Chemical risks involve the potential for exposure to, or immersion in, chemical liquids and compounds for extensive periods of time.
The decision on selection of the right chemical glove is based on the type of tasks that a worker does and other key factors.
Chemical protection gloves have different types of construction, grip patterns and cuff lengths. All of these variables offer advantages that are appropriate to individual applications or work processes.
Chemical gloves are typically made of several materials often found in use across a wide range of industries and work applications. Some of the most common chemical glove materials include:
Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) and Nitrile are the materials most often found in chemical gloves. It should be noted that not all glove materials are suitable for use with all chemical compounds depending on the unique strengths and weaknesses of that material. Safety managers should ensure that workers use the proper glove polymer for each type of chemical hazard risk.
Chemical gloves are constructed with various grip patterns on the palm and fingers to improve handling of objects in an environment that includes liquid exposure or immersion as part of the work task.
Chemical gloves are designed with various cuff designs to improve worker comfort and functionality based on the environment and work tasks:
offers increased protection from chemical, oil and fat droplets, and features increased cuff strength
helps protect the wrist, slides on and off easily and stays firm, even when exposed to perspiration
features a zigzag design that catches drips in the cuff
has the same features as a safety cuff with added protection for lower forearm. Design allows maximum movement of the forearm
provides additional length so that the cuff can be turned down or “troughed�? to protect from chemical, liquid and oil runoff
fits snug to the wrist and is designed to hold glove in place while preventing debris from entering the glove