Cryogenic Gloves
Cryogenic gloves are used to protect hands from extremely cold temperatures. These gloves should be used when handling dry ice and when dispensing or working with liquid nitrogen and other cryogenic liquids.
Chemically Resistant Gloves
Chemically resistant gloves come in a wide variety of materials. The recommendations given below for the specific glove materials are based on incidental contact. Once the chemical makes contact with the gloved hand, the gloves should be removed and replaced as soon as practical. Often a glove specified for incidental contact is not suitable for extended contact, such as when the gloved hand can become covered or immersed in the chemical in use. Before selecting chemical resistant gloves, consult the glove manufacturers’ recommendations or their glove selection charts.
Some general guidelines for different glove materials include:
- Natural Rubber Latex – Resistant to ketones, alcohols, caustics, and organic acids. (See note below)
- Neoprene – Resistant to mineral acids, organic acids, caustics, alcohols, and petroleum solvents.
- Nitrile – Resistant to alcohols, caustics, organic acids, and some ketones.
- Norfoil- Rated for chemicals considered highly toxic and chemicals that are easily absorbed through the skin. These gloves are chemically resistant to a wide range of materials that readily attack other glove materials. These gloves are not recommended for use with Chloroform. Common brand names include: Silver Shield by North Hand Protection, 4H by Safety4, or New Barrier by Ansell Edmont.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – Resistant to mineral acids, caustics, organic acids, and alcohols.
- Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) – Resistant to chlorinated solvents, petroleum solvents, and aromatics.
A note about latex gloves
The use of latex gloves, especially thin, disposable exam gloves, for chemical handling is discouraged because latex offers little protection from commonly used chemicals. Latex gloves can degrade severely in minutes or seconds, when used with common lab and shop chemicals. Latex gloves also can cause an allergic reaction in a percentage of the population due to several proteins found in latex. Symptoms can include nasal, eye, or sinus irritation, hives, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, or unexplained shock. If any of these symptoms become apparent in personnel wearing latex gloves, discontinue using the gloves and seek medical attention immediately.The use of latex gloves is only appropriate for:
- Most biological materials.
- Nonhazardous chemicals.
- Clean room requirements.
- Medical or veterinary applications.
- Very dilute, aqueous solutions containing <1% for most hazardous chemicals or less than 0.1% of a known or suspected human carcinogen.
Staff required to wear latex gloves should receive training on the potential health effects related to latex. Hypoallergenic, non-powdered gloves should be used whenever possible. If a good substitute glove material is available, then use non-latex gloves. A general-purpose substitute for disposable latex gloves are disposable Nitrile gloves.