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School of Biomedical Sciences
Glove selection guide
The main hazards encountered by
SBMS staff can be divided into
Biological and Chemical Hazards.
The following guidance is adapted
from the University occupational
hygiene
site,
see
http://www.safety.ed.ac.uk/resources/
General/gloves.shtm .
Those that have been performance
tested against biological hazards will
have the biohazard pictogram on the
packaging along with the performance
rating. e.g:
Further information on selecting the
right glove may be found at
http://www.marigoldindustrial.com/en/s
earch_chemical_78,386.aspx
Biological Hazards
Advice from the Biosafety Unit site on
GMP: ‘Wearing of gloves gives
additional protection if the microorganism being handled infects via the
percutaneous
route….
it
is
recommended that two pairs of
disposable gloves be worn when
handling samples (minor damage to
thin gloves often goes undetected until
skin contamination is noticed). If during
use the outer glove become punctured
or grossly contaminated it should be
removed and disposed of. If the inner
glove is also damaged or contaminated
it should also be disposed of and hands
should be washed and clean gloves put
on.
On completion of work gloves should be
removed and discarded, and hands
should be washed. Disposable gloves
should not be re-used as contamination
is likely to be transferred when these
are put back on.’
Gloves that are manufactured from
materials that afford protection from
chemicals should also offer some
protection from biological hazards.
Ann Diment
However, where other hazards are
present eg. chemical, puncture etc.
some gloves may not offer adequate,
or any, protection against these
hazards. Gloves can also be tested for
cut/puncture resistance, and this will
be depicted by a pictogram on the box
like this:
Disposable Latex (Natural Rubber)
or Vinyl laboratory gloves are the
usual glove of choice against
biological hazards, these are primarily
intended
to
minimise
sample
contamination but, if of good quality,
will provide some degree of personal
protection. See page 2 for further
information.
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Chemical Hazards
When assessing risk to hands from
exposure to chemicals, all the
chemicals being used should be
examined, as seemingly harmless
substances such as detergents and
water may also cause skin damage.
It is essential accurate information on
the hazards a particular chemical or
mixture of chemicals presents to the
user is known. This can be found from
the Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS), which should be used to
complete the COSHH risk assessment
and decide on the best PPE to use.
Gloves providing chemical resistance
are available in a wide variety of
materials and thicknesses. Disposable
laboratory type, gloves may offer no,
or only splash protection against a
small range of specific chemical
agents, and most chemicals will
eventually permeate through a glove,
leaving the hazardous substance
trapped between the glove and the
skin. The rate of permeation can vary
from seconds to hours, dependant on
the chemical hazard and the materials
used in the glove manufacture. Some
manufacturers
now
print
the
permeation time on the box for easy
reference.
Contact with certain chemicals may
also cause a glove to lose one or more
of its physical properties. Gloves may
become stiffer and more brittle or
softer and weaker. They may lose
shape or may swell depending on the
chemical the glove is exposed to and
the materials in the glove.
Anyone purchasing gloves for a
laboratory situation should ensure
that they are certified as having a
protection rating of at least PT3 on
European standard EN 374. This
means that the gloves have been
tested for permeation and degradation
with a range of chemicals.
Ann Diment
Due to the wide range of chemical
hazards in the workplace, it is
essential to seek specialised advice
from the glove manufacturer or
supplier to establish the most suitable
hand protection.
Latex:
Natural rubber provides
excellent resistance to aqueous
chemicals such as acids and alkalis.
Thicker latex products can also
provide a measure of resistance to
specific solvents. Different latex
compounds will provide varying levels
of protection irrespective of thickness.
An advantage of latex is that it has a
high level of comfort, elasticity and
dexterity. They are not suitable for
some
chemicals
however,
see
http://pubs.acs.org/hotartcl/chas/97/no
vdec/latex.html for an article on a fatal
case of mercury poisoning.
However, Latex gloves present a
risk of irritation, allergic reaction or
sensitisation which, for susceptible
individuals, can be significant. Latex
gloves should only be used when
no other glove is appropriate.
University Safety Policy prohibits the
use of powdered latex gloves for
any purpose, and advises that, if use
of latex is essential, only latex gloves
with low levels of extractable latex
protein should be used. See
http://www.safety.ed.ac.uk/resources/
General/latex_pol.shtm for details.
There is no cure for sensitisation.
Allergic reactions vary in severity and
in extreme cases it can induce
anaphylactic shock, which can be
fatal. For more information on Latex
allergies
see
http://www.safety.ed.ac.uk/resources/
General/latex.shtm
Further Advice is available from the
Occupational
Health
Unit
(Ext.
508190)
on
avoidance
and
management
of
skin
problems
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Some
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alternative
materials
include
(For
other
materials
see
also
http://www.hse.gov.uk/latex/pdf/glovematerials.pdf ) :
Nitrile (synthetic rubber) gives good resistance to oil based chemicals and is
excellent for protection against petrols, oils and lubricants together will many
solvents. However, nitrile rubber is prone to swelling in some solvents thus reducing
the physical strength of the product and lessening the protection.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) will provide chemical resistance to aqueous chemicals,
but protection against solvents is limited as many solvents extract the plasticiser
used to make the product flexible. This causes contamination of the solvent being
used and the glove may begin to stiffen and crack.
Neoprenetm (or polychloroprene) this has similar comfort and conformity features
as natural rubber but with added resistance to petrol, oil and lubricants.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) protects against most organic solvents but is soluble in
water and exposure to water based solvents may reduce performance. PVA is
inflexible and requires plasticisation. Currently, because of processing difficulties
PVA is only available as a polyethylene laminate or on a supported fabric liner.
Butyl offers protection against many organic chemicals and strong acids. However,
butyl gloves are very difficult to manufacture. An outer layer of Neoprene is often
required as butyl has very poor resistance to petrol, oil and lubricants.
Vitontm is a fluorinated polymer similar to Teflontm. The low surface energy of the
polymer means that droplets of chemical are not retained on the surface thus
reducing chemical permeation. Specialist protection against chlorinated solvents and
aromatic hydrocarbons is offered but there is poor resistance to ketones.
Summary: Non-latex glove alternatives-Physical
properties versus Price.
(Adapted from http://www.hse.gov.uk/latex/pdf/glovematerials.pdf)
Material type
Natural
rubber
Polyisoprene
Nitrile
Neoprene
Strength
Good
Softness
Very Good
Elasticity
Very Good
Tear Strength
Good
Cost
Low
Good
Good
Good
Good
Very Good
Good
Good/
Very Good
Very Good
Moderate
Poor
Poor
Block
copolymers
PVC
Polyurethane
Very Good
Good
Good/
Very Good
Good
Fair
Very Good
Good
Good
Poor
Good
Poor
Good
High
Moderate
Moderate
/High
Moderate /
High
Low
High
Ann Diment
Fair
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Appendix 1:Glove Suppliers
The University have put into place purchasing agreements with the following
companies. This means that their products are stocked in stores, and can be obtained
at a discount from list price. See the procurement website for a list of recommended
suppliers and contact details
.
http://www.pps.ed.ac.uk/for/staff/contracts_suppliers/suppliers/index.cfm
Supplier
Arco
Glove types
Touch’n’tuff’/TNT
nitrile (blue or green)
Vinyl, Latex & Nitrile
Continental
Lab Products
Fisher
All types, including
Scientific
Touch’n’tuff’/TNT
Nitrile (blue or green)
Kimberley
‘Safeskin’ Latex &
Clark
Nitrile
4C
Latex, Vinyl
Healthcare
Schottlander Latex (low allergy)
Ansell
Laminate, nitrile,
Occupational neoprene, polyvinyl
healthcare
chloride (vinyl),natural
(not a listed rubber, neoprene/latex
supplier at
blend
present)
Ann Diment
Comments
Approved to BSEN374 cat 3
Approved to EN455 (class 1 medical) only
Gloves with various PPE ratings, see catalogue
for specification.
As recommended by Chemistry dept.
Procurement recommended- favourable
discounts. Tel 01506 431010
See
http://www.anselledmont.com/download/Ansell_7thEditionChemi
calResistanceGuide.pdf
or use their ‘Specware’ database at
http://www.ansellpro.com/specware/guide.asp
to check what glove type is best for oyur
application
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Appendix 2: Glove selection tables
These tables are taken from the Oxford University MSDS web pages written by Hugh Cartwright, specifically from his glove selection guide
pages, selected by material , or chemical Other information is available from manufacturer websites such as Ansell http://www.anselledmont.com/download/Ansell_7thEditionChemicalResistanceGuide.pdf . or http://www.marigoldindustrial.com/en/search_chemical_78,386.aspx
It is important to check the manufacturer’s tables before deciding on the suitability of a glove for the substance you are using.
Mineral acids
Oils
Plating solutions
Chemical resistant gloves
Material
Generally suitable for
Butyl rubber
Aldehydes
Carboxylic acids
Glycols and ethers
Hydroxyl compounds and alcohols
Peroxides
Latex
SEE GUIDANCE BEFORE USING
Natural rubber
Acetone
Acohols
Alkalies and Caustics
Ammonium fluoride
Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)
Phenol
Plating solutions
Neoprene
Ann Diment
Nitrile rubber
Alcohols
Ammonium fluoride
Freons
Hexane
Hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid
Perchloric acid
Perchloroethylene
Phosphoric acid
Potassium and sodium hydroxide
Water soluble materials, dilute acids and bases
Vinyl
General prevention of contamination
Medical examination
Nuisance materials
Alcohols
Alkalies and caustics
Cellosolve
Degreasing solvents
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Abbreviations used for glove
material:
4H
4H (PE/EVAL)
B
Barricade
Br
CPF
Ne
Ni
Nr
Pe
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If a chemical you use isn’t on this list
then please contact the SSA and the list
can be updated.
Chemical
Recommended Glove
type
Acetaldehyde
Br T
Acetic acid
Br Ne T V S
Acetone
Br T 4H CPF Res
Acetonitrile
Br T B
Acetonylacetone
Nr Br
Acetophenone
T
Acrolein
Br B
Butyl rubber
CPF 3
Neoprene
Nitrile rubber
Natural rubber
Polyethylene
Pva
Polvinyl alcohol
Pvc
Polyvinyl chloride
Res
Responder
S
Saranex
T
Teflon
Acrylamide
Ammonia (liquid)
Pva V
Benzyl alcohol
Br V
Benzylamine
T
Benzyl bromide
T
Boric acid
Br N Ni V
Bromine
T
Bromobenzene
Pva V
2-bromoethanol
Br V
Butyric acid
Br V
gamma-butyrolactone
4H
Br
Cadmium oxide
Ne Ni
Carbon disulfide
Pva T V B 4H Res Ty
Carbon tetrachloride
Pva T V B
Chloral, anhydrous
V Br
Res CPF
Ammonium hydroxide
Br Ni T V
Aniline
Br Pva T V B
Tychem 10000
Viton
Ann Diment
Benzoyl chloride
Br Ni Pvc V
B
V
Pva T V B
C
Allylamine
Ty
Benzene
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Chloroacetic acid
Br Ne Pe V
4-chloroaniline
B
Chloroform
1-chloropropane
Chromic acid
Di(2ethylhexyl)phthalate
Br V 4H Ba
Dimethyl acetamide
Br
Dimethylformamide
Br T 4H Res
Dimethyl phosphite
Ne Ni Br
Pva T V B
Ethylene oxide
Br T B
Ethyl methacrylate
Br Pva
F
T
Pe Pvc Br
Dimethyl sulfide
(methyl sulfide)
Res
1,8-cineole
TV
Cobalt (III)
acetylacetonate
Br Ni
Dimethyl sulfoxide
(DMSO)
Br Ne T B
p-cresol
4H
2,4-dinitrotoluene
S
Crystal violet
Br V
1,3-dioxane
Br
Fluoroacetamide
Ne
Formaldehyde
Br Ni T V B
Formamide
Br Nr
Formic acid
Br Ne Pvc T S B
Furfural
Br Pva S
G
Glutaraldehyde
Br Ne Nr Ni V Pvc
E
D
H
DCM
Br Ni
Ethidium bromide
Ni Br
3,4-dichloroaniline
B
Ethyl acetate
4H B Res
Dichlorobenzene
V
Ethyl bromide
(Pva, V)
Dichlorodimethylsilane 4H V
Ethylenediamine
Br T S
1,2-dichloroethane
Ty [Pva] [V]
Ethylene glycol
dimethyl ether
Diethyl ether ("ether")
Pva T
Ann Diment
Br
Page 7
Heptane
Ni V 4H
Hexane
Ni PVA T V B
Hexachlorobenzene
Res Ty
Hexachloro-1,3butadiene
Res Ty
Hexachloroethane
Res Ty
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(MEK)
1-hexene
TV
L
Hydrazine
Br Ne Ni Pvc T V B
Lubricating oil
Hydochloric acid
Br Nr Ne Ni Pvc T V B
M
Hydrofluoric acid
Br B T S
Malathion
T
Hydrogen bromide
T
Mercuric chloride
B
Hydrogen peroxide
Br Nr Ni Pe Pvc V
Mercury
B
I
Nr Ne Ni V
Methanesulphonic acid Ne Pvc
Indole
4H Res Ty
Methanol
Br T V 4H
Iodine
Pe S
1-methoxy-2-propanol
Br Ne 4H
Iodomethane
Br Ni
Methyl acrylate
Pva T B
Iodomethane-d3
Br Ni
Methylamine
Br Ne Ni T V
Isoamyl alcohol
(isopentyl alcohol)
Br Ne Ni V
2-methylbutane
Ni
Methyl tert-butyl ether
Ni PVA 4H B Res
Methylene chloride
(dichloromethane)
PVA T 4H B Res Ty
Methylethanolamine
V Br Ne
Methylethyl ketone
Br T
Isobutanol (isobutyl
alcohol)
Br Ne Ni V 4H Res
Isopentane
Ni
Isopropanol
Br Ni V 4H CPF3 Res
Ann Diment
Page 8
Methyl ethyl ketone
peroxide (MEKP)
V Ne Br
Methyl glycol (methyl
cellosolve)
Br 4H
Methyl isocyanate
Pva B
Methyl mercaptan
B
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone Br 4H
Methyl trichlorosilane
V
Morpholine
Br
N
Naphtha (solvents)
Ni Pva 4H B
Nickel cyanide
Br
Nickel (II) or (III) oxide Nr Pvc
Nitric acid
(concentrated)
Pvc
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Nitric acid 30-70%
Br Ne Pe Pvc V S
Propionaldehyde
Nitric acid 30%
Br Nr Ne Ni Pe Pvc T S
Q
Nitric oxide
T
Quinoline
Nitrobenzene
Br Pva T V B
O
Octafluoroadipic acid
Br Nr
Oxalic acid
Br Nr Ne Ni Pvc V
Br
Trichloroacetic acid
Ni
1,1,1-trichloroethane
Pva T V B
1,1,2-trichloroethane
Pva T V
S
Trichloroethylene
Pva T V 4H B Res Ty
Sodium cyanide (solid) Nr Ne Ni Pvc
Triethanolamine
Br Nr Ne Ni
Sodium fluoride
Nr Ni Ne Pvc
Triethylamine
Ni V
Sodium hydroxide
Br Nr Ne Ni Pe PVC T V
Sar Bar 4H Res
Trimethylamine
T
Sodium hypochlorite
Br Nr Ni Ne Pe V Res
Sodium silicate
Br Nr
Solvent naphtha
Ni Pva 4H B
Sulfuryl chloride
Br Ni
Sulphuric acid
Br Nr Ne Pe Pvc T V B
Br
P
2-pentanone
Perchloric acid (ca.
75%)
V
Br
Nr Ne Ni Pvc T
Vinyl acetate
TB
4-vinylcyclohexene
Ni V
W
n-perfluoropentanoic
acid
Phenol
Br Ne Ni Nr
Water glass
Br Ne T V B
Br Nr
X
T
Phosgene
T
Phosphorus trichloride T B
Picric acid
Ne Ni (for short periods, ca.
1hour, only)
Xylene
1,1,2,2tetrachloroethane
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) T B
Toluene
Ann Diment
Pva T V B Ty
Pva T V
Page 9
Pva T V 4H B