• Does one kind of glove provide universal protection from chemicals?
• What makes a glove the wrong kind of glove?
• What are some of the factors to be considered in selecting gloves?
• What are common glove materials?
• What are the choices in material and thickness based upon?
• What is Breakthrough Time?
• What is Permeation Rate?
• What is Degradation?
• What is Useful Time?
• When are the dangers of using lightweight disposable gloves?
• What are the basic Rules for Glove Use?

Q: Does one kind of glove provide universal protection from chemicals?
No. Selecting the appropriate gloves for particular procedures is vital to ensure freedom from chemical harm. The wearing of ANY gloves may give a false sense of security and a reliance on protection that is not actually there. Chemicals may invade gloves as a result of gross damage such as tears or pin-holes but may also penetrate more subtly by diffusion through the glove material.

Q: What makes a glove the wrong kind of glove?
The wrong glove is permeable to the chemicals being used, can increase potential harm by holding the chemicals close to the skin and, because of the warm, moist environment within the glove, by making the skin itself more permeable

Q: What are some of the factors to be considered in selecting gloves?
In selecting gloves, which should be part of the COSHH Assessment for the use of any chemicals, some of the factors to be considered are: 

1. the nature of the chemicals to which exposure might occur, 
2. the concentration and/or temperature of the chemicals both of which can affect penetration rates, 
3. the frequency and duration of contact with the chemical, 
4. the requirement for the glove material to be robust and resistant to physical damage such as tearing or abrasion, 
5. the need for dexterity and "feel" with the glove on, 
6. the extent of protection - hand only or wrist and forearm as well

Q: What are common glove materials?
Chemically resistant gloves come in a variety of materials such as natural rubber or latex, butyl rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyethylene, PVC, PVA etc. sometimes in combination and in differing thickness and style.

Q: What are the choices in material and thickness based upon?
The choice of material and its thickness depends on its resistance to permeation taking into account the factors listed above:- commonly, manufacturers' literature and performance tables have to be consulted to find this information.

Q: What is Breakthrough Time?
The time, in minutes, for a measurable amount of chemical to pass through the glove material, one side of the glove being immersed in that chemical

Q: What is Permeation Rate?
The units are milligrams per square metre per minute

Q: What is Degradation?
Loss of physical quality, perhaps becoming brittle or soft. May be measured as change in tensile strength after fixed periods of immersion

Q: What is Useful Time?
A parameter combining permeation and degradation data.

Q: When are the dangers of using lightweight disposable gloves?
Disposable gloves are often chosen for routine laboratory work because they are cheap and convenient. Unfortunately, the most popular choice, latex gloves, are fully effective only against water based solutions and are almost transparent to many organic solvents.

Q: What are the basic Rules for Glove Use?

1. Select gloves which are resistant to the chemicals you may be exposed to. Check the information sources listed below and also consult the relevant Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which may recommend a particular glove material. 
2. Select gloves of the correct size and fitting; gloves that are too small are uncomfortable and may tear whereas overlarge gloves may interfere with dexterity. In some cases, such as use of HF, it may be advisable to select gloves that can be removed very rapidly in an emergency. 
3. Before use, check gloves (even new ones) for physical damage such as tears or pin holes and for previous chemical damage: this is especially important when dealing with dangerous materials such as HF. 
4. When working, it may be advisable to wash the external surface of the gloves frequently with water. 
5. Some gloves, especially lightweight disposables, may be flammable: keep hands well away from naked flames or other high temperature heat sources. 
6. When removing gloves, do so in a way that avoids the contaminated exterior contacting the skin. Wash hands after removing gloves. Dispose of contaminated gloves properly. Do not attempt to re-use disposable gloves. Never wear possibly contaminated gloves outside of the laboratory or to handle telephones, computer keyboards, etc.

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