Disposable glove

Disposable glove size

Size S = 6/7 Size M = 7/8 Size L = 8/9 Size XL = 9/10

Materials of single-use disposable gloves

The materials are of several types and depend on the context of use but also on the tolerance of users to certain materials (in particular, be careful of latex allergies).
Price is also a factor. Nitrile is a material that varies greatly, with prices sometimes doubling or even tripling depending on the production environment.
- Natural rubber latex glove in powdered or powder-free finish
- Vinyl glove made of polyvinyl chloride plastic in powdered or powder-free finish
- Synthetic rubber nitrile glove in powdered or powder-free finish
- Stretch glove made of polyvinyl chloride plastic, powdered or powder-free
- Polyethylene glove made of synthetic material and powder-free polyethylene

Disposable gloves, what do the standards say?

: These requirements concern ergonomics, construction, safety, comfort, effectiveness, marking and information leaflet; they are applicable to all protective gloves.

EN455 standard non-reusable disposable medical gloves:

Part 1 – Hole detection, prescription and testing
Part 2 – Physical properties: requirements and tests
Part 3 – Biological evaluation: requirements and tests
Part 4 – Determination of the retention period

EN374 standard disposable gloves against chemicals and microorganisms

EN374-1:2003 standard becomes EN374-1:2016
Part 1: Terminology and performance requirements for chemical hazards
Specifies the requirements for protective gloves used to protect the user against hazardous chemicals and defines the terms to be used.
It is based on 3 testing methods:
Penetration test according to EN 374-2:2014
Protective gloves shall not leak when tested according to EN 374-2:2014,
- Airtightness test
- Watertightness test
Permeation test according to standard EN 16523-1:2015 which replaces standard EN 374-3
Depending on their permeation performance, chemical protective gloves are classified into three types:
A: Level 2 for minimum 6 chemicals
B: Level 2 for minimum 3 chemical products
C: Level 1 for minimum 1 chemical product
Degradation test according to EN 374-4 standard
Resistance to degradation (DR) shall be determined according to EN 374-4 for each chemical claimed in the marking, and recorded in the user instructions.
It takes into account the effects of the chemical on the materials making up the glove. Degradation can take the form, for example, of brittleness, swelling or shrinkage of the glove.

Standard EN 374-5: 2016 disposable glove against microorganisms

Protective glove against microorganisms: gloves forming a protective barrier against microbiological agents (bacteria, viruses, molds)

Standard EN388:2016 disposable glove against mechanical risks

Glove providing protection against at least one of the following mechanical risks: abrasion, cutting by slicing, tearing and perforation

- Abrasion resistance 0 -> 4
- Cut resistance 0 -> 5
- Tear resistance 0 -> 4
- Puncture resistance 0 -> 4
New on EN388:2016
- C Cut EN ISO 13997
- (P) Impact protection

The higher the level, the better the protection.
X means no test was performed
Single-use disposable glove suitable for food contact
The “glass/fork” symbol on the boxes indicates the glove’s ability to come into contact with food.

Single-use disposable gloves according to European regulations

This capacity is governed by European Regulation No. 1935/2004.
Specific measures have been taken regarding plastic objects, gloves are governed by EU Regulation 10/2011.
Migration tests are carried out according to these texts, 4 families of foodstuffs are tested:
for aqueous foods
for acidic foods
for alcoholic foods
for fatty foods

Use of disposable gloves

The information provided by the manufacturer must comply with the information requirements of EN 420. It must also include the results of penetration, degradation and permeation tests, + the list of all chemicals for which the gloves have been tested and the performance obtained during the permeation tests.
The following warnings should be added to the user instructions:
- "This information does not reflect the actual duration of protection in the workplace, nor the differentiation between mixtures and pure chemicals."
- "Chemical resistance was assessed under laboratory conditions using samples taken only from the palm (except where the glove cuff of a length greater than or equal to 400 mm was also tested) and relates only to the chemical under test. It may differ if used in a mixture."
It is recommended to check that the gloves are suitable for the intended use, as workplace conditions may differ from those of the typical test, depending on temperature, abrasion and degradation.
“When used, disposable gloves may offer less resistance to hazardous chemicals due to altered physical properties. Movement, snagging, friction, or degradation caused by contact with chemicals, etc., can significantly reduce the actual duration of use. For corrosive chemicals, degradation may be the most important factor to consider when selecting chemical-resistant gloves.
“Before use, it is recommended to inspect disposable gloves for any defects or imperfections.”
For multi-use gloves, the manufacturer must provide appropriate instructions for decontamination.
If there is no information on decontamination, then the glove is intended for single use only and the following warning must be added: “For single use only”.