than latex. Nitrile is tougher against punctures and can protect the wearer even from highly corrosive chemicals. The fit is similar to that of latex, which means that it feels just like a second skin and allows for a good level of dexterity in movement.

The only issue about nitrile is that they are a little bit more expensive than latex and are made of a non-biodegradable material. However, many glove manufacturers today are already coming up with more environment-friendly versions of these highly practical nitrile gloves.

Latex, Rubber or Plastic Gloves

Latex has traditionally been the most common material used for disposable gloves. They are quite affordable, very elastic, fit comfortably and offer high dexterity in movement.

Since latex gloves are made of natural rubber, they are completely biodegradable. This is one of the main reasons why a lot of users prefer them over other kinds of gloves. However, a lot of people do have an allergy to latex. Also, since they are quite thin, they are highly susceptible to tears and punctures. Some of the most common uses of latex gloves are in the medical industry and also for janitorial and industrial purposes.

Plastic gloves, on the other hand, are made of a synthetic material. They offer less in terms of comfort and dexterity and are also usually more costly.

Vinyl Gloves

Vinyl gloves first became popular as an alternative for people who had latex allergies. They are made of PVC material and are very affordable, which is their greatest advantage.

However, vinyl does not offer a very high level of protection for hazardous chemicals. Because of this, they are frequently used only in the food industry, where there is very little risk of coming into contact with toxic substances. There are also a number of concerns with regards to the ecological impact of using vinyl.

How to Choose the Best Gloves for Your Application

As you can see, protective gloves come in different materials that have their own pros and cons. In addition, there are also many other elements to think about when choosing the particular gloves to use for certain situations. Here are some of the most important factors that you have to take into consideration.

Size and Color

Both disposable and reusable gloves come in many different sizes. It is important that you choose one that is the perfect fit so that you can move with ease and work more efficiently. Ill-fitting gloves are not only uncomfortable to wear but they may also lead to accidents and poor work performance.

Color

For the most part, the color of the glove is just an aesthetic feature and may not seem to be that important. However, the color can also serve some important functions. For example, in companies where most employees need to wear gloves, you can choose a color that matches the staff uniform. This creates a more professional look in the work environment. You can also use color-coded gloves to differentiate the various divisions of a company.

Thickness of Material

Some companies require their workers to use a specific thickness when it comes to personal protective gloves. This is both to protect the wearer from many kinds of dangers as well as to comply with industry protocols. Most nitrile gloves are available in thicknesses of 4 to 8 millimeters. Thicker gloves might also have a higher price and some may be not as comfortable to wear as the thinner varieties. But when it comes to protection, there is no doubt that the thicker gloves offer the highest level of protection from more kinds of chemicals.

Textures

The different kinds of textures of gloves give varying levels of grip. If you work in wet conditions, you might find it helpful to use gloves with added texture on the palm and fingers. Those in the plumbing, automotive or janitorial industries will also benefit a lot from using gloves with highly textured surfaces. These extra features provide better grip and let you work more efficiently. Latex and nitrile gloves both come in textured and smooth materials.

Powdered vs. Powder-Free Gloves

You may have noticed that some disposable gloves are lined with a powder-like substance, often cornstarch, on the inside. The main purpose of this is to make it easier for the user to slip the glove on and off. This is very important for busy industries where people need to frequently and quickly wear and remove gloves. The powder also keeps your hands from getting sweaty and keeps the gloves from tearing easily. A big problem, however, is that the powder usually leaves an unpleasant residue on the hands especially after prolonged use.

Powder-free gloves do not have this problem. For latex gloves, manufacturers usually use chlorination in place of the powder. Nitrile gloves, on the other hand, have a polymer coating. Both the chlorine and the polymer coating help with the easy wearing and removal of the gloves, just like the powder does.