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Fine Touch Disposable’s Latex gloves are durable, flexible and provide excellent protection against a range of chemical and biohazards.  Latex gloves are fitted and strong and are an excellent option for a wide range of users.  They are a popular choice for Mechanics Latex gloves, or other light industrial applications like Painters Latex gloves.

Because nothing fits more like a second skin than Latex, these gloves are very comfortable and robust, when compared to often stiffer Nitrile or Vinyl glove options.  This makes them a popular all-round glove choice, but specifically as mechanics Latex gloves and Painters Latex gloves, where dexterity and precision are important.

Because Latex gloves are so comfortable and flexible, they last longer, which ultimately means the user may not need to change their gloves as often.

 

Why choose Latex Gloves?

If you are looking for Mechanics Latex gloves or Painters Latex gloves, a big advantage is that these gloves are cost effective and offer the best degree of touch sensitivity, which is very important for these two industries.

Latex has an excellent measure of elongation.  Mechanics Latex glove and Painters Latex glove users will testify that latex gloves can be stretched far without breaking.

Latex gloves offer a high level of protection for other industries too as disposable latex gloves are some of the most comfortable gloves available, as long as latex allergies are not an issue for the wearer or the environment that they are working in.  Latex gloves are an excellent choice for users dealing with water-based or biological materials, but the main disadvantage of these gloves is that they may cause skin allergies for those with sensitivity to latex protein.

 

Symptoms of Latex Allergies – what to look out for

Possible symptoms of a latex protein allergy include, itching, rash, skin redness or hives.  While those suffering a more severe reaction may experience respiratory symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, difficulty in breathing, coughing, itchy eyes etc.

For those suffering mild skin irritation that still what to utilise the benefits of high stretch painters latex gloves or mechanics latex gloves, the following hand hygiene procedures may help minimise skin irritation.

• It is important to wash and dry hands thoroughly.
• If using an alcohol based handgel on skin before or after using gloves, try to find one with moisturising properties so that hands are not drying out excessively.
• Use a good quality or aloe vera based moisturiser on hands frequently
• Some users report soaking hands in oats at the end of the day may help rehydrate and lessen skin irritation

It is also important for anyone using latex gloves (including painters latex gloves and mechanics latex gloves) that they consider a possible latex allergy for others they are working with or touching.  This is especially important for those with direct patient contact – e.g. dentists or doctors.

 

What is the alternative to Latex if Latex Protein allergy is a concern

Nitrile is a synthetic alternative to Latex.  Fine Touch Disposables offers a range of Nitrile gloves that provide a practical and safe option for those with sensitivity or allergy to Latex Protein.

For alternatives to Painters Latex gloves or Mechanics Latex gloves, Nitrile gloves might be a good option.  As a material, Nitrile is strong, without being bulky, thick, and restrictive.  This allows the Nitrile glove wearer to maintain tactile sensitivity and still have the ability to perform tasks with precision.  Nitrile gloves offer the reassurance of a strong and durable glove barrier, free of Latex protein for those with allergies.

 Alternatively, Vinyl gloves also offer a cost-effective form of hand protection, which is free of Latex Protein.   Polyvinyl Chloride (Vinyl), as a material, is not as strong as the more robust Nitrile and Latex options, but Vinyl gloves offer an economical and practical option for short duration work or low-risk tasks that require simple handling of objects or processes,

This makes them a practical and safe, hypoallergenic option for users with Latex allergies or sensitivity.

 

Glove sizing

Latex gloves are available in a range of sizes from size Small-XL, to accommodate a wide range of users and applications.

As with all gloves, it is important that users select the correct size glove.

Painters Latex gloves or Mechanics Latex gloves that are too small will be restrictive for the wearer and prolonged use will lead to hand fatigue and less dexterity for performing their precision tasks.

Ill-fitting gloves also pose a safety risk when working with tools and machinery as a loose-fitting glove may get caught in machinery, putting the wearer at risk of injury.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Disposable glove choice is all about being fit for purpose.  Factors to consider when deciding if Latex gloves are the best form of hand protection should include stretch, comfort, affordability and whether the user or their immediate contacts have a sensitivity or allergy to Latex protein.

Do you need a glove that has greater flex and stretch?

Do you need a glove that is comfortable and offers the best fit possible?

If Latex protein allergies are not a concern then Fine Touch Disposable’s Latex gloves might just  be the best option – check out our Latex options and product information sheet for further technical details.

Disposable gloves are single use gloves designed to protect the wearer from a range of potentially hazardous situations. They are regularly used in medical facilities to reduce the risk of contaminating the wearers hands with blood and body fluids and to prevent cross contamination between the worker and the patient. They are also used to prevent contamination in food handling environments, in laboratories, by beauticians, tattooists, cleaners, the manufacturing industry and more.

When choosing disposable gloves, barrier protection is one of the most important considerations. Additional factors to also consider are strength, durability, elasticity, fit, level of comfort, resistance to punctures and chemicals and the possibility of allergens. Another equally important consideration is assessing the industry relevant standards the glove has been tested to.

In this buyers’ guide for disposable gloves, we outline the features of the most common materials used in their manufacture (latex, nitrile, vinyl) and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each material type.

POWDER FREE VS POWDERED DISPOSABLE GLOVES

Powdered gloves

Powdered gloves offer a cost-effective option for easy donning. The preferred powder is USP food grade cornstarch. This is applied to the inside of the glove to make it easier to put the glove on and take it off.

However, research has shown that when powdered latex gloves are put on and removed, the airborne powder can carry latex allergens that sensitise some people via inhalation. This risk can be reduced by choosing latex gloves with minimal glove powder, switching to a latex powder free option or using a latex free glove such as nitrile.

Powder free gloves

Powder free gloves are available polymer coated or chlorinated. Both options provide a disposable glove that is easy to put on and take off without the use of powder. Polymer coated gloves have a smooth lining applied to the inner glove surface, making it easier to put the glove on. An added benefit of this smooth inner lining is the barrier it provides between the glove material and the wearer’s hand. A drawback of polymer coated latex gloves is that they can contain a high level of latex protein, a known allergen. Chlorinated gloves have been dipped in a dilute chlorine solution, which produces a slippery glove surface. One of the advantages of chlorinated latex gloves is their reduced levels of latex allergens due to the extra washing cycles required during the chlorination process.

LATEX GLOVES

Latex gloves are one of the most common disposable gloves used. Their high tensile strength makes them strong and durable, providing excellent barrier protection for the user. Their high elasticity ensures that they fit the hand like a second skin providing comfort and fit for the wearer. The latex material reduces finger fatigue and provides a high level of tactile sensitivity, making these gloves ideal for use in areas that require a fine sense of touch.

Latex gloves are available powder free and powdered.

Fine Touch Disposables Latex Gloves

Fine Touch supplies low powdered (food grade cornstarch) and powder free chlorinated latex gloves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are latex gloves made of?

Latex gloves are made from natural rubber latex (NRL) sourced from rubber trees. The liquid latex is mixed with chemicals to produce a glove that has high tensile strength and elasticity. If a coloured latex glove is required, dyes will also be added.

What is a latex allergy?

Latex gloves can produce an allergic reaction in some people. The most common reaction is irritant contact dermatitis, which is a skin reaction that leaves a red itchy rash and can happen even if the user does not have a latex allergy.

The worst reaction a person can have to latex is an IgE-mediated latex allergy, which affects the immune system and can be life threatening. Once a person has had this type of reaction, they must use a latex free glove and avoid all forms of latex in their environment.

What is the powder in latex gloves?

The most commonly used powder is USP food grade cornstarch.

How to put on latex gloves easily – video

NITRILE GLOVES

Nitrile gloves are latex free and a good alternative for people who are allergic to latex or those who want to avoid latex in their environment. They exhibit excellent resistance to many chemicals, are extremely strong and their puncture resistance is superior to latex and vinyl, making them ideal for situations where a high level of strength and/or chemical resistance are required. However, it is advisable to always check that the nitrile glove chosen is appropriate for the chemicals being used.

Nitrile gloves are flexible and fit the contours of the wearer’s hand, although their elasticity is generally not as high as latex.

While it is usually accepted that the use of nitrile gloves produces few allergies, some do contain curing agents used during the manufacturing process that may affect some people.

The ability of nitrile to fail dramatically once its barrier has been compromised, makes these disposable gloves ideal in situations where high levels of protection are required.

Nitrile gloves are available powder free and powdered.

Fine Touch Disposables Nitrile Gloves

Fine Touch supplies powder free chlorinated nitrile gloves in cobalt blue (2.2mil), blue (3.2mil), long cuff in blue (4.5mil) and black (5mil). This range of thickness, from 2.2mil to 5mil, provides options when considering the strength and durability of a glove for a particular job.

The choice of different coloured nitrile gloves is useful when colour identification is required in the workplace. Colour coding gloves can be used to avoid confusion among workers as to what glove is assigned to what task. Different colours can be assigned to different steps of a task, different manufacturing lines, to distinguish between different glove types or when double gloving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are nitrile gloves latex free?

Nitrile gloves are made from Nitrile Butadiene rubber (NBR) and do not contain natural rubber latex.

Are nitrile gloves food safe?

VINYL GLOVES

Vinyl gloves are latex free and can be a cost-effective option for people working in low risk environments. However, they can break and puncture easily during use, so are not ideal in situations where the highest level of barrier protection is required. They are a looser-fitting glove compared to latex and nitrile, with a larger wrist diameter making them baggy around the cuff. The vinyl material has low elasticity, which limits fit and comfort for the wearer. Vinyl gloves generally have a low resistance to chemicals and should not be used in situations where chemical exposure may occur.

Vinyl gloves are available powder free and powdered. Unlike latex, there is no issue with glove powder and allergies, although some of the chemicals used during the manufacture of vinyl gloves can cause a reaction in some people.

Vinyl gloves are available in a variety of colours. The most popular colour is clear, although blue vinyl gloves are commonly found in food preparation areas.

Fine Touch Disposables vinyl gloves

Fine Touch supplies powder free clear vinyl gloves

FINAL THOUGHTS

This buyers guide for disposable gloves has outlined the features and  of latex, nitrile and vinyl gloves.  The most important consideration in disposable glove selection is barrier protection. Another consideration in selecting the right glove for the job is the possibility of allergies, particularly in the use of latex gloves. Risks to glove wearers may result if latex gloves with high levels of latex allergens and glove powder are used. Reducing this risk depends on limiting the amount of glove powder (if powdered latex gloves are used) and exposure to latex allergens.

The best practice for anyone working in situations that require disposable gloves is to wear a product that has the best barrier protection for the job, while minimizing any risks to the glove wearer.

Fine Touch Disposable’s Black Nitrile gloves are more durable and robust than standard Nitrile gloves, or when compared to Latex or Vinyl gloves.

The extra durability and superior puncture resistance our Black Nitrile gloves offer, gives a higher level of safety and extra barrier of protection for all wearers.

Because Black Nitrile gloves are tougher, they last longer and therefore users can benefit from fewer glove changes.

This makes them a popular all-round glove choice, but specifically for trade or industrial based users such a mechanics and plumbers.

 

Why choose Nitrile Gloves?

Nitrile is a synthetic alternative to Latex and so Black Nitrile gloves are a practical and safe option for those with sensitivity or allergy to Latex Protein.

Nitrile as a material is strong, without being thick, bulky and restrictive.  These properties allow the wearer to still maintain tactile sensitivity and ability to perform tasks with precision, with the reassurance of a strong and durable glove barrier.

For users working with chemicals, Black Nitrile gloves offer excellent chemical resistance, particularly to harsh solvents, as well as Ethanol and Isobutyl and Isopropal Alcohol.

An important attribute of Nitrile gloves is that they exhibit a quick ‘failure rate’.  I.e. if a glove is torn or punctured when put under stress, the rip or tear will travel along the glove quickly.  This should not be mistaken for a poor glove that breaks unnecessarily.  For Black Nitrile glove users that are working with chemicals or bodily fluids, this quick failure gives the user an immediate signal that they must re-glove and so limits their exposure to the chemical or fluid contaminant.

 

Affordability

When Nitrile gloves were first manufactured some thirty years ago, they were more expensive to produce than latex and did not have the same fit and flex as that of natural latex rubber.  However, there have been many advancements in manufacturing and so Black Nitrile gloves now offer greater chemical resistance, puncture resistance and durability than other materials.  Nitrile gloves are now also more cost efficient to produce and this coupled with their improved quality, translates to less glove usage and wastage – an ultimate saving in terms of cost and down time or loss of productivity for the user.

 

Why is the Colour important?

The Black colour is an important attribute of Black Nitrile gloves – often selected because the black colour helps masks ink, blood or other fluids.  The dark colour does not show stains from these liquids as readily and so the wearer can maintain a clean and tidy appearance.  This makes Black Nitrile gloves a popular, practical and safe choice for cosmetic tattoo, hairdressing and beauty industry professionals as well.

 

Glove sizing

Black Nitrile gloves are available in a range of sizes from size Medium-XL, to accommodate a wide range of users and applications.

As with all gloves, it is important that users select the correct size glove.

If the glove size selected is too big, the glove will not offer the best barrier of protection possible as fluids, chemicals or other contaminants may get inside the glove.  This may leave the wearer exposed to both catching and spreading bacteria and viruses.  Ill fitting gloves also pose a safety risk when working with tools and machinery as a loose-fitting glove may get caught in machinery, putting the wearer at risk of injury.

Likewise gloves that are too small will be restrictive for the wearer and prolonged use will lead to hand fatigue and less dexterity for performing precision tasks.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Disposable glove choice is all about being fit for purpose.  Factors to consider when deciding if Black Nitrile gloves are the best form of hand protection should include strength, affordability, puncture resistance and whether the Black colour will provide a positive benefit for the wearer.

Do you need a glove that has greater puncture resistance?

Do you need a glove that will not readily stain from ink, blood or fluids?

Do you need a glove that is strong and robust, meaning gloves last longer?

Fine Touch Disposable’s Black Nitrile gloves might just fit the bill – view our Black Nitrile options and product information sheet for further technical details.