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The Different Disposable Gloves And Their Uses

Disposable gloves have many incredible personal and industrial uses. The primary use for them is to protect your hands from any hazardous substances. Whichever type of glove you decide to use, you should always ensure that it is suitable for your kind of application. With this in mind, this article will provide information on glove: Service grading Types and when you should use them Considerations with each different type of glove Service Grading of Disposable Gloves Disposable gloves are usually manufactured with a ‘service grading’. The service grade indicates the type of industry that it should ideally be used in. The different grading for disposable glove use can be found below: Food Grade Gloves – Food service gloves are designed to fulfill a variety of tasks and are not designed for prolonged use. Generally speaking, they are used for food prep or other low risk tasks. Industrial Grade Gloves These gloves are designed to stand up to harsher chemicals. They are durable and are ideal for completing a variety of heavier duty food servicing tasks or janitorial work. Medical/Exam Grade Gloves These gloves have approved use in hospitals, nursing homes, laboratory locations and non-surgical procedures such as medical examinations. They protect against bloodborne pathogens, bodily fluids and are highly puncture resistant. Surgical Grade Gloves These gloves are primarily used in medical, healthcare settings and procedures where there is a significant risk of exposure or contact with blood or other bodily fluids. They have a durable design and boast the best resistance to needle sticks and abrasions. Different Types Of Disposable Gloves And When You Should Use Them Now that we have an idea of the service grading of gloves, let’s look at more specific gloves and the best uses for them. Single Use Latex Gloves Single use latex gloves are said to fit like a ‘second skin’. It offers great touch sensitivity to ensure the task being carried is performed to a high standard due to no contact being lost. Latex gloves offer a high level of flexibility – perfect for tasks that require a steady hand, have great durability and are reliable. They also act as a sufficient barrier between infectious substances and to prevent cross contamination. Finally, single use latex gloves are biodegradable – suitable if your business maintains a strong green environmental ethos. Single use latex gloves are best for: Medical professionals Employees in the beauty industry Biodegradable features for green practices Those who need a high level of touch sensitivity Nitrile Disposable Gloves Nitrile disposable gloves are produced from synthetic nitrile rubber and are a popular choice for many industries as they are resistant to a wide variety of chemicals and other hazardous substances. Not to mention their strong durability and tension properties when in use. This makes these types of disposable gloves suitable for: Mechanics Medical professionals Tattooists Laboratories Tasks that require food contact Task that advise chemical splash resistance Vinyl Gloves Vinyl disposable gloves are made from synthetic plastic polymer. They are completely synthetic, which means they are cheaper to make so great for low risk, shorter tasks that still require some level of protection. They are commonly used in the food industry when preparing food to ensure the risk of cross contamination is minimised. Vinyl disposable gloves and are best for: Low risk procedures Food preparation Hairdressers Working with non-hazardous materials Housekeeping and hygiene tasks Polythene Gloves Polythene disposable gloves are long lasting, durable and offer an effective barrier to minimise the risk of cross contamination – excellent for PPE practice. They are usually larger in size and are also available in arm gauntlet form to offer protection for forearms too. Polythene gloves are best for maintaining good hygiene, making them a great glove to keep to hand in a variety of industries. Polythene disposable gloves are best for: Food preparation tasks Jobs that require high levels of sanitisation Cleaning tasks Serving food Working with non-hazardous substances. Other Disposable Glove Considerations: Latex gloves Some people suffer from allergies to latex meaning they simply cannot come into contact with them or it could be harmful for the user’s health. Latex is not resistant to many chemicals and its puncture resistance is not as good as that offered by other glove typeslike nitrile. Nitrile gloves Nitrile gloves should not be worn when working with electrics. It is also important to check the chemical resistance available on the gloves before working with hazardous chemicals, as the permeation rates (the penetration of gases, vapours or fluids through solids) will vary depending on the chemical and the glove itself. Vinyl gloves Vinyl isn’t resistant against many chemicals which is why it’s only best for low risk jobs. It is worth noting that vinyl food disposable gloves should not be used when handling fatty foods as the oils can leach out the softening agents into the food and cause the glove to become brittle. Polythene gloves Polythene gloves are not the best choice when you require a higher level of touch sensitivity or when performing precise tasks that need a high degree of accuracy. They can feel loose on the user’s hands due to their oversized design. Polythene gloves should only be used for minimal risk jobs and are not suitable for medical purposes or contact with chemicals. We hope we have widened your knowledge of the disposable glove world with their primary uses and important considerations before wearing them. If you are interested in buying disposable gloves send us an email at: sales@easygloves.co.uk