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What Type of Glove PPE is Best for the Pharma Industry?

By Niall Kelly on Tue 14 January 2025

 

A Look at Different Types of Glove PPE for the Pharma Industry

Black gloves handling a glass of chemicals.


Gloves are a vital piece of PPE for the pharmaceutical industry, for they protect the wearer from having their skin exposed to harmful chemicals and substances. However, it is important that the hand PPE chosen is suitable for the relevant risk. For instance, some gloves are easily penetrated by solvents and chemicals, so it is important to ensure that the gloves you choose are suitable for use with the material in question.


Different Types of Glove PPE


Latex/Natural Rubber Gloves

These can give good resistance to many chemicals, including acids. However, they are not suitable PPE for use with oils/lubricants, and some wearers may have an allergic reaction to rubber material (latex gloves have been known to cause dermatitis and asthma). This can be transmitted to the wearer when powder is used in the gloves, and for this reason, powdered latex gloves ARE NOT recommended for use in pharmaceutical environments.  As such, safety officers should exercise caution when giving latex gloves to pharma workers.


Nitrile Gloves

Generally resistant to tears and snags, nitrile gloves offer the best protection against many solvents, oils, fats, and bases, but are not suitable for use with organic solvents or ketones.


Neoprene Gloves. 

Neoprene gloves are resistant to a variety of acids, caustics, oils, and solvents however it should be noted that they tend to be less resistant to cuts/tears than their natural rubber or nitrile counterparts, so PPE buyers should be mindful of this.


PVC Gloves

PVC Gloves can be suitable for those with an allergy to latex, and have a good resistance against tears and abrasions. They are suitable PPE for use with many acids, alcohols, bases, and caustics.

 

Other Factors to Consider When Selecting Hand PPE for Pharmaceutical Workers

Breakthrough Time of the Glove

‘Breakthrough time’ means the time between the chemical’s first contact with the outer glove and the detection of it inside the glove. Chemical-resistant gloves must have a breakthrough time of over 30 minutes. 

Degradation of the Glove

The degradation of a glove refers to a damaging change in one (or more) of its physical properties when it becomes exposed to a chemical.

Penetration Rate

Penetration refers to the bulk flow of chemicals or other liquids through faults in the glove, for example, pinholes allow penetration, as can glove seams. 


The above article is not exhaustive and buyers should pay due care and attention to what the gloves are being used for before committing to a particular type. As will be seen from the above, a glove that is suitable PPE for handing one chemical may be ineffective when handling another. For more information on the different types of gloves available for pharma use, call our experienced PPE team on 0402 32116 (Arklow) or 021 484 1370 (Cork). The M.A. Healy & Sons team have been trusted suppliers of PPE to the pharma industry in Ireland for decades, and are happy to pass our knowledge on and assist you in selecting the best PPE for your workers.





         

 









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