Handling chemicals with gloves
Sempermed informs you about the risks of handling chemicals
In laboratories, working with disinfectants, cytostatics or other chemicals is common practice. Our gloves provide protection from these potentially dangerous substances. It is important to note, however, that the gloves themselves must also be protected through appropriate handling.
Find out more about the chemical resistance of Sempermed gloves.
What to look for in choosing the perfect lab glove?
A wide range of hazardous chemicals pose a challenge when working in a laboratory. This is why lab workers need protection they can trust.
There are numerous protective gloves available on the market. Yet, each one is designated for a different task at hand. When selecting the right glove, precise knowledge of all potential hazards, wear time, glove materials, etc. is necessary. This includes hazards which can occur while working, at the workplace or as a result of work-related disruptions. Our experts know what you should look for when choosing a glove and how to determine the correct chemical resistance required for your application.
Experts from our R&D hubs in Austria and Malaysia work together, sharing their knowledge and resources. In glove manufacturing, regulatory know-how is an important issue and one we are happy to share with our customers.
Thickness & Material
First of all, a glove which comes in contact with chemicals has to comply with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) regulation. Also, the thickness of the glove is crucial, because generally speaking a thicker glove offers greater protection. However, it is important to note that with a thicker glove, tactile sensitivity suffers. Therefore, it is important to find the right balance between safety and usability.
Furthermore, the material is decisive in choosing the right glove. Natural rubber is very elastic and therefore comfortable, however it can potentially cause allergic reactions. Our nitrile glove portfolio offers gloves which are soft and comfortable to wear and additionally offer a higher chemical resistance compared to natural rubber gloves.
In addition, Sempermed offers dual-labelled gloves, which are labeled both as medical product and personal protective equipment, and can be particularly beneficial in pharmaceutical and other biomed labs.
What you should pay attention to when choosing disposable gloves to wear in a lab environment
- Before and after wearing gloves and between glove changes, always wash your hands and dry them carefully
- Check the gloves for tears or holes before use
- Do not touch light switches, telephones and receivers, writing instruments, faucets, etc. with gloves in order to avoid contamination
- Take off your gloves in a manner that they do not cannot contaminate your hands
- Protective gloves with longer cuffs offer additional protection for forearms and your wrists
- Please check permeation list for gloves resistance to certain chemicals and wear times
- When in doubt, please contact the manufacturer for assistance in selecting the right glove for your application
Do disinfectants pose a danger to the safety of medical gloves?
As their name implies, disposable gloves are intended for single use. Numerous institutions and experts have explored whether it is advisable to disinfect medical gloves and have come to the same conclusion; they strongly advise against this practice.
In hectic clinical settings, however, it has become common practice to continue to wear the same pair of medical gloves and use disinfectant rather than to changing gloves. Even though this may save time, such a habit can lead to disastrous consequences that most glove users are unaware of.
Using disinfectants on gloves increases the risk of weakening the glove material and thus, exposes patients and healthcare workers to high-risk situations.
Safety should never be put at stake for the sake of time or cost savings. For Sempermed, it is important to communicate this matter to the user for his or her own safety as well as to not endanger other people’s health. Therefore, we recommend against using disinfectants to come contact with gloves.
Learn more about the use of disinfectant and medical gloves.