Tag: black nitrile gloves

The Best Protection in the Lab

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Image by DarkoStojanovic – https://pixabay.com/en/users/DarkoStojanovic-638422/

The best lab protection is tailored to the situation in which it is used. While most lab work requires gloves and other personal protective equipment, or PPE, different hazards demand PPE made of different materials. PPE of different colors, shapes, and designs can also save lives.

Gloves

Of all lab PPE, gloves are among the most closely linked with situational safety. Before donning gloves, the wearer must consider what the gloves will have to resist. Are chemicals involved that corrode materials like latex or nitrile? Do the gloves need to be sterile, or stand up to sharp utensils?

The materials the wearer will handle with the gloves help decide the type of gloves that ought to be used. This is true down to even the basic nuance of color. White gloves are ideal for those who are looking for evidence of blood or who intend to handle dark materials. Black latex gloves and colored gloves are best for those who need a clear view of their hands, regardless of what gets on their gloves. Technicians handling powders and white substances, also benefit from black or colored gloves.

Size and fit also play a critical part in keeping you protected in the lab. No PPE can perform its function if it is not a correct fit. For example, gloves that are too small often rip and expose skin to hazards. If a glove is too large the wearer’s grip is compromised and bacteria have an easier time slipping inside.

Glasses and Goggles

Glasses, goggles, and face shields all play the same role with increasing areas of coverage. Glasses protect the eyes from small, direct bursts of accidental spray. Goggles also protect the eyes, but they offer superior protection to protective glasses thanks to their fit and seal against the face. If you are dealing with any material that is likely to spray, then a face shield is needed for adequate protection. It is always better to be too protected in case of accidents.

When choosing protective eye wear always consider the specific lab work involved. Different labs use different materials designed specifically for that work. For example, lab technicians will need separate glasses for protection when working with lasers and other highly specialized tools.

Masks

A basic procedural mask with ear loops will serve as adequate protection in many cases. However, a cone style mask does a better job protecting the wearer and the subjects in the lab, additionally it typically provides a more comfortable fit. Rather than pucker at the sides like a flat procedural mask, cone style masks fit much better over the nose and mouth, providing superior filtration.

When handling dangerous chemicals in a closed environment, it is unlikely either a procedural mask or a cone mask will be able to thoroughly filter out hazards. In such cases, respirators are better choices.

Lab coats

A good lab coat is flame resistant and made of a material other than polyester. Reinforced seams help prevent tears that could expose the wearer to hazardous material, and it’s important to remember that a good lab coat is a bigger investment than masks and gloves, which are typically disposable. However, like any PPE, lab coats should be tailored for the situation in which they will be used. If used around infectious materials, a lab coat may need to be easily sterilized, which many materials are not. In such cases, you would be wise to find disposable lab coats that meet the same requirements.

Always look for quality when choosing your PPE. Even if a cheaper product allows you to save a little money in the short term, it can cost you heavily in medical expenses. Make sure your PPE is tailored to the specific task you plan to handle. After all, the very best surgically sterile gloves will do nothing to protect you against heated elements in the lab.

Black Nitrile Gloves: Does Color Make a Difference

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Image by pagefact – https://pixabay.com/en/users/pagefact-156988/

If you google “nitrile gloves,” you will be bombarded with color options. Your first inclination might be to pick a color you like, but does glove color make a difference when choosing nitrile gloves?

Harmful substances

Police and postal workers routinely wear black nitrile gloves while working. You may not know it, but their choice is a calculated one. Black gloves allow them to recognize dangerous powders and substances immediately. When anthrax came through the mail, postal workers wearing black gloves would have seen the substance better than workers wearing lighter-colored gloves.

Easily distinguishable

Another reason to choose a black nitrile glove over another color is that it makes it easy to distinguish between your hand and the object or person you’re working on. In some fields, like cosmetology and tattoo artistry, the artist wants to be able to clearly distinguish between his or her own skin and the client’s skin. These two occupations also require close attention to detail, and the eye experiences less strain when looking at a dark color then when looking at a light one.

Show less stains

Do you think glove color makes a difference when thinking about staining? You bet it does. A tattoo artist might choose a black glove color so his client’s blood on the glove won’t be noticeable as he works – imagine the customer’s panic when she sees her own blood on a tattoo artist’s light-colored glove!  The same is true for mechanics. Mechanic work is greasy, and black gloves won’t look as dirty as another color of glove will.

Reasons not to choose blacknitrile gloves

In an environment where it is crucial that dust and other contaminants be kept out (manufacturing of pharmaceuticals for example), one would want to choose a colorless glove. Color is considered an additive, and this can contaminate some manufactured products. You might also choose different glove colors for organizational purposes: you can consistently purchase one color for nitrile gloves and another for latex, thereby preventing people with a latex allergy from accidentally grabbing the wrong glove.

While you may think glove color is just a personal preference, in some industries, glove color makes all the difference. At AAA Wholesale Company, we offer many options in nitrile gloves. Determine what your need is, and let us help you fill it.