Which protective gloves are best for me,Latex,Vinyl or Nitrile?
Disposable protective gloves are a necessity in the healthcare, science, and manufacturing industries. Gloves not only protect the hands from environmental hazards, but they keep bacteria, viruses, and organisms out as well. Gloves protect the hands from harsh chemicals, so that they remain as soft and supple as they were at the beginning of the day.
Without disposable gloves, a healthcare or industry worker could be exposed to harmful diseases, or allow chemicals into their bodies. There are many different types of protective gloves, from latex gloves, vinyl gloves, to nitrile gloves. Each material has its pros and cons.
Latex gloves have the benefit of being inexpensive. They’re useful for when a physician must switch gloves between patients, or when a food worker must take them on and off to prepare food in between handling cash.
Latex is actually a naturally sourced and renewable product made from the latex ducts of rubber trees. It has the additional benefit of being easily purchased, pliable, resilient, and durable. Latex gloves are biodegradable in landfills, so they’re a green choice.
Their drawbacks include not being as chemically resistant to harsh chemicals, and they can cause allergic reactions in people with latex allergies.
Vinyl gloves are perfect for when handling non-hazardous chemicals or materials. They aren’t suitable for use in the lab where there may be exposure to microorganisms. They also aren’t biodegradable, so they’ll fill up landfills.
They are suitable for cleaning bathrooms, kitchens, or preparing food. It may be more difficult to handle items with the texture of vinyl, but there are newer stretch vinyl gloves on the market today that aim to correct this issue.
Vinyl is a cheap material, and useful for enterprises that involve going through several pairs per day. Vinyl gloves can help to keep cosmetics and other products clean during handling in the manufacturing process.
Nitrile gloves are usually the alternative to when patients or workers are allergic to latex. They have similar characteristics to latex gloves, but contain no natural materials, nor latex. They are made of synthetic rubber materials.
Nitrile gloves can provide the best protection in lab environments with organisms, or harsh chemical products. Nitrile gloves are also more durable than latex or vinyl. They are resistant to punctures or tears.
They also have a longer shelf life than latex gloves, so waste is minimized. One downside to them though is that they are not biodegradable, so they will also fill up landfills like vinyl. They are also more expensive than vinyl or latex gloves.
Most businesses, hospitals, and labs offer workers a choice of gloves. It’s up to them to choose the proper gloves for the job, and to avoid latex if they or their patient is allergic to it. In many instances certain settings have chosen to do away with latex completely, minimizing the risk of allergic reactions in susceptible people.
Once you understand the differences between the three main types of gloves you can shop for the ones that are perfect for your setting.
