Chemicals are no fun to deal with and a little safety is surely goes a long way!
Thos of you who are unaware about the safety measures you need to take when working with gloves, here is something very important that you need to know – chemical protection gloves.
The chemical resistant gloves as they may be known help provide the worker’s hand and arm the protection it requires in many occupational health, safety, and home applications. The material of the gloves includes latex, leather, nitrile, goatskin, vinyl, neoprene, and other manufactured materials suitable for a variety of applications.
How to choose the chemical protection gloves?
The first thing to understand here is that different chemical materials call for different protective coating, and you should choose the most suitable one based on the same. It is imperative to understand your job type and the chemicals that you may most commonly come in contact with during the work, then selecting the gloves.
Which chemical-resistant gloves are best for me?
That is one of the most difficult questions to answer but here is a list that may be helpful for you –
- Butyl gloves – Made of a synthetic rubber, these gloves offer protection against many chemicals such as peroxide, rocket fuels, highly corrosive acids, and even strong bases. Furthermore, the gloves can also offer resistance against oxidation and abrasion because, and manage to stay flexible even at low temperatures.
- Natural (Latex) Rubber Gloves – These comfortable gloves gloves feature amazing tensile strength, elasticity, and temperature resistance. Apart from all of this they offer resistance to abrasions from grinding and polishing and protect against most water solutions of acids, alkalis, salts, and ketones. Hypoallergenic gloves, glove liners and powderless gloves are alternatives for workers who are allergic to latex.
- Neoprene Gloves – Made of synthetic rubber these offer good suppleness, finger dexterity, high density and tear-resistance. These are exclusively designed to defend against hydraulic fluids, gasoline, alcohols, organic acids and alkalis, and usually they have chemical wear-resistance properties which is otherwise superior to gloves made of natural rubber.
- Nitrile Goves – These gloves are made of a co-polymer and provide protection from chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene. They offer protection when working with oils, greases, acids, caustics and alcohols, but generally are not recommended for use with strong oxidizing agents, aromatic solvents, ketones and acetates.
Also, before you really come into contact with the chemical in your workspace you will be given the training on how it should be handled and the type of gloves that should be then worn by you. All you then need to do is take these things into consideration and make sure you follow the right instructions.
What other things to consider about skin and hand protection?
Wearing gloves is not all that is needed, rather there are couple of other things that need to be taken care of when it comes to skin and hand protection. Follow the points below and see what you need to do –
- Choose a hand protection that sufficiently protects from the hazards of a specific job and also meets the specific tasks involved in the job (such as flexibility or dexterity).
- Never ignore the manufacturer’s instructions for care, decontamination, and maintenance of gloves – these are for your own good and safety.
- Be aware that some materials may cause reactions in some workers such as allergies to latex. Take the offer to go for alternatives if you may need one.
- The loose gloves are of no good – choose the ones that fit you properly.
- Make sure all exposed skin is covered by gloves. Gloves should be long enough so that there is no gap between the glove and sleeve.
- Do not wear gloves with metal parts near electrical equipment.
- Do not use worn or torn gloves – they are just as good as no gloves at all.
- Keep your gloves clean and follow the cleaning instructions as offered by the supplier.
- Inspect and test the gloves before putting them into use.
- Test all rubber or synthetic gloves for pin holes or leaks by inflating them. For any defects you will understand when the gloves do not inflate up.
- Know how to remove, and either clean or dispose of used gloves, as appropriate.
Last but very important – you may think while in between your job how uncomfortable you feel in the gloves, but remember the discomfort that you may have to face if you work without them with the chemicals.
Takeaway – Your safety should be your first priority and that is exactly why choosing these chemical resistant gloves will do the most for your hands and arms. Never should you make the mistake of underestimating their importance because a slight negligence from your end can cause a bigger damage.
Remember – Safety Comes First!
