Chemical-resistant gloves

There are many types of chemical-resistant gloves available on the market. The nature of the hazard and the operation involved will affect the selection of gloves. The variety of potential occupational hand injuries makes selecting the right pair of gloves challenging. It is essential that employees use gloves specifically designed for the hazards and tasks they encounter in the lab because gloves designed for one function may not protect against a different function, even though they may appear to be an appropriate protective device.

Some factors that may influence the selection of protective gloves include:

• Type of chemicals handled
• Nature of contact (total immersion, splash, etc.)
• Duration of contact
• Area requiring protection (hand only, forearm, arm)
• Grip requirements (dry, wet, oily)
• Thermal protection
• Size and comfort
• Abrasion/resistance requirements

Review OSHA ratings

Review the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Chemical Resistance Selection Chart for Protective Gloves that rate various gloves and their level of protection against specific chemicals.

Review glove manufacturer’s recommendations

When choosing chemical-resistant gloves for use in your lab, it’s also important to review the glove manufacturer’s recommendations. These recommendations are specific to each manufacturer,  because each manufacturer does its own testing and produces its own resistance guide. For example, if you choose Ansell-Edmont gloves for your lab, you should be using Ansell-Edmont’s compatibility guide.

Here are links to some of the most commonly used types of chemical-resistant gloves*:

• Ansell Protective Products, Inc.
• SHOWA BEST® Glove, Inc.
• Microflex®

*Please note that NAU does not endorse any single manufacturer or product.