The term “personal protective equipment,” or PPE, is a broad one that
is defined
by OSHA as “equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause
serious workplace injuries and illnesses.”
PPE can include a
variety of items including respirators, coveralls, and safety glasses, but in
today’s post, we’re going to focus on one particular PPE item: gloves.
What Kinds of Gloves are Considered PPE by OSHA?
Though there are many different kinds of gloves out there, OSHA breaks
down gloves that are considered as PPE into four different
categories:
· Leather, Canvas or Metal Mesh Gloves
· Fabric and Coated Fabric Gloves
· Chemical- and Liquid-Resistant Gloves
· Insulating Rubber Gloves
1) Leather, Canvas or Metal Mesh Gloves
Gloves made from
these kinds of materials serve a few purposes:
· Protection from cuts
· Protection from burns
· Protection against
heat (note: leather or canvas only)
Leather gloves
provide protection against rough objects, chips, blows, sparks, and moderate
heat, while canvas and metal mesh gloves offer similar, yet different, kinds of
protection.
Also, one major
advantage to metal mesh gloves is that they provide protection against cuts and
punctures.
2) Fabric and Coated Fabric Gloves
Fabric gloves and
coated fabric gloves are usually made out of cotton and other materials and
offer protection against abrasions, chafing, and more.
While fabric gloves’
uses are limited to protection against slivers, dirt, and cuts, coated fabric
gloves are more general-purpose in nature, are slip-resistant, and are designed
for applications like handling wire and lab containers.
3) Chemical- and Liquid-Resistant Gloves
These gloves are
exactly what they sound like – gloves which are resistant to different kinds of
harmful chemicals and liquids such as peroxides, rocket fuels, acids, gasoline,
and caustics.
OSHA states that
gloves that fall in this PPE category are made of different kinds of materials:
· Rubber (Natural,
butyl, neoprene, fluorocarbon, and nitrile)
· Plastic (Polyvinyl
chloride, polyethylene, and polyvinyl alcohol)
Some examples of
common kinds of gloves that are made of the rubber and plastic materials
mentioned above include:
· Natural (Latex) Rubber Gloves – Made of
natural rubber latex and offer protection against abrasions and most water
solutions of salts, ketones, acids, and alkalis
· Butyl Gloves – Made of
synthetic rubber and offer protection against chemicals, oxidation, abrasion,
and ozone corrosion
· Neoprene Gloves – Made of
synthetic rubber and offer protection against gasoline, alcohols, alkalis,
organic acids, and hydraulic fluids
· Nitrile Gloves – Made from a
synthetic polymer composed of three monomers (acrylonitrile, butadiene, and a
carboxylic acid) and offer protection against oils, acids, greases,
alcohols, and chlorinated solvents
4) Insulating Rubber Gloves
Insulating rubber gloves – along with all other
insulating products for electrical PPE – must meet specific standards, including being
produced by a seamless process, being marketed as its specific class (Class 1,
2, 3, etc.)., and be capable of separately withstanding a specific a proof-test
voltage after soaking for 16 hours.
OWJ Service PPE Gloves
OWJ Service International Corp. is proud to offer an array of nitrile,
vinyl, and latex gloves which can be classified as PPE for several markets
including jan/san, safety, and healthcare.
Nitrile Gloves
OWJ Service nitrile gloves come in a variety of sizes,
colors, and applications from powder free examination gloves to anti-microbial AMS
multi-purpose
Featured Nitrile
Glove: OWJ ServiceTrust #204 Series Ultimate Nitrile Powder Free LT Examination
Glove
Thinner than our 203
Series gloves, these gloves offer the “ultimate” in tactile sensitivity along
with the strength you expect from our nitrile glove products.
In addition, it is
Chemo Rated for added protection from chemotherapy drugs, and its durability is
proven in chemical resistance properties.
Vinyl Gloves
OWJ Service vinyl gloves are actually polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) gloves. PVC is used as a latex substitute in many medical and industrial
applications.
Featured Vinyl
Glove: OWJ ServiceTrust Series #312 Vinyl Powder Free Examination Glove
The OWJ ServiceTrust
#312 Series Vinyl Powder Free Examination Gloves provide you with the best
possible value because they’re made on the industry’s most efficient automated
manufacturing lines and tested to the most stringent international quality
standards.
CPE Gloves
OWJ Service International Corp.’s new cast polyethylene (CPE) gloves –
which are made of the plastic materials approved by OSHA – serve as a great
alternative to vinyl gloves for industries like food service and
food processing.
Latex Gloves
OWJ Service latex glove selection includes
multi-purpose options and powder free examination gloves.
Featured Latex
Glove: OWJ ServiceTrust #113 Series Latex Powder Free PL Examination Glove
Our OWJ ServiceTrust
Latex Powder Free PL is a reduced protein glove. It has our famous
micro-texture matte finish for added grip control without loss of tactile
sensitivity.
Choosing the Right PPE Gloves for Your Industry
When it comes to
choosing which PPE gloves to use, it’s important to analyze the properties of
each glove you’re evaluating and how resistant each glove is against chemicals
spanning from acetaldehyde to xylenes.
As part of the glove
evaluation process, we recommend that you test gloves before use. Glove
suitability should be determined by the purchaser for each application or
materials handled.
To evaluate all of OWJ Service gloves and determine which option is best
for the industry (or industries) you serve, get in touch with us
today!