PPE SAFE HANDS
Emma Lovelock of hand protection specialist Unigloves highlights some of the key considerations when it comes to buying latex gloves.
Latex gloves have been around for over 100 years and remain popular PPE choices today across many industrial sectors, due to their versatility, strength, elasticity, and flexibility.
But in a market that is flooded with cheap disposable latex gloves, it can be tempting to try to reduce PPE costs by purchasing on price alone.
However, this strategy can create a false economy. Cheaper products tear more easily, leading to higher replacement costs over time. Lower-cost manufacturing processes may also raise the risk of irritation and sensitisation in wearers, including latex allergies.
WHAT IS LATEX?
Natural rubber latex (NRL) is derived from a milk-like sap found in the rubber trees, Hevea Brasiliensis, of Africa and South-East Asia. The sap is a mixture of water, sugar, and proteins. During the manufacturing process, this natural rubber latex is mixed with accelerators, undergoing a series of chemical processes to increase flexibility, for example.
Despite concerns around latex allergies, latex gloves remain a popular choice given their levels of comfort, hygiene, flexibility and dexterity. This makes them particularly popular in roles where touch sensitivity is important. They also offer a high degree of protection against a range of chemicals, caustic agents, detergents, and biohazards such as bacteria and other pathogens.
WHAT MAKES CHEAP LATEX GLOVES CHEAPER?
Several factors play into the cost of latex gloves. These include raw materials, manufacturing processes, and quality control. So, knowing what goes into the manufacturing of latex gloves is important to consider.
Raw materials: The raw materials used in disposable gloves, especially in cheap latex gloves, can cause sensitivity and allergies in some wearers; leading to skin conditions and even more serious reactions such as respiratory issues and anaphylaxis.
Chemical accelerators: Another factor to consider is chemical accelerators used in the manufacturing process of disposable gloves. It is recommended to choose gloves which are accelerator free, phthalate free, and/or treated to reduce latex protein levels. Phthalates are inexpensive chemical additives used to make gloves more flexible and durable whilst chemical accelerators are used to stabilise latex.
Manufacturing processes: Along with cheaper raw materials, most inexpensive disposable gloves are produced using cheap phthalates and/or chemical accelerators and aren’t subject to advanced treatment processes which help to reduce the likelihood of Type I and Type IV sensitivities.
Powder free and low-protein gloves, while more expensive to manufacture, reduce the likelihood of Type I sensitisation, latex allergy, in wearers as well as reducing the likelihood of particulate contamination in the workplace.
Quality control and testing standards: Make sure you select gloves that have been certified against internationally recognised standards including:
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• EN ISO 374 (Chemical & Micro-organism Protection): divided into:
Type A: Breakthrough time >30 min against ≥6 chemicals. Type B: Breakthrough time >30 min against ≥3 chemicals. Type C: Breakthrough time >10 min against ≥1 chemicals.
• EN 374-2 (Penetration): Ensuring a liquid-proof barrier against water and microorganisms.
• EN 16523-1 (Permeation): Measures how long a chemical takes to pass through the glove material.
• EN 374-4 (Degradation): Measures deterioration of the glove material, for example swelling or brittle,
when exposed to chemicals.
• EN 374-5 (Micro-organisms): Tests resistance to bacteria or fungi. If it passes virus tests, it is marked
with the word ‘VIRUS’.
• EN 388 (Mechanical Risks): Tests resistance to abrasion, blade cut, tear, and puncture.
Some manufacturers, gloves do not meet these standards – often reflected in the price point. Always consult the manufacturer’s product guide to ensure that the appropriate quality standards have been met.
LATEX GLOVE TREATMENTS
Leading manufacturers, including Unigloves, use several treatments and proprietary processes during manufacturing. These include:
Chlorination: Reducing tackiness in gloves, improving the ease of donning and removal. Used as an alternative to powdering gloves, this process can help to reduce the likelihood of particulate contamination and Type I and IV sensitivities, including latex allergies, in wearers. Extra washing during chlorination can also reduce the level of soluble latex proteins in latex gloves.
Leaching: Removes or ‘denatures’ natural water- soluble proteins and removes adverse materials such as processed chemical residues. Water or wet gel leaching helps to wash out excess additives from previous stages, such as coagulant, and during this stage, the chemical and protein content of gloves is also reduced.
CONCLUSION
Buying latex gloves based on price alone is often a false economy, as cheaper, lower-quality options frequently result in higher overall costs, increased waste, and significant safety risks.
Working with leading manufacturers will help reduce risk and ensure you are selecting the right gloves for the job to help keep working hands safe.
https://uk.unigloves.com
WWW.TOMORROWSHS.COM
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