In various work areas, there is a myriad of chemicals that employees can be exposed to. While nitrile gloves fit the majority of applications, unfortunately there isn't one glove that will cover all possible needs. As a result, it is important to know how to decide on chemical-resistant gloves that will work with the chemicals in your work area and will provide the required protection for your employees. This incorporates food service gloves and medical gloves too. The first action in choosing a glove is deciding what you're trying to defend against. · What chemical, or chemicals, are used in your workplace? · Is it a component of a blend, a sole chemical used by itself, or single chemicals used in a series? · What is the dilution of the chemical (i.e., how concentrated is it)? · How long is the employee subjected to to the chemical? Is the contact intermittent or constant? · Other key points that call for consideration: How much of the worker's arm above the glove will be exposed? How rough is the treatment of the glove (for example, will the glove be used where the worker frequently grips bumpy objects, abrading the glove?) Do you have staff that are allergic to latex? Generally, this information is simply found by reviewing the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for the substance, analyzing labels, and watching the work process. After you've decided what you're shielding against, the next part is selecting the glove. Because different manufacturers could use different processes and slightly different materials or material blends in manufacturing their gloves, it is critical to base your glove choice on the manufacturer's recommendations and/or its chemical resistance guide. 1. First, you need to make a initial glove material choice. You can do this by checking to see if the MSDS makes a suggestion for the material type or by consulting a "generic" glove material chart. Frequently, you will find that many materials will work for the chemical in question. You want to note each of the materials because if you can't get a glove in a particular style you want in one material, you may be able to find it in another option that will provide similar chemical protection. 2. Once you've made a initial material selection, narrow down your manufacturer options using the feature aspects (style) of the glove you would like—sleeve length, without or without a grip pattern, etc. 3. After you've reduced your manufacturer options, confer with the manufacturer's guide for your exact chemical. The manufacturer's data will usually supply you with three ratings concerning how well the glove performs with a particular chemical. · Permeation rate measures how quickly a chemical absorbs through a textile at the molecular level. Think of it as a slow leak, similar to how gases bleed through plastic soda bottles making soda on the grocery store shelf go flat. The thickness of a material can affect the permeation rate; the thicker the material, the slower the permeation rate. Permeation rates are reported differently by separate manufacturers. However, usually, the larger the figure, the more swiftly the chemical passes through the material. If the amount of time it takes for the chemical to infuse the material is close to or less than the amount of time your employee will have on the glove, it is not a good choice for your application. · Degradation means the physical changes to the material caused by the chemical, which can include swelling, stiffening, wrinkling, and changes in color. The slower degradation occurs in the use of a chemical, the more protective the material is for that specific chemical. There are no standardized tests for degradation; each manufacturer normally has its own test. If gloves are only going to be used for a few minutes and only once, it is unlikely that they will have enough time to degrade. However, if gloves are going to be used repeatedly or constantly, degradation becomes an essential factor in your glove selection. · Breakthrough time is, essentially, how much time it takes for a chemical to begin to soak through a material. The greater the breakthrough time, the more defensive the material is for that particular chemical. Breakthrough is calculated using a uniform test (ASTM F739). Like permeation, if the breakthrough time is close to or less than the amount of time the glove will be in use, it is not a safe choice for your needs. One idea to keep in mind is that the data is based on untainted chemicals, not mixtures. When chemicals are blended, their physical properties and permeation rates may change. For this reason, you should make your selection on the chemical part with the shortest breakthrough time. If you are uncertain as to whether a glove will work for a particular chemical or mixture, contact the glove manufacturer. If you are trying to locate a chemical resitant glove for multiple uses at your facility, it helps to make a chart of the chemicals for the diverse applications and glove manufacturer data in order to help make it easier to decide whether or not the glove will satisfy the needs of various applications.
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In various work areas, there is numerous chemicals that employees can be exposed to. While nitrile gloves fit most jobs, unfortunately there is no a single glove that will cover all potential needs.
About The Author: Mike Richards is a risk management expert specializing in industrial safety equipment and health safety equipment.
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