One of the most important forms of personal protective equipment (PPE) is hand protection. Gloves come in many varieties, with each material best suited for protection in specific environments.
Vinyl gloves are an affordable PPE option; however, they are not a replacement for latex or nitrile but may be more appropriate for low-risk situations. ICU Productions offers a variety of PPE products, including latex, nitrile, vinyl, and nitrile blend gloves.
ICU Productions provides four types of personal protective equipment gloves. Each offers its own benefits, but they are not all interchangeable for any scenario. Knowing when to use which kind of glove is essential to workplace safety.
Latex gloves are made of medical-grade natural rubber and are the type of gloves most frequently used by healthcare workers. Latex gloves offer high levels of protection from pathogens and bacteria, making them safe for surgical procedures with an increased risk of exposure.
Pure nitrile gloves are the best alternative if you can’t use latex because of allergic reactions. Nitrile is a synthetic rubber and offers a chemical-resistant, puncture-resistant glove that is a popular, albeit more expensive, choice.
This is a blend of nitrile and vinyl gloves that offer a cost-effective alternative to pure nitrile. They still possess many protective qualities of a pure nitrile glove, but they are not as durable.
Vinyl gloves are a popular choice for the hospitality industry and food service workers. They’re affordable and disposable gloves that provide a temporary protective barrier for low-risk situations. While not as effective as nitrile or latex, vinyl gloves provide some pathogen protection.
While some people might turn to vinyl gloves when they have latex allergies, they are not always a reliable substitution. Vinyl gloves are suitable for low-risk situations, such as food handling or the hospitality industry. They do not provide adequate protection against chemicals and aren’t puncture-resistant.
Vinyl gloves can provide short-term protection from pathogens, but because they’re made of PVC, they don’t offer sufficient protection for high-risk medical settings.
Vinyl is a synthetic material made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and plasticizers. Like most disposable gloves, they have a shelf life of roughly five years and come in powder-free varieties. To keep them in the best condition, vinyl gloves should be stored out of direct sunlight in cool, dry conditions.
Vinyl gloves are more appropriate than latex or nitrile for:
If you’re cleaning, but the chemicals you’re working with aren’t strong or hazardous, vinyl gloves will suffice.
Vinyl gloves are safe for contact with food and can be used in the hospitality or foodservice industry.
If your job requires you to paint, you can protect your hands from contact with the chemicals in paint by wearing vinyl gloves.
Medical-grade vinyl glove can be used for low-risk tasks, such as examinations, in medical and dental facilities where there is minimal exposure to bodily fluids.
Whatever the task, vinyl gloves only provide a temporary barrier against pathogens. This means you need to change gloves frequently to maintain an adequate level of protection.
ICU Productions offers a wide variety of gloves as part of its PPE product collection. Source reliable, high-quality gloves in latex, pure nitrile, nitrile blend, or vinyl to keep your workplace safe.
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