Disposable gloves are an essential piece of personal protective equipment (PPE), which means choosing the right disposable glove for your workplace is a paramount decision. Healthcare workers, in particular, need reliable disposable gloves that will keep them safe from hazards such as chemicals, biological materials, sharp objects and more. Nitrile gloves are a viable option for the healthcare industry because they are protective, durable, easy to change, affordable and latex-free.

To help you make an informed PPE choice, this article will cover what nitrile gloves are, what they are used for, what hazards nitrile gloves do and do not protect against and how to choose the right disposable glove for your application. Regardless of which type of healthcare setting you work in, this article will help you determine the best PPE for you.

What Are Nitrile Gloves?

Nitrile gloves are a disposable, effective and inexpensive form of hand protection for workers across a wide range of industries. The word nitrile is short for acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber. Unlike latex gloves, which are made with natural rubber, nitrile rubber gloves are synthetic and latex-free. This means nitrile gloves are a dependable PPE alternative for anyone with a latex allergy.

To produce these synthetic rubber gloves, the rubber from rubber trees must first be transformed into latex rubber before being reprocessed. Once the rubber has been manufactured into latex, the monomers acrylonitrile and butadiene are bonded together to form the nitrile compound material. This extra step of processing removes all latex proteins, making nitrile gloves reliably latex-free.

The resulting nitrile gloves are durable as well as resistant to both punctures and chemicals. While manufacturing disposable nitrile rubber gloves used to be an expensive process, modern technological advancements have led to a more cost-effective approach. Nitrile gloves are now equally as affordable as regular latex gloves. Due to the affordability, accessibility and low allergy rating of nitrile gloves, many people choose them over latex gloves.

Nitrile rubber gloves are available in a variety of colors, sizes and thicknesses, making them suitable for an array of applications. Nitrile gloves are also unisex and ambidextrous so workers don’t have to waste time finding matching sets, and workplaces don’t need to worry about keeping numerous styles in stock.

What Are Nitrile Gloves Used For?

Nitrile gloves are suitable PPE for applications in a variety of industries. The disposable gloves give the wearer dependable hand protection from a range of potential hazards, including cuts, liquids and abrasive materials.

The comfortable fit of nitrile gloves and the ease of putting them on and removing them also make them a valuable asset for industries that necessitate extended PPE use. Nitrile gloves are also suitable for applications or jobs that are shorter in duration and require frequent glove changes.

Specifically, nitrile gloves can assist workers within these environments:

Medical facilities: Nitrile gloves are commonly used for medical purposes because they provide a two-way contact barrier whenever a medical professional is evaluating a patient, handling biological materials or disposing of medical waste. From examinations and surgery to dentistry and pharmaceuticals, nitrile gloves offer healthcare workers across a variety of specialties reliable hand protection. The FDA recommends that workers in hospitals and other healthcare facilities wear nitrile gloves to ensure adequate protection.
Chemical labs: Those who regularly perform laboratory work often come in contact with potentially harmful substances. The chemical resistance of nitrile gloves makes them a viable solution for protecting these workers from dangerous materials such as hazardous chemicals and organic solvents.
Industrial plants: Wearing nitrile gloves can provide protection from hazards such as commercial cleaning products, chemicals, pesticides and more, making them highly suitable for industrial and commercial settings. Those working in manufacturing, automotive or janitorial roles also rely on nitrile gloves for the dexterity they afford.
Foodservice: Nitrile gloves are safe for food handling and can offer the wearer extra protection during food prep. The ease of changing nitrile gloves also makes them perfect for those in a customer-facing role, which often requires frequent glove changes. Additionally, using a color-coded system of nitrile gloves can help a food-based business prevent cross-contamination.