Tuff-er gloves resist chemical splashes

Independent lab tests on Ansell Healthcare Europe’s chemical splash resistant Touch N Tuff gloves have demonstrated that they offer four times the puncture resistance of comparable natural-latex gloves and three times the resistance of similar neoprene gloves.

Specifically designed for production employees who are at risk from chemical splashes in the workplace, the 100% nitrile Touch N Tuff gloves were tested against a wide variety of hazardous industrial chemicals, including xylene, ethanol, perchloroethylene, triethylene and isopropanol, by the Belgian laboratory Centexbel. They showed “a high-level of protection” in comparison with 10 competing products for chemicals from nine families, ranking first or second for eight of the nine.

The single-use gloves protect against the aliphatic hydrocarbons present in lubricants and are suitable for any sector using hazardous chemicals, including the automotive production, laboratory and pharmaceutical, food processing and the cleaning industries. Specially designed for optimum comfort, the nitrile in the gloves effectively eliminates the risk of allergies to latex proteins (Type I) and there is no evidence of risk from irritation or Type IV allergies.

Approximately 32 million European workers are exposed to unsafe levels of chemical exposure, which can result in cancer, brain and nervous system damage, asthma and skin problems. EU legislation advocates that all necessary steps should be taken to protect workers from the hazards by introducing personal measures, such as protective equipment, and, where possible, collective measures.

Recently voted in by the European Parliament, the new REACH legislation and authorisation system gives greater responsibility to industry to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the substances produced.