Vinyl Gloves
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Vinyl is the most lightweight of the three disposable glove types. As such, vinyl gloves are the most widely available and cost-effective option but arent suitable for high-risk tasks involving a more significant infection or injury risk.
Vinyl gloves wont stand up to long periods of wear. They are usually more loose-fitting than nitrile or latex gloves that need to offer a close fit. Made from polyvinyl chloride, otherwise known as PVC, vinyl gloves are best suited to cleaning operations and other tasks that dont involve any corrosive chemicals but where the extra degree of barrier protection helps to keep hygiene levels high and protect the skin on the hands from repeated exposure to substances and actions that dry it out.
The difference between nitrile, latex, and vinyl gloves is usually in the degree of protection needed. Nitrile gloves are required when handling sodium hydroxide in a lab to protect against the risk of spillage. However, using nitrile gloves when preparing sandwiches in a commercial kitchen could be considered overkill. Staff could get through several pairs of gloves in a day in the kitchen, which could become an expensive investment for the business owner. Using vinyl gloves would be far more cost-effective and fulfil the purpose of protecting the food from skin contact.
Blue vinyl gloves should be used in food prep environments under HSE guidance to minimise the risk of food contamination. While vinyl gloves are an excellent solution for various food prep tasks, they are not approved for handling fatty foods. This is because phthalate plasticisers are not chemically bound to the PVC from which vinyl gloves are made and can evaporate into the fatty foods and become soluble. In this case, nitrile gloves are recommended.
Vinyl is anti-static and protects against shocks and chafing when stripping back sheaths on cords and wires, so vinyl gloves are well suited to some electricians work.
Where are vinyl gloves used?
Cleaning (without highly corrosive chemicals)
Food preparation (apart from fatty foods)
Hairdressing to protect hands from chemicals and repeated exposure to water
Painting and DIY
Working with wires and cords
When comparing vinyl vs latex vs nitrile gloves, vinyl gloves are the best short-term solution in a wide range of cases. Generally, vinyl gloves are a cheap and easy option when you need temporary protection for a low-risk job. Vinyl gloves can protect from low-level hazards, maintain good levels of hygiene, minimise cross-contamination, and make certain jobs more tolerable by protecting the skin on the hands from contact.
Polyethylene gloves can also be a good alternative to choose, especially for food preparation tasks, care homes and hairdressing. They provide a basic level of protection, and are loose-fitting which makes them easy to wear for new or infrequent users. When compared to the other options, polyethylene gloves dont provide such a high level of protection - especially in medical or chemical use, or when dealing with sharps. Use polyethylene gloves in low risk, minimal jobs only.
This will ultimately depend on your environment, needs and circumstances - as each type of glove brings different benefits and value.
If your environment is relatively safe, and the tasks youre undertaking are low risk, the likely choice is vinyl. Theyre widely used across the medical and food preparation industries, are flexible and loose fitting - as well as often being the most affordable.
However if youre needing a higher touch sensitivity, and a more durable option, latex gloves may be more suitable. Theyre often more comfortable than vinyl, offering a tighter fit whilst retaining flexibility. They also offer the most environmentally-friendly option out of the three - just ensure that if youre supplying gloves for others that youre aware of any allergies.
Choosing nitrile gloves will eliminate the risk of this, and are a superb option if youre working in higher risk environments. The synthetic rubber used in their composition gives them a close fitting, comfortable feel, while allowing finger dexterity. This makes it ideal for any cleaning, lifting or intricate tasks - not to mention they are resilient to chemicals, oil and sharps. If durability is your main concern, nitrile is the best option - their resilience to higher risk items (sharps, chemicals) is superior to latex and vinyl. When considering from a sustainability viewpoint, theyre a poor choice however, taking an extremely long time to biodegrade.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website latex vs vinyl gloves.
As youre making your choice of gloves, consider the risks, tasks, environment and opinions of others who may use the gloves, to ensure youre making a responsible and safe choice.
If you have any further questions were always happy to help, get in touch here.
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