What are Nitrile Gloves used for?

Nitrile gloves are popular for their vast versatility, and are used in a range of industries due to their durability and thickness. Currently nitrile gloves are most popular for being used in:

• Laboratories
• Hospitals
• Dentists
• Care home and other care facilities
• Food handling

To get a real grasp on how useful and beneficial nitrile gloves can be for your business, we’ve put together answers to the most commonly asked questions about the ‘workhorse’ of the PPE glove industry.

Are nitrile gloves food safe?

The simple answer is – yes. Nitrile gloves are perfect for handling food and are completely food safe, however to be 100% sure it’s always worth checking if the gloves you are about to purchase are Food Contact Approved by an official body.

Nitrile gloves are known for their robust durability and therefore are commonly used for food processing and food packaging. Nitrile gloves also don’t contain protein which means they be used safely by people who are allergic to latex, which is common in large food processing environments.

What are nitrile gloves made out of?

Nitrile gloves are made out of synthetic rubber, and for this reason benefit from resistance to oil and a range of harsh chemicals. This may be why you choose nitrile gloves over latex gloves as latex is made from weaker natural rubber.

Other benefits of using synthetic rubber include:

• Oil and chemical resistance
• Tear resistance
• High level of puncture resistance

Do nitrile gloves expire?

Yes – nitrile gloves do have an expiry date or what’s otherwise known as a ‘shelf life’ which tends to be three to five years. You can find the specific expiration date of your nitrile gloves usually on the underside of the box they came in.

Before throwing out those old expired gloves though, do keep in mind that – just like a ‘best-before’ date on food – the gloves will still be usable but may break more easily. For this reason, if you are using the gloves for medical use or for use with harsh chemicals, it’s best not use them beyond this expiry date.

Simply check the expiry date of the gloves you are about to buy prior to purchase. With an average shelf life of four years, chances are you can buy nitrile gloves in bulk with confidence, saving money in the process.

Do nitrile gloves protect against acid?

Yes – nitrile gloves can protect you from certain acids, however it’s incredibly important you check with the manufacturer if you are unsure as some acids are too strong for nitrile gloves. When compared with latex or vinyl gloves, nitrile gloves always come out best for acid protection.

‘EN374‘ is the European testing standard that nitrile gloves should be tested to when protecting against acids. Other testing standards include:

• EN1186 – indicating they are safe for food handling
• EN374 & EN420 – indicating they are safe for use as PPE

When browsing for nitrile gloves online, the product description should always indicate to what extent the gloves have been tested – if not, contact the retailer and purchase with confidence.

Conclusion

There is a reason the nitrile glove is known as the ‘workhorse’ glove. They’re incredibly reliable, they last for years and offer more protection than latex or vinyl gloves. When buying in bulk, be sure to confirm with the manufacturer or supplier that the gloves suit the needs of your business and its operations.

Written by Aled Nelmes for Morsafe Supplies the health and safety products supplier.