Many facilities that you may manage or work in adhere to OSHA standards, which stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This portion of the US Department of Labor is put in place to ensure that employees are safe in their workplace. If you work in an industry that can utilize the products on Worldwide Janitor, chances are that you are well acquainted with OSHA standards.
One of the most important aspects of occupational safety according to OSHA is personal protective equipment (PPE), which includes the gloves that we use for various kinds of jobs. But with so many kinds of gloves available, how do you know which kind to purchase for your facility? This article will help you decide which kind of gloves are best to protect your staff and yourself no matter what job you’re doing.

NOTE: This article is not intended to be an official reference for OSHA standards. To see those regulations, please visit the OSHA website.

Flock-Lined Gloves

These durable gloves feature cotton lining for comfortable, long-term wear. They extend over the wrists and widen in order to easily slip on and off.

Typical uses: Cleaning dishes and other occasions in which the user has prolonged contact with water.

Safety features: Flock-lined gloves can be used with mild to aggressive general purpose cleaners, detergents, and even degreasers. These gloves are designed to keep irritants away from your skin. Although they are durable to be used repeatedly, they are not designed specifically to resist abrasions and cuts.

Material options: Nitrile, Latex

Neoprene Gloves

Neoprene gloves are among the sturdiest gloves available.

Typical uses: Neoprene gloves are found most commonly within industrial settings and work well for people and industries that handle alcohol, oils, solvents, or for use with acid cleaners and other harsh chemicals. These might include such industries as warehouses, shipyards, processing plants, repair shops, garages, manufacturing plants, and service vehicles.

Safety features: These gloves can withstand repeated use. They are designed to protect the hands from harsh chemicals and for use with machinery. They do not offer the agility of other options because they are so thick.

Material options: Neoprene

Shrimp Gloves

This unique style of gloves are made with 18-gauge latex and are therefore thick enough that they will not rip or tear. At the same time, because they are unlined, they are thin enough that the user has tactile sensitivity and can actually feel what they are touching.

Typical uses: Shrimp gloves can be used in a variety of situations, including the job from which they gained their name, handling shrimp or fish. They can also be used to keep skin from becoming irritated.

Safety features: They are approved as personal protective equipment when used with water-based solution, cleaning solutions, and paint strippers.

Material options: Textured latex

Knit Gloves

Knit gloves are the classic choice for work that is rough on skin but does not need protection from chemicals or solutions. They are breathable, but they also have small dots on their surface to allow you to grip tools, crates, heavy packages, or anything else you are working on.

Typical uses: Some examples might include loading docks, warehouses, construction zones, gardening and landscaping work, and even around the house. They are great for storing in truck beds, freight trains, or cargo ships.

Safety features: These gloves are not a good choice for protection from chemicals or blood-borne illnesses like some of the gloves listed. But they do provide safety by reducing accidents caused by poorly gripping heavy loads or sharp tools.

Material options: String knit, cotton jersey

PVC Gloves

PVC are a strong, durable glove that are often used in cold temperatures because of their cotton lining. The also give the user flexibility and an extra strong grip in dry conditions.

Typical uses: PVC gloves could be a good alternative when you need the grip of knit gloves, but you also need protection against chemicals. Great for use in processing plants, manufacturing plants, garages, repair shops, warehouses, and more.

Safety features: They provide the safety of knit gloves for carrying loads or tools, with added protection for cold weather. In addition, they are considered PPE for use with acids, bases, oils, peroxides, and fat.

Material options: Black Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) on the outside, cotton lining on the inside.

Disposable Gloves

There are many different kinds of disposable gloves, but their main uses tend to be either for medical uses or in kitchens. The most important thing to remember about disposable gloves are that they are intended for single use, not for reusing. Some disposable gloves come with powder to make putting them on easier, while others are powder-free to accommodate preferences, skin allergies, or facility PPE requirements.

Typical uses: Some gloves, like PE Food Service Gloves, are intended specifically for use with food and are USDA approved for such a purpose. Other disposable varieties, such as our more general disposable gloves, qualify as PPE for handling trash, cleaning bathrooms, or dealing with blood-borne pathogens. On another level are our medical examination gloves, which are designed to be used by doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals.

Safety features: Each glove has different qualifications for PPE according to OSHA, as well as different qualifications according to the USDA for use with food. It is best to consult OSHA guidelines to find out if the particular glove meets your facility’s needs.

Material options: Nitrile, latex, vinyl, polyethylene

Have you found a great use for your Worldwide Janitor gloves? Let us know in the comments!

Sources: http://www.cleanlink.com/cleanlinkminute/details/PPE-Choosing-The-Right-Gloves-For-The-Job–40768