Chemical Resistant Gloves

Chemical Resistant Gloves: What to look for

Not all safety gloves are equal, nor can one pair protect you from all types of chemicals. The type of product you are using will usually dictate which level of protection you need to wear; different categories of chemicals dictate different levels of protection. For example, a class B chemical will require barrier laminate or butyl rubber. We sell nitrile gloves and latex rubber gloves, both allow a lot of protection for all your jobs.

Chemical Gloves Resistant Chart

                 (Click to Enlarge)

Here are some additional tips for proper protective glove selection:

• The thicker the glove, the more protection they will give you, and they will resist punctures or tears much better. However, this may impede dexterity.
• Fit is crucial to work gloves. Too tight and your gloves will be thinner in some spots, making them more vulnerable to tears or penetration of chemicals. Too loose and you may be in danger of getting your glove caught in something, or chemicals being able to drip into your gloves.
• Do not use cotton, canvas, or leather, because pesticides can absorb easily into these materials. However, you may be able to use these in conjunction with liners, like when working with plants with thorns.
• Make sure your gloves cover your wrists, and use common sense when placing them either inside or outside your shirt cuffs.
• Keep a supply of gloves as backup, so you will always have proper protection around for all of your jobs.

Storing and Disposing of Protective Gloves

As important as it is to wear your PPE, it is just as important to store, replace, or dispose of them properly.

• Rinse gloves and wash with soapy water while you are still wearing the gloves, to protect you while you remove them and before you store them. Always take gloves off so they will be stored inside out. This prevents other items from being contaminated.
• Gloves should be discarded after an entire day’s work, or a full day of chemical exposure.
• Cut off the fingers of gloves before you throw them away; use scissors specifically for this purpose, not household scissors.
• Never wash gloves in washing machines, as this could possibly contaminate the inside of the gloves or other items in the machine. Drying gloves could cause them to melt or shrink.
• Replace gloves if they begin to leak, stain, change colors, change shape or get soft, break down (dissolve, etc), or dry out and crack.

Replace gloves after a day’s worth of continuous chemical exposure.