| University
of Kentucky
Glove
Selection
Skin adsorption is the most
common route of exposure for lab workers. Because of this, choosing
the right glove for your research is one of the most important laboratory
safety decisions you can make. Not all gloves are equal and the material
should be considered when making your choice. The following information
will help determine your hazard and help you select an appropriate glove
for protection.
| Step |
What
to do |
How
to do it |
| 1 |
Identify
the hazards of the materials being worked with |
-
Base selection of glove type and a material on the type of exposure
and nature of the chemical. Some chemicals can easily penetrate
gloves that work very well for other chemicals. (Link to Chemical
compatibility) (Diamond Grip and other) Consider these factors
- Chemical
type
- Temperature
extremes
- Equipment
(sharps, piercing objects)
- pH
- Toxicity
-
Read the Material Safety Data Sheet for each
chemical Involved
MSDSs Link
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ |
| 2 |
Determine
contact time (long or short term) |
-
Incidental contact (little or no direct contact ) includes these
situations:
- Accidental
spills or splashes
- Accidental
overspray from a dispensing device
- Handling
infectious agents that require barrier protection
- To
prevent contamination of materials by employees
Incidental contact, go to Step 3
- Extended
Contact includes the following situations:
- Handling
highly contaminated materials
- Submerging
hands in a chemical or other hazardous substance
Extended contact, go to Step 4.
|
| 3 |
For
incidental contact |
-
Type of glove: Disposable, surgical-type gloves are appropriate
for incidental contact.
- Nitrile
gloves are preferred over latex because of the chemical
resistance, their tendency to rip when puncture, and possible
latex allergies
- See
the Glove Selection Chart for help in selecting
glove material.
- Disposable
glove usage:
- Check
for rips or puncture before use.
- Remove
and replace gloves immediately when a chemical spills or
splashes on them.
- Never
wash or reuse disposable gloves
|
| 4 |
For
extended Contact |
- Type
of glove: More Substantial gloves are required for extended
use
- Norfoil
or Sivershield gloves are recommended for highly toxic materials
and materials that are absorbed through the skin
- See
the Glove Selection Chart for help in selecting
glove material
- Reusable
glove usage: Many gloves intended for extended contact are reusable.
Check the gloves for:
- Rips
or punctures are before and after each use
- Prior
contamination
- Signs
of degradation (change in color or texture)
- Care
Instructions
- Replace
gloves as soon as signs of degradation appear
- Wash
after removal and air dry in the laboratory
- Always
wear inner surgical gloves for extra protection.
|
| 5 |
Disposal
of Gloves |
-
After Use
- Discard
gloves when contaminated
- Chemical
- Biological
- Radioactive
|
The type of chemical to be
used is the most important factor for selecting gloves. The chemical
resistance of the glove is based on degradation, permeation, and exposure.
Degradation
is the measurement of the physical deterioration of the glove due to
contact with the chemical. The material may get harder, stiffer, softer,
or may swell.
Permeation
is the result of molecular diffusion of a chemical through a glove material.
Exposure
is the length of time the glove will be in contact with the chemical.
(Protection against splashes verses submersion in the chemical).
To help decide
which glove is best for the different type of chemicals the following
table can be use.
Laboratory
Safety | Glove Selection |