APPENDIX N

GLOVE SELECTION CHART

Chemical resistant gloves are an important aspect of protection against hazardous materials. It is critical that users select the correct glove material based on the chemicals used and the glove’s permeation data. Inappropriate use of glove material may actually injure a worker as chemicals can quickly permeate the barrier.  Please review the manufacturer, test data, and glove usage recommendations. Together the information will allow you to select the best glove material for your application.  If you have any questions on glove selection, contact the chemical hygiene officer at 245-1495 or 752-5219.

Chemical Family

Butyl Rubber

Neoprene

PVC (Vinyl)

Nitrile

Natural Latex

Acetates

G

NR

NR

NR

NR

Acids, inorganic

G

E

E

E

E

Acids, organic

E

E

E

E

E

Acetonitrile, Acrylonitrile

G

E

G

S

E

Alcohols

E

E

NR

E

E

Aldehydes

E

G

NR

S*

NR

Amines

S

NR

NR

F

NR

Bases, inorganic

E

E

E

E

E

Ethers

G

F

NR

E

NR

Halogens (liquids)

G

NR

F

E

NR

Inks

G

E

E

S

F

Ketones

E

G

NR

NR

G

Nitro compounds
(Nitrobenzene,
Nitromethane)

G

NR

NR

NR

NR

Oleic Acid

E

E

F

E

NR

Phenols

E

E

NR

NR

G

Quinones

NR

E

G

E

E

Solvents, Aliphatic

NR

NR

F

G

NR

Solvents, Aliphatic

NR

NR

F

F

NR

S - Superior,

E - Excellent,

G - Good,

F - Fair,

NR - Not Recommended.

 

*Not recommended for Acetaldehyde, use Butyl Rubber

The performance of gloves depend on their thickness and conditions of manufacture, as well as their material of construction. It is best to consult the manufacturers' glove selection guides.  A few companies are listed below.

Ansell-Edmont - Ansell Industrial, 1300 Walnut St., Coshocton, OH 43812.
From the AnsellPro.com Home Page link to the Chemical Resistance Guide: Permeation and Degradation Data, a .pdf file, or, SpecWare, Ansell's interactive chemical resistance and glove recommendations guide to nearly 200 industrial chemicals and mixtures. Links to toxicology information, for thousands of chemicals from the National Library of Medicine database, is also provided.

Best Manufacturing Company - 579 Edison Street, Menlo, GA 30731.
Comprehensive Guide to Chemical-Resistant Best® Gloves - Software package with a 180-chemical database is free for downloading. It will help you determine which of the 11 chemical-resistant glove materials, in varying thicknesses, to use for specific applications. These range from where contact with the chemical is brief or intermittent, to worst-possible-case situations, such as total immersion (a decidedly imprudent procedure). Supports Windows 3.1, 3.11, 95, or NT.
http://www.bestglove.com/products/chemresist/chemresist.htm

Lab Safety Supply - PO Box 1368, Janesville, WI 53547.
Chemical Protective Gloves, EZ Facts Document 191 - Provides general information about OSHA regulations, selection factors and criteria, and types of glove materials. For specific information you can e-mail technical support, techsvc@labsafety.com, or consult the chemical compatibility chart contained in their hard copy catalog.
http://www.labsafety.com/refinfo/ezfacts/ezf191.htm.
A .pdf version of the fact sheet is available at:
http://www.labsafety.com/refinfo/ezfacts/ezpdf/Ez191.pdf

MAPA Professional - 85 85 Innsbruck Drive, Buffalo, NY 14227.
Permeation, Degradation and Breakthrough Rates - for 116 chemicals against their Stansolv® Nitrile and StanzoilÆ Neoprene gloves.
http://www.mapaglove.com/content/ChemChart.htm

Safeskin Corporation - 12671 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130.
Chemical Resistance & Barrier Guide - ratings for Nitrile, and Natural rubber gloves against ~150 chemicals and a dozen mixtures. This page is part of the University of Maryland, Environmental S@fety site. The table provides guidance based on published research data, not actual tests on the Safeskin gloves.
http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Departments/EnvirSafety/ls/safeskin.html

Safety 4, Inc. - 9765 Widmer, Bldg. 5, Lenexa, KS 66215.
Only one glove type, the 4H gloves are a 5-layer laminate of PE and EVOH, 2.7 mil thick in seven sizes. The Chemical Protection Guide helps determine if the 4H glove is appropriate for handling nearly 200 individual hazardous chemicals, and some 100 well-characterized mixtures, at two temperatures.
http://www.safety4.com/guide/set_guide.htm