Selecting the proper disposable gloves that match your profession and individual needs is essential. By following these tips, we hope you will find the gloves perfectly align with your requirements and optimize their effectiveness for your specific tasks.
Material: To determine the right material to protect your hands for your professional needs, the initial step involves understanding different glove materials offer various characteristics. For example, latex disposable gloves provide excellent sensitivity and flexibility; but might cause allergic reactions in some individuals. When allergy is not a concern, latex has a slight advantage with comfort and dexterity over nitrile and vinyl gloves to professions that need to handle long-wear tasks. Nitrile disposable gloves are resistant to punctures and chemicals, making them suitable for medical and industrial applications. Vinyl gloves are cost-effective but less durable than latex or nitrile, suitable for jobs requiring frequent changes.
Purpose: To differentiate between the various applications of disposable gloves and align them with their intended functions, these gloves can be classified into various grades. For medical applications, it's crucial that medical-grade gloves meet stringent standards like ISO, ASTM or EN; and FDA considers a 1.5 AQL to be the minimum level of quality acceptable for surgeons' gloves and a 2.5 AQL to be the minimum level of quality acceptable for patient examination gloves. Food-grade gloves, on the other hand, must strictly adhere to FDA regulations to ensure they are in a clean and sanitary condition as well as should be of an impermeable material. When it comes to industrial-grade gloves, it is advisable to opt for gloves tailored to the specific tasks at hand, whether that involves handling chemicals, oils, or sharp objects.
Size and fit: Getting the right glove size is crucial for comfort and good hand movement. Gloves that are too tight can be uncomfortable, restrict movement, and tear easily. On the other hand, loose-fitting gloves might make it harder to feel things and could let liquids get inside. If you're not sure about the right size for your disposable gloves, you can check out our other article called "The Right Gloves - Fit Your Hands".
Thickness: The thickness of disposable gloves is measured in mils (1 mil = 0.001 inch). Thicker gloves offer more protection against punctures, cuts, and chemicals. However, thicker gloves may sacrifice some tactile sensitivity and flexibility compared to thinner options. Generally, for medical purposes, we suggest using 5 mils. Industrial applications might require gloves ranging from 6 to 8 mils, or even thicker based on specific needs. For janitorial and cleaning tasks, gloves between 3.5 and 5 mils are recommended.
Powdered vs. powder-free: Historically, powdered gloves were used to facilitate easy donning. However, powdered gloves have fallen out of favor due to the risk of causing allergies and respiratory issues.Since January 18th, 2017, FDA banned powdered medical gloves. Therefore, Powder-free gloves are now more common, especially in medical settings.
Biodegradability and environmental impact: Some gloves are made from biodegradable materials like plant-based or compostable materials for example natural latex. These gloves break down more easily in the environment, reducing their impact on landfill waste.
Chemical resistance: Gloves should be selected based on their resistance to the specific chemicals they will come into contact with. Nitrile gloves generally offer better chemical resistance compared to latex or vinyl gloves. However, for some industries which touchbase acetone more often such as mandicure and pedicure shops, latex disposable gloves are more recommended than nitrile and vinyl gloves.
Grip and texture: Textured gloves, such as those with micro-textured surfaces, provide better grip and control when handling objects, making them suitable for tasks that require precision and grip, like medical procedures or handling with small parts.
Allergen warnings: It's essential to use alternatives like nitrile or vinyl gloves for those with latex allergies.
Shamrock recommendations for the industries where disposable gloves are essential:
Healthcare and Medical Professions: Shamrock 10000 Series Latex Examination Pewder-free Gloves, Shamrock 30000 Series Nitrile Examination Powder-free Gloves, Shamrock 20000 Series Vinyl Examination Powder-free Gloves
Food Service and Handling: Shamrock Supreme 60500 Series Light Weight Powder-free Latex Gloves, Shamrock Supreme 30350 Series Light Weight Nitrile Examination Gloves, Shamrock 20000 Series Vinyl Examination Powder-free Gloves
Automotive and Mechanical Professions: Polysilk 18000 Series Black Latex Examination Powder-free Gloves, Action 83000 Series Black Nitrile Disposable Gloves
Janitorial and Cleaning Services: Shamrock 60000 Series Latex Disposable Powder-free Gloves, Shamrock 80000 Series Nitrile Disposable Powder-free Gloves
Laboratory and Research Professions: Shamrock Supreme 60500 Series Light Weight Powder-free Latex Gloves, Shamrock Supreme 30350 Series Light Weight Nitrile Examination Gloves
Manicure and Pedicure Professions: Shamrock 60600 Series Latex Powder-free Industrial Gloves