Have you ever wondered about the safety of certain common, household chemicals? When is it important or appropriate to use disposable gloves? We’ve done some of the homework for you and gathered up a list of common chemicals that you should use disposable gloves with.
One thing to keep in mind in regards to all common chemicals and disposable gloves, is that disposable gloves are only suited for brief contact with such chemicals. Disposable gloves are not designed to withstand prolonged exposure to chemicals, because they are thin gloves and will degrade after a period of time exposed to chemicals, rendering them useless for protection.
- Salon Chemicals: Whether a hair or nail salon, you can be sure that the place is filled with various products that have hazardous chemicals on the ingredient list. Some of the chemicals you might encounter in this environment include: toluene, diutyl phthalate, trichloroethylene, acetone, and formaldehyde. Employees in hair or nail salons handle these chemicals on a very regular basis and should use a nitrile disposable glove to protect themselves from serious harm or injury. Nitrile gloves are inherently chemical resistant as well as puncture resistant, so they are a great choice for chemicals found in salons.
- Wood Stain: With summer fast approaching, wood stains may become a more common product being used. Wood stains come in a variety of consistencies, so some of the chemicals you might find are sodium hydroxide, ethyl alcohol, and ethylene glycol. Depending on the strength of your wood stain, you could either use a nitrile or vinyl glove when working with wood stains. It is important to note the strength of the chemical mixture in your particular stain, as well as the duration you’ll be in direct contact with the stain. It is always ok to switch to a fresh pair of gloves if you’ll be using the stain for a prolonged period of time.
- Lacquer and Paint Thinners: These products contain some of the most harsh chemicals and should be used with care. You’ll want to employ the use of thick nitrile gloves to protect from these chemicals and be sure to switch gloves if you notice any stretching or degradation if you are using them for a prolonged period of time. It is also wise to use other PPE and work in a ventilated area when using these products to avoid any sort of hazardous side effects from the strong chemicals.
- Pesticides: Summer gardeners and farmers will likely be pulling out the pesticide soon this summer. Common chemicals found in most pesticides include capsaicin, paradichlorobenzene, and naphthalene. We recommend using an industrial grade nitrile or latex glove to achieve the proper protection while using pesticides. Nitrile gloves, however, are the only glove material you should use with paradichlorobenzene because of its superior chemical resistant properties.
- Perchloroethylene: This chemical is usually found in dry cleaning industries and is a colorless, non-flammable, volatile organic compound. You may also know it as PCE, PERC, or tetrachloroethylene. IN addition, this chemical is used in the production of other chemicals and solvents. Most of the hazards associated with perchloroethylene are related to inhalation, however it is important to use latex or nitrile disposable gloves to protect against skin irritation or dermatitis.