Since first introduced by
Ansell in 1964,
disposable gloves
have evolved into a variety of materials, sizes, thicknesses, and
colors serving different purposes and uses. Disposable gloves have
become a necessity in many industries, protecting employees from dirt,
grease, hazardous materials, and biological pathogens. Choosing the
proper glove for the occasion is important to ensure proper protection
for employees and maintaining a safe working environment while keeping
costs under control.
OSHA has
approved gloves for various uses and recommends that employers provide
protective gloves when employees are exposed to hazardous materials.
With several different materials to choose from, it can be hard to
determine what glove is right for the job.
Today, there are several common types of materials found in disposable gloves,
nitrile,
latex,
and vinyl - each having their own separate uses and benefits. Nitrile
gloves tend to be three times more puncture resistant than latex
disposable gloves, it does not trigger allergies and it has better
chemical resistance than most disposable gloves made from other
materials. Nitrile works as an excellent barrier against dirt, grime,
oil, chemicals and numerous solvents. Thus nitrile gloves are used in a
wide variety of industries including: food service, custodial and
janitorial,
marine, maintenance, medical, automotive,
aerospace,
woodworking, and lawn care. Nitrile is ideal for environments where
puncture resistance is important. Nitrile gloves were first heralded as
the solution for people who are allergic to the latex proteins found in
latex gloves, but the fact of the matter is nitrile gloves are suitable
for a wide variety of tasks and professions. For puncture resistant,
chemical resistant, allergen-free gloves, find the glove that is right
for your needs at
Beacon National Supply.
Latex can be found both natural and synthetic. A lot of organizations are changing to a latex free environment due to
natural rubber latex
allergies but in some environments latex gloves are still prevalent.
Latex allergies tend to develop from repeated exposure to the proteins
found in natural rubber and through skin contact or inhalation. While
nitrile is a great solution for those with allergies, it is not always
the most suitable glove for the job. For example, because Latex is
natural rubber, it is extremely hard to beat in surgical applications.
It stretches better than most materials and instantly reforms to its
original shape and size offering greater sensitivity to the touch and
finer control versus other materials. For a glove that has a close fit
and conforms exactly to the shape of your hand and protects against
infectious diseases, follow this
link to find a selection of powdered and powder free latex gloves.