E-Newsletter

Safety and Savings Tips For July 2013, from All Safety Products, Inc.

Should I use Nitrile or Latex Gloves for a Particular Job?

Nitrile Exam Gloves

Nitrile exam gloves are an excellent alternative to latex gloves. The synthetic fiber is the first choice in tear resistance and dexterity. It also has great flexibility and chemical resistance. At All Safety Products, Inc., we offer a wide selection of nitrile gloves exam grade to meet a variety of safety needs. They are particularly beneficial to those who have experienced adverse reactions to latex or natural rubber.

The use of nitrile gloves is required for many employees who handle chemicals, solvents, blood, and more. To be labeled "exam grade," nitrile gloves must have FDA approval. This includes an acceptable quality level, strength, and ability to stretch. Industrial grade gloves may be thicker with less dexterity. They are best suited for industrial, mechanical, or food service applications.

A major advantage of nitrile exam gloves is the avoidance of allergic reactions associated with latex gloves. Many susceptible individuals have problems with latex. In particular, powdered gloves allow allergens to become airborne where they may be inhaled into the lungs. Nitrile gloves are made from a special polymer that provides remarkable chemical and tear resistance.

Although slightly more expensive than latex, nitrile gloves will often outlast the natural product by many times. They are known to be virtually pinhole free with tactile feel almost matching latex. Additional features may include textured fingertips, non-slip grips for wet work, contoured palms, and interlock cotton liners for added strength and comfort. Sizes and thicknesses vary, with the gloves often sold in boxes of 100. We can help you find nitrile exam gloves to meet your requirements.

Latex Exam Gloves

Latex exam gloves have the best tactile characteristics for use by those in the medical profession. They are usually selected because they provide superior comfort, dexterity, and grip. At All Safety Products, Inc., we provide a complete selection of latex gloves exam grade. Careful consideration should be given to risks and benefits before choosing the glove most appropriate for your needs.

Latex exam gloves are thin but powerful barriers to provide protection against health risks. In particular, they are the most reliable barriers for bloodborne pathogens such as HIV. To be labeled as exam grade, gloves must be approved by the FDA. The gloves are tested carefully for acceptable quality, tensile strength, and ability to stretch. Industrial grade gloves are thicker but less stringently tested. They are useful in industrial and food service professions where there are no bloodborne pathogen concerns.

All latex gloves present a risk of allergic reaction in certain individuals. Powdered gloves help with ease of donning but increase allergy dangers. Latex proteins attach to the powder and may be inhaled into the lungs. To reduce allergy concerns, it is generally recommended to use powder-free latex gloves with low levels of extractable latex protein and residual chemicals.

When allergy concerns are not a factor, latex exam gloves provide the best form, fit, and function. Comfort and barrier protection are superior to synthetic materials and cost is more economical. To minimize exposure to allergens, gloves should be removed promptly and hands washed. When wearing gloves, avoid contact with eyes, nose, and mouth.

If you need to know some chemical breakthrough times for glove types, here is a handy glove chart link that is pretty popular with purchasing agents and safety professionals in determining the right glove type.

Using the Right Glove for the Job?

Many workers will choose one glove to use for every job. Not a good thing to do!  When in doubt, please consult your MSDS/SDS sheet for the chemical you're exposed to or hire a safety consultant for expert advice.


The Importance of Washing Your Hands

Since we're onto the subject of gloves for this newsletter, we want to make sure that we don't forget addressing the need for good hygiene.

We also want to keep this topic at the forefront since the most important thing that you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands.

By frequently washing your hands you wash away the germs that you have picked up from other people, or from contaminated surfaces, or from animals and animal waste and avoid transferring the bacteria to other people. You can also spread germs directly to others or onto surfaces that other people touch. And before you know it, everybody around you is getting sick.

This is the benefit of having a portable hand wash sink nearby and accessible when you are away from a water source. Oftentimes a simple handwash sink located in a strategic location can prevent the spreading of harmful bacteria.

One example of this occurred in the 1800's where a physician noticed an alarming mortality rate occurring in the maternity wards and found out that the students who were working in the maternity wards as a part of their medical studies were not sterilizing properly and were thus transferring pathogenic bacteria from cadavers they were working on in class to the expectant mothers. (Research on Internet using Ignaz Semmelweis as the search term.)

What happens if you do not wash your hands frequently?
You pick up germs from other sources and then you infect yourself when you

• Touch your eyes
• Or your nose
• Or your mouth.

One of the most common ways people catch colds is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after their hands have been contaminated with the cold virus.

The important thing to remember is that, in addition to colds, some pretty serious diseases and viruses -- like hepatitis A, meningitis, infectious diarrhea, Ecoli, etc. -- can easily be prevented if people make a habit of washing their hands.

When should you wash your hands?

You should wash your hands often. Probably more often than you do now because you can't see germs with the naked eye or smell them, so you do not really know where they are hiding.

It is especially important to wash your hands:

• Before, during, and after you prepare food
• Before you eat, and after you use the bathroom
• After handling animals or animal waste
• When your hands are dirty, and
• More frequently when someone in your home is sick.

What is the correct way to wash your hands?

• First wet your hands and apply liquid or clean bar soap.
• Place the bar soap on a rack and allow it to drain.
• Next rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces.
• Continue for 10 - 15 seconds or about the length of a little tune. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.
• Rinse well and dry your hands.

It is estimated that one out of three people do not wash their hands after using the restroom. So these tips are also important when you are out in public.

All Safety Products, Inc. sells a nice selection of portable hand wash stations and hand wash sinks to include a heated version of our Bravo model.  Whatever your hand wash sink needs are, we have several models to choose from.

About All Safety Products

We are all about trying to save you money when we are able to. It is our shipping policy to only charge you the actual shipping/handling costs. Sometimes there is a shipping error on our website. We do review all orders for accuracy and pleasantly surprise our customers when we notify them of an adjustment in their favor. We make money on products, not shipping!