Protect Yourself and Others: Choose the Right Gloves
Ensuring proper glove selection and usage in the laboratory is essential for personal safety and maintaining a contamination-free environment. Gloves serve as a critical barrier against hazardous substances, but choosing the wrong type or misusing them can lead to serious risks. Follow these guidelines to enhance lab safety.
Selecting the Correct Glove Material
No glove is right for every job! Different chemicals and hazards require specific glove materials to ensure adequate protection. Base your selection of glove type and material on the type of exposure and nature of the hazard. Some chemicals can easily penetrate gloves that work very well for other chemicals. Single-use/disposable gloves are intended for short, incidental contact with hazardous materials, and are generally thinner for work requiring more dexterity. Thicker, more protective or chemically-resistant gloves may reduce dexterity and be uncomfortable, which can decrease a user’s willingness to wear them for certain operations. Personal protective equipment is only effective if you use the right type and are wearing it. Here are some common types that can be used in the lab:
- Nitrile Gloves: Best for handling oils, greases, and many organic solvents. Not suitable for strong acids or ketones.
- Latex Gloves: Provide dexterity and protection against biological materials, but may cause allergic reactions and degrade with organic solvents.
- Neoprene Gloves: Effective against acids, caustics, and some solvents—ideal for corrosive chemicals.
- Butyl Gloves: Highly resistant to gas and water vapors, particularly effective against ketones and esters.
- PVC Gloves: Suitable for some acids and bases but not recommended for organic solvents.
Many vendors will also provide a comparison chart to help you narrow down which gloves will work for which job. When in doubt, always check the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for glove compatibility before handling hazardous materials.
Don’t Wear Gloves Outside the Laboratory! Wearing gloves outside the lab can lead to cross-contamination, exposing surfaces, door handles, and communal spaces to hazardous substances. This can put colleagues and the public at risk. To maintain a safe environment:
- Remove gloves before exiting the lab.
- Practice good doffing technique to avoid touching the outside of your gloves when removing.
- Properly dispose of single-use gloves.
- Wash hands thoroughly after removing gloves.
By following these best practices, you help maintain a safe and professional laboratory environment. See Johns Hopkins policies for more information about Proper Attire for Individuals in Laboratories and hand protection in the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
For more safety information, contact your lab supervisor or the Office of Occupational & Environmental Safety (OES)