Since the Covid-19 pandemic, people have become much more concerned and conscious about hand hygiene, sanitation, and cleanliness. Taking good care of our health has become a part of our daily routine. The use of disposable single-use gloves has also observed a sharp rise in demand. These gloves are not just used to protect against Covid and other harmful bacteria. They are also effective in the prevention of contamination and against the spread of various infections. Gloves can also protect your hands from being exposed to cell-damaging substances.
But there are several types of gloves on the market. Which one should we use for the best benefit?
After many debates and studies, experts have declared latex gloves the best and safest kind. But why so? In this article, we discussed all the relevant information you would require before purchasing latex gloves.
What Are Latex Gloves?
Latex gloves are used as a form of preventive hand covering. Generally comprised of either natural or synthetic rubber, these gloves are mainly used in laboratories, medicinal purposes, and even some enterprises.
Latex gloves come in various sizes, thicknesses, and styles. Usually, they are covered in a powdery material to make them simpler to put on and take off.
How Are Latex Gloves Made?
As mentioned above, latex gloves are made out of natural rubber. The rubber extracted from rubber trees is later purified and processed into latex. These latexes are then used as a factor of production for latex gloves.
Due to the presence of the same fiber as rubber, latex gloves provide the best levels of comfort, flexibility, and tactile sensitivity.
Types Of Latex Gloves
There are different types of latex gloves available in the market. Latex gloves can be classified into different categories based on their powderiness, reusability, and applications.
Classification By Powderiness:
Whether the gloves contain powder or not, they can be specified into powdered and powder-free categories.
Powdered Latex Gloves
Powdered latex gloves contain cornstarch within it, which aids in slipping them on and off quickly. These gloves have been lightly powdered to provide the best comfort.
The gloves won’t stick to your hands as a result, even if they are sweaty. They keep your hands dry and cool. They are more durable than powder-free gloves regarding wearing and tears.
Powder-less Latex Gloves
Powder-free latex gloves do not contain cornstarch as their component. So, it is helpful for people with latex allergies. These gloves also do not leave unnecessary residue on your hands or, more specifically, your wounds, tools, and machinery after using them.
For precisely this reason, they are well-liked in the food service and medical sectors. Since the FDA outlawed powdered medical and surgical exam gloves in the year 2017, the powder-free alternative has been widely utilized in the medical industry.
These gloves’ only drawback is their durability. They are more prone to tearing and ripping than powdered gloves.
Categorization Based On Product Expendability:
Reusable Latex Gloves
When infection and contamination are not a severe threat, reusable latex gloves can be utilized because they are thicker than disposable varieties. They might also be advantageous in workplaces where gloves are removed and put on again frequently.
Expendable Latex Gloves
When workers come into touch with bodily fluids or other potentially infectious items, disposable latex gloves are frequently employed. They are comprised of relatively thinner latex that offers adequate protection while remaining simple to take off. Additionally, the chance of cross-contamination between users has been reduced thanks to disposable gloves.
Application-based Specifications:
Although made of the same latex and under the same technology, application-wise, latex gloves can be distinguished. Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? By taking gate vs globe valve as an real life example, we can explain the above-mentioned characteristics of latex gloves more elaborately. Although gate and glove vlaves have the exact same mechanism, these two valves are used under two different circumstances and purposes for their structure, size and shape.
Similarly, some of the most typical varieties of latex gloves utilized in most industries and healthcare facilities include the following.
Household Gloves
These gloves are made of thin latex and are typically used for handling non-infectious materials. Mainly used for household works like dusting, washing, gardening, etc., they come in different sizes and thicknesses.
Industrial Gloves
Often used in industry settings, these types are thicker than surgical gloves. They are made to shield laborers from chemicals, wounds, and abrasions.
Inspection Gloves
These resemble household gloves in many ways. Consisting of thin latex, they might or might not offer equal protection as medical gloves. They can be both powderless as well as powdered.
Medical Gloves
Frequently composed of artificial fibers, these gloves are thicker, non-powdered, and can prevent infections.
Surgical Gloves
Specifically created to be worn during surgery and other complex medical treatments, surgical gloves are a sort of thicker medical glove.
Essential Things to Think About When Choosing Latex Gloves
As we all know, hotel smart door lock has become an essential safety equipment these days. While purchasing a smart lock, we often look for a trusted hotel smart lock factory for maximum security. Otherwise we always double-check our locks just to be safe. Similarly, you should double-check your latex gloves as well while buying it from the market.
Intended Usage:
There are different types of gloves made for specific industries. The ideal latex gloves for your particular situation depend on how and where they will be used.
Flexibility And Agility:
The dexterity of gloves is crucial in workplaces. As a result, employees should wear gloves that seem suitable for their particular job activities.
Workers associated with heavy lifting and work should opt for relatively thinner gloves to offer more movability while dealing with chemicals and medical procedures requires more protection and thicker gloves.
Beware Of Allergies:
Gloves should not cause any irritation on normal skin. So, avoid latex gloves if you are allergenic or have hand injuries.
Fittings:
Do not wear gloves that do not fit your hands. Unfitted gloves offer less protection.
Summary
Wearing latex gloves is an affordable technique to safeguard employees from harm while they are at work. They can be utilized in many sectors and are available in various designs. The best latex gloves for your particular situation will differ based on the type of gloves you need and the materials you will be handling, whether you are seeking washable or disposable gloves.
