Gloves Overview

Different kinds of gloves provide different kinds of protection. You may need several types of gloves to provide protection against the hazardous substances in your workplace. To ascertain which glove material is most suitable for a particular hazardous exposure, always check with the chemical Safety Data Sheet, the glove manufacturer, and always follow the applicable Hazard Control Plan requirements.

Glove effectiveness is measured in terms of the following characteristics:

• Degradation — A change in a glove’s physical characteristics (swelling, softening, cracking, change in color or texture)
• Permeation rate — The speed at which a hazardous substance penetrates the glove material.
• Breakthrough time — The time between initial contact and first detection of the hazardous substance inside the glove.

Consult this chart for an overview of commonly used glove types and their general advantages and disadvantages:

• Always check gloves for holes, punctures, tears, cracking and discoloration before each use.
• Replace gloves as soon as signs of degradation appear.
• Long-term exposure and damage to a glove’s surface can quickly reduce the protection offered.
• Direct chemical contact, soiled or torn gloves should be removed immediately, the hands washed and gloves replaced with a new pair.
• With disposable gloves, remove by peeling from the wrist and working toward your fingers.
• Keep the working surface of the glove from contacting your skin during removal.
• Place the discarded gloves in the designated container (See the "Disposal" section below.)
• Never wash or reuse disposable gloves.
• Reusable gloves must be washed before removal, handled only by the cuff and then properly stored.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water when changing into fresh gloves and after working with any hazardous materials.
• Always remove gloves when picking up a telephone, touching door knobs, elevator buttons, or other equipment others touch bare-handed. Transport hazardous materials between labs using secondary containers that can be carried without gloves. Personal protective equipment should never be worn outside the laboratory area. (See printable PDF)

Considerations:

• Double gloving — Use double gloves to provide additional protection while still allowing freedom of movement. If a spill occurs, or if the glove starts to degrade or tear, hands will be protected after the contaminated outer gloves are removed. Check the outer glove frequently for signs of degradation, such as a change in color or texture. Re-glove whenever degradation occurs.
• Sleeve length — Make sure your gloves overlap the lower sleeves and cuffs of your lab coat or coverall when working with hazardous materials. Long-sleeved gloves or disposable arm-shields may be worn for further protection. Chemical resistant sleeve protectors are available through the PPE Office.
• Glove boxes — These sealed containers give additional protection when working with a highly toxic substance. They also provide an inert atmosphere for compounds that are sensitive to water or air. Glove bags serve the same purpose and are more economical for short-term uses.

Dispose of used and damaged gloves according to whether or not they are contaminated with a hazardous material:

• No contamination — Place in regular lab trash.
• Radioactive materials — Read How to Store and Dispose of Radioactive Waste.
• Chemical contamination — Read How to Store and Dispose of Hazardous Chemical Waste.
• Biohazardous materials — Read How to Package and Dispose of Biohazardous and Medical Waste.

• The tragic death of Dr. Karen Wetterhahn, a chemistry professor at Dartmouth University, has raised awareness or proper glove selection and usage. It’s believed that a highly toxic mercury compound permeated Dr. Wetterhahn’s gloves without her knowledge.
• A researcher inserted metal racks into a liquid nitrogen tank when her right hand came into contact with the chemical; she sustained cold burns to her index, middle and ring fingers. The researcher reported the incident immediately to her PI, and went to the emergency room for medical attention. At the time of the incident the researcher was wearing appropriate PPE including a pair of latex gloves underneath the cryogenic gloves; however, the chemical had penetrated the gloves upon submersion. Learn more about chemical exposure. 
• A researcher was working in a Biosafety Cabinet in the vivarium procedure room with mice that had been previously injected with a patient isolate of coxsackie B virus. The researcher was sedating each mouse with a nose cone and collected stool and blood samples for analysis. The researcher was training a student on the procedures and stated that since he was explaining and performing the procedure at the same time, he was distracted. As the researcher was preparing to sedate the next mouse, the mouse turned its head and bit into the researcher’s index finger. The researcher was wearing a single pair of gloves, disposable gown, hair net, surgical mask, and shoe covers. Learn more about this researcher's story. 

Natural rubber or latex gloves DO NOT offer adequate protection against most hazardous materials and should only be used if recommended by a manufacturer for a particular chemical. Repeated exposure to latex and latex products may result in the development of latex allergies. To avoid latex sensitivity, switch to nitrile or another non-latex chemical appropriate disposable glove.

Note: Latex allergy is often associated with allergies to certain foods, especially avocados, potatoes, bananas, tomatoes, chestnuts, kiwi and papaya.

Types of Latex Reactions:

1. Irritant contact dermatitis — A common reaction even in those who don’t have a true latex allergy, which produces itchy, dry and irritated hands from wearing powdered latex gloves.
2. Allergic contact dermatitis — A sensitivity that results from exposure to the chemicals added to latex, which produces a rash that begins 1 or 2 days after contact and may produce oozing blisters that are localized near the area of contact, but can spread to other parts of the body if touched.
3. Latex allergy — An immediate reaction to latex exposure with symptoms that can include hives, itching, nausea, abdominal cramping and facial swelling with itchy, watery eyes. Emergency treatment for anaphylaxis may be required.

How to Respond to a Latex Reaction:

• Learn to recognize the signs of latex allergies: rashes, hives, itching, eye irritation, nasal or sinus irritation, asthma, coughing or shortness of breath, or (rarely) shock.
• If you develop any of these symptoms, report a possible latex reaction to your supervisor and contact COEM for a medical evaluation.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help protect you while you work.
• Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: 6.C.2.6 Minimizing Skin Contact
• Chemical Compatibility Search by Cole-Palmer Instrument Co.
• NIOSH Recommendations for Chemical Protective Clothing (April 1999)
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
• NIOSH Alert: Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex in the Workplace (June 2014)

• Contact the UC San Diego Chemical Safety Officer, (858) 822-1579, for additional guidance or questions.
• For more information, contact EH&S Occupational Health at COEM.