Select The Right Glove For The Right Job

In industrial environments, where safety, efficiency, and compliance are non-negotiable, choosing the appropriate hand protection is critical. The right glove not only safeguards workers from hazards such as chemicals, abrasions, and cuts — it also enhances productivity and helps maintain adherence to workplace safety standards.

Every task across different sectors from manufacturing and automotive to chemical processing and construction, demands a glove tailored to its unique challenges. Selecting the right glove for each application ensures optimal protection, reduces injury risks, and minimizes downtime.

WHAT IS SINGLE USE AND REUSABLE GLVOES?

SINGLE USE / DISPOSABLE

REUSABLE

Thin (<6mil). Unlined. Ambidextrous
Usually use at medical, dental, saloon, food, tattoo, etc.
Design for Single use - MUST NEVER BE RE-USED

PROS

Provide good touch sensitivity, dexterity and flexibility
Designed for incidental exposure
Can avoid cross contamination

CONS

Poor chemical resistance
Not suitable for intentional contact with hazardous substances
Not suitable for some aggressive or highly hazardous
Created more waste to environment

Thick (>6mil). Flocklined or unlined. Non ambidextrous
Usually use at heavy duty work, painting, gardening, house chores, maintenance, etc.

PROS

Offer better protection against abrasion and other physical hazards
Resist to chemical attack for longer time
Less likely to tear
Usually have longer cuff length and offering better protection when working with large volume of liquid

CONS

Interfere with dexterity and touch sensitivity
Can still be damaged and penetrated by many chemicals
Must be looked after correctly to prolong their usefulness
Need to clean after usage and left to dry to avoid contamination

REUSABLE GLOVES	APPLICATION	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES	FIT	FOOD HANDLING
Nitrile	General janitorial Maintenance, plumbing Automotive & supply industry Oil and petrol refining Food handling & processing Extended chemical contact & handling	Resist punctures Broader range chemical resistance including fuels, solvents, greases, alkaline Greater range of temperature tolerance Latex protein free	Can lead to cross contamination if not properly washed and dried No recommended for ketones and acids Less comfort and fit than latex	Loose Fit	Aqueous Food Raw Vegetables Alcoholic Beverage Meat Fish, Shellfish Fats Baked Foods
Latex	General janitorial Maintenance General heavy-duty cleaning industry Extended chemical contact & handling	Ideal for scrubbing and scouring pots and pans Good for general cleaning Excellent elongation, less hand fatigue in extended wear Good for ketones and alcohol	Poor in organic solvent, oils, grease Can lead to cross contamination if not properly washed and dried Potential for latex allergies in sensitized person	Snug Fit	Aqueous Food Raw Vegetables Alcoholic Beverage Meat Fish, Shellfish Fats Baked Foods
Chloroprene	Oil and petrol refining Agrochemicals Chemical industry Battery Manufacturing	Good resistant towards acids, bases, alcohol, ketone, oil and solvent Perform well when exposes to sunlight and ozone Good durability	Weak to contact with chlorinated solvents	Loose Fit

DISPOSABLE GLOVES	APPLICATION	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES	FIT	FOOD HANDLING
Nitrile	Healthcare/Medical Examination Food preparation General janitorial Maintenance Tattoo parlors industry	Good puncture and chemical resistant Moderate protection against pathogens Provide comfort and flexibility Easy to detect hole and tears Can handle moderate temperatures Long shelf life: Typically 5 years Latex-free	Stiffer than latex Reduces touch sensitivity Very poor in ketones, aromatics and halogenated solvent	Good fit, but reduced dexterity	Aqueous food Raw vegetables Alcoholic beverage Meat Fish, Shellfish Fats Baked foods
Latex $Latex Disposable$	Healthcare/Medical Examination Dental Food preparation General janitorial Maintenance Saloons/Spas	Extremely flexible High tensile stretch or ability to resist tearing Good protection against pathogens Available as powdered and powder-free	Latex allergies are becoming more prevalent Latex may be banned in some stated Should not be used with organic solvent, oils, gas, grease Hard to detect tears Moderate shell life typically 1-3 years	Best fit and dexterity	Aqueous food Raw vegetables Alcoholic beverage Meat Fish, Shellfish Fats Baked foods
Vinyl (PVC)	Food preparation (short contact) General janitorial Education	Lightweight and soft Provide average resistance to some chemicals like common alcohols Can be used to handle low heat, such as hot food items Long shelf life: Typically 5 years Latex-free	Low tensile strength, meaning it will tear easily Low protection against pathogens Break with prolonged use Release phthalates in contact with some chemicals	Loose fit than latex, tighter fit than poly Less dexterity	Aqueous food Raw vegetables Alcoholic beverage Fish, Shellfish Baked foods Meat & sausage fats
Poly (PE)	Food preparation (short contact) Deli counters Food serving	Thin, one size fits all Easy on and off applications Latex-free	Very little to no protection against pathogens Not ideal for work with hazardous materials Should not be used around heat or hot surfaces	Loose fit of the disposable glove options	Aqueous food Raw vegetables Baked foods Meat & sausage fats

FEATURES OF METERIALS ONLY AVAILABLE AS REUSABLE GLOVES

MATERIAL	ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGE
Butyl Rubber	Good for ketones and esters	Poor for gasoline, aliphatic, aromatic and halogenated compounds Only available as reusable Poor touch sensitivity Expensive
Viton	Chlorinated and aromatic solvents Low surface tension repels most liquids Good resistance to cuts and abrasions	Poor for ketones Expensive Only available as reusable Poor touch sensitivity
VINYL - Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)	Good for aromatic and chlorinated solvents	Extremely poor for waster-based solutions (compatible with water) Only available as reusable Poor touch sensitivity