Handling Chemicals with Gloves

What to look for in choosing the right glove?

Working with chemicals requires careful selection of protective gloves. The suitability of a glove depends on the chemical substance, concentration, exposure duration, temperature, glove material, thickness, and working conditions.

Different glove materials offer different levels of resistance. Therefore, users should review the product-specific chemical resistance data and applicable product documentation before selecting gloves for chemical handling tasks.

HARPS Global provides product documentation and technical guidance to support informed glove selection for chemical handling applications.

View chemical resistance charts

Thickness & Material

Gloves used in contact with chemicals should align with applicable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements. When selecting a glove, thickness is an important factor—thicker materials may provide increased durability, while thinner options can offer greater tactile sensitivity. Finding the right balance depends on the task, exposure level, and user needs.

Material selection also plays a key role. Natural rubber latex offers flexibility and comfort, while nitrile is commonly used where resistance to a range of chemicals is a consideration. Each material has different characteristics, making it important to evaluate suitability for the intended application.

In some environments, such as pharmaceutical or laboratory settings, dual-labelled gloves (medical device and PPE) may be used where both types of standards are relevant. Additional guidance on glove use, including considerations around exposure and handling practices, is available in the resource below.

What to consider when choosing disposable gloves for laboratory and chemical handling tasks

Disposable gloves can support protection in laboratory and chemical handling environments, but their suitability depends on the specific task and exposure scenario. Before selecting a glove, consider whether the application involves direct or prolonged chemical contact, short-term splash or contamination risk, repeated low-level exposure, or handling through tools such as pipettes, spatulas, or closed systems.

When selecting and using disposable gloves, please consider the following:

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Review the product-specific chemical resistance charts before use.

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Select gloves based on the specific chemical, concentration, expected contact time, temperature, and working conditions.

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Consider whether a disposable glove is sufficient or whether a dedicated reusable chemical protective glove is required.

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Use disposable gloves primarily for splash or contamination protection where prolonged direct chemical contact is not expected.

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Change gloves immediately after chemical contact, visible contamination, damage, or signs of degradation.

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Change gloves frequently where repeated exposure may occur.

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Consider double donning in selected applications where the outer glove may need to be changed regularly.

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Use extended cuff gloves where additional wrist or forearm coverage is required.

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Check gloves for tears, holes, or visible defects before use.

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Avoid touching clean surfaces, phones, keyboards, door handles, or personal items with contaminated gloves.

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Remove gloves carefully to avoid contaminating your hands or skin.

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Perform hand hygiene before and after glove use and between glove changes.

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When in doubt, contact the manufacturer, safety officer, or occupational health specialist for support in selecting a suitable glove.

Important: Chemical resistance test results are generated under defined laboratory conditions and may not fully reflect every real-use scenario. The final glove selection should always be made as part of a workplace-specific risk assessment.

Do disinfectants pose a danger to the safety of medical gloves?

Disposable medical gloves are generally intended for single use and should not be disinfected for the purpose of reuse. They should be changed in accordance with applicable hygiene requirements, including between patients and procedures where required.

Disinfectants, especially alcohol-based products, may affect glove material properties and glove integrity. The impact depends on several factors, including glove material, wall thickness, type of disinfectant, exposure time, and additional mechanical or thermal stress.

In defined exceptional situations, local hygiene guidance may address the disinfection of gloved hands under specific conditions. However, this should not be understood as general approval for routine glove disinfection or reuse. If gloves are damaged, visibly contaminated, show signs of degradation, or are no longer suitable for the task, they must be changed immediately.

For further information, please refer to our manufacturer statement and HARPS Insights article on the disinfection of disposable gloves.

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