Chemical protective gloves are made from a wide range of materials, but there is no single glove material ( or
combination of materials) which gives unlimited resistance to any individual or combination of substances or
preparations. The extent of the breakthrough time will be affected by a combination of factors which include
permeation, penetration, degradation, use pattern ( full immersion, occasional contacts) and how the glove is
stored when not in use.
Theoretical maximum levels of protection are seldom achieved in practice and the actual level of protection can
be difficult to assess. Effective breakthrough time should be used with care and a margin of safety should be
applied. HSE guidance on protective gloves recommends a 75% safety factor to be applied to any figures
obtained in a laboratory test. Nitrile gloves may offer relatively long breakthrough times and slow permeation
rates. Test data, e.g breakthrough data obtained through test standard EN374-3:1994 are available from
reputable equipment suppliers.
Personal hygiene is a key element of effective hand care. Gloves must only be worn on clean hands. After using
gloves, hands should be washed and dried thoroughly. A non perfumed moisturiser should be applied.