In today’s world, where different kinds of viruses have already taken over many lives on this planet, it is essential to consider the safety of yourself and your workers. Gloves are not limited to labs or the chemical industry anymore.
Especially if you are into pharma or medical companies, you need to look carefully for such practices. Nowadays, gloves are even used by beauty specialists and in the food industry as well.
These are also used in electronic industries, saloons, tattoo parlors, paint, and dye industry. You need to know about these properties and different types of gloves if you are in any one of the listed industries above where gloves are used.
Gloves not only protect your hand in cold temperatures but also from contaminated fluids, harmful chemicals, rough surfaces, and so much more.
There are many types of gloves that come with their own use and unique properties. Read further to explore more on what types of gloves can help you and when.
1. Vinyl Gloves:
Vinyl gloves or protective gloves are flexible and versatile. That is why these gloves are used in households and in many commercial applications.
The major benefit of these types of gloves is that they are puncture resistant and, thus, help you protect against general bruises that might hurt the soft skin of your hands, leading you to not work with your hands for a few days.
There are mainly 2 types of vinyl gloves that are used in the medical industry:
– Vinyl Powdered Gloves:
Vinyl powdered gloves have the same corn starch on them for the same purpose of wearing them for longer. It also has the least chance of tearing.
Sometimes, these gloves can be a bit hazardous at certain workplaces, as the powder can carry airborne particles, causing contamination, which might cause irritation to users, causing some skin rashes as well.
To overcome this issue, nowadays, these are manufactured with a unique polymer coating for the smooth skin of our hands.
– Vinyl Powder Free Gloves:
During this process, the gloves are chemically treated with the chemical chlorine, rinsed with water, and dried. Vinyl powder free gloves are also made using the chlorination process. and it is made in such a way that it fits very well with the user because these need not be used for a longer duration.
Because it fits perfectly on the hand, sometimes it can become difficult to remove it from the hands.
2. Nitrile Gloves:
Nitrile gloves are the ones used for a longer duration. The only disadvantage is that they degrade fast. It helps protect the user’s hand from contamination. The major advantage of these is that they are waterproof, gasproof, oilproof, and chemical resistant.
So, it is helpful in almost all industries, including the medical, chemical labs, industrial plants, and food industries. It has high puncture resistance, so it is an ideal everyday solution glove.
These are of two types:
– Nitrile Powdered Gloves:
Powdered gloves also have added corn starch, making it easy for the users in busy locations where the corn starch prevents the gloves from sticking to one another.
And if these gloves are worn for a longer duration, they may cause allergies, sensitivity, and skin rashes on hand in very rare cases.
– Nitrile Powder Free Gloves:
There are gloves in use for the examination of a patient, as surgical gloves, and also as chemo gloves. These are also chemically treated with a chlorine solution, making them harder to remove and wear.
Like, when used for chemotherapy, these gloves help you protect against radiation. It only decreases firmness by increasing friction while using it. It protects the hand from contamination and from other harmful fluids as well.
3. Fabric Gloves or Cotton Gloves:
Fabric or cotton gloves are basic gloves that help keep your hands clean and protect against light scratches.
Though these are not helpful when handling liquids or sharp objects; these gloves keep the natural oils of the skin off delicate surfaces and help avoid dirt. It helps keep the hands clean and prevents abrasions or any minor scrapes.
These gloves are thin and help create a breathable layer for the workers’ skin while they handle the tolls and other materials. It provides minimum protection against puncture hazards, open flames, jagged materials, or any hot surfaces.
These gloves are even used as liners, which are worn inside larger safety gloves to provide additional warmth to the user.
4. Leather Gloves:
Leather gloves are mainly used to get a good grip against objects. The major advantage of these types of gloves is that they are spark-resistant, which helps protect against sharp tools, objects, and any rough surfaces.
Not only that, but it also protects you against cold weather by providing a moderate amount of heat. It seals in the body heat from your palms, making you feel warm by your very own body heat.
These gloves are also used for welding purposes, protecting the user from not getting hurt by those sharpened metals and wires.
These gloves have multiple purposes because they are durable only when taken properly care of. But it can harden or shrivel over time if not taken care of carefully, like by exposing it to excess heat or warm temperatures.
These gloves’ major disadvantage is that they make the hands dry if not worn with a proper liner.
5. Latex Gloves:
Latex gloves provide high protection for palms against many hazardous chemicals that might come in direct contact with the skin. It also helps protect against depreciation and also protects against puncture.
These are better in strength when compared to vinyl gloves. It provides the user with a proper fit, as it is stretchable and fits any kind of palm very well.
Conclusion:
Different kinds of gloves have different uses. So, you need to know the properties of different gloves and which gloves to wear, and when. Each glove has its advantages and disadvantages, but you need to figure out how to use it.
You cannot use the same gloves for the medical and food industries. But the same gloves can be used in labs and tattoo parlours. So, it is very important to know all kinds of gloves before using one, giving you better clarity on its added advantages and importance.
