Disposable Gloves
If you work in research, the healthcare industry, hospitality, or within custodial services, it is likely that your workday starts with wearing a pair of protective disposable gloves. Disposable gloves are one of the most widely used safety products worldwide. They create a protective barrier around your hands, preventing infection transmission through bodily fluids, burns from hazardous chemicals, and general wear and tear. Disposable gloves also help in minimising the risk of cross-contamination, protecting products, equipment, samples and surfaces you need to handle. There are three main types of disposable gloves in general use today:
Latex Gloves
Natural rubber latex gloves were once the most common choice for disposable gloves. Despite the arrival of newer and more advanced synthetic formulations, latex gloves remain popular as they offer a great deal of dexterity, tactility, and comfort, making them perfect for medical, mechanical and food services applications. Latex gloves come in a range of thicknesses, offering different levels of durability against punctures and tears. They can be powder-free or powdered with corn starch to make them easy to put on and take off. The prevalence of latex allergies is one of the main reasons for a decline in the use of latex gloves.
Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves come in a wide range of thicknesses, as well as options of powdered, lightly powdered and powder-free. They are made from nitrile butadiene rubber and are a suitable alternative for people with latex allergies. These gloves have an extended shelf life and increased resistance to punctures. They are ideal for use across several sectors such as research, laboratory sciences, agricultural, meat processing, medicine, and healthcare as they offer superior fit, feel dexterity and durability, and are more resistant to oils, solvents, and chemicals. Moreover, the nitrile formulation has a high tolerance for heat, making the nitrile gloves suitable for many mechanical applications. They also effectively break up electrostatic charges on the surface to reduce particulate contamination.
Vinyl Gloves
Vinyl is a synthetic material made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC); it is cheap to produce and has a long shelf life. Like their latex and nitrile counterparts, vinyl gloves also come in different thicknesses, with the options of powdered or non-powdered. While these types of gloves are comfortable and easy to put on, they are not very form-fitting and therefore offer limited dexterity and tactile precision. Vinyl gloves are best used for food service and other applications that do not require extensive or intricate movement of the fingers.
Why Disposable Gloves Have Become So Essential?
Disposable gloves are becoming more and more common in nearly all industries. While they don’t necessarily offer a high level of cut or puncture resistance, they have become invaluable to workers who need a quick and easy layer of protection. We are seeing disposable gloves being used in medical applications, salons, food services, and more.