With their low cost, vinyl gloves have for decades been a popular choice for the food industry. However, vinyl glove applications go well beyond simple food preparation, and their advantages go far beyond cost.
Vinyl gloves are manufactured from a plastic monomer substance called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). For a result that is strong and rigid, the substance is taken into a polymerization process. A plasticizing chemical is applied to create a flexible substance suitable for producing the gloves.
Gloves made of vinyl are relatively cheap to produce. In areas where glove turnover is high, the inexpensive factor makes them ideal for use.
What Are The Benefits Of Vinyl Gloves?
Vinyl glove is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), combined with a plasticizer, a variety of synthetic rubber glove types available to make it more durable and wearable. In comparison to nitrile gloves, vinyl gloves do not have chemical accelerators.
Since this type of protective glove is made of synthetic materials rather than natural rubber latex, and a good alternative especially for those who suffer from type I allergy.
Being free from chemical accelerators also makes it safe for those with an allergy to using vinyl gloves. Allergies can cause various allergic reactions, including skin irritation, inflammation, runny nose, cold symptoms, rashes, cracking and blistering, and anaphylactic shock in severe cases particularly in the case of latex allergies.
For this reason, in many workplaces where allergies may be a concern, vinyl gloves are still widely used. There are powdered and non-powdered varieties of vinyl gloves available. Due to the decreased risk of skin irritation they offer to wearers, the non-powdered, often referred to as powder-free, variants are usually preferred.
Vinyl gloves are often a less costly choice relative to their nitrile and latex equivalents. Still, they provide less longevity, making them suitable for low-risk activities where ease of use and constant short-term use are needed.
They have hand protection against low-risk contaminants such as detergents and other washing products and help protect body fluids, laundry liquids and powders, and more from cross-contamination. Vinyl gloves are often preferred in positions where fast dressing and removal are needed due to their loose-fitting nature.
What Are Vinyl Gloves Used For?
While nitrile gloves appear to give a higher degree of puncture resistance and chemical resistance than vinyl gloves, vinyl is still an increasingly common choice of glove material for many workplaces.
Four Of Their Most Prevalent Apps Include:
- Non-fatty food preparation: EN1186 approved vinyl gloves (as they are Unigloves vinyl gloves) are considered safe for food contact, except for oily or fatty foods. They are a cost-effective option for jobs that need gloves to be discarded and disposed of frequently, such as customer-facing positions in foodservice.
- Painting and printing: Vinyl gloves are ideal because they must shield the hands from possible discoloration from paints and dyes. They provide all hands and materials with a high degree of protection while being easy to donate and remove.
- Cleaning and care work: Vinyl gloves are an excellent option for low-risk cleaning activities that do not include contact with toxic materials such as strong chemicals but require avoiding infection (for example, from body fluids).
- Healthcare, hospital, and clinical duties: Medical grade vinyl gloves are different from normal minimum AQL (Acceptable Quality Limits) vinyl gloves and are considered safe for use in conditions where biological risks are a concern. Healthcare jobs, grooming and dentistry, cosmetics facilities, and tattooing are among these positions.
Why Choose Vinyl Gloves?
One of the most common types of security gloves available is vinyl gloves. They are constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which renders the substance lightweight and elastic when combined with plasticizers, which is ideal for the manufacture of protective protection gloves. In addition to being waterproof, the PVC material protects hands from various possible threats, including low-level contaminants, detergents, dyes, body fluids, and more.
Since PVC is an affordable medium to manufacture, vinyl gloves are typically less costly than latex or nitrile alternatives. This makes them a common choice in many domestic and industrial applications where routine removal is required, such as hairdressing, housekeeping, home care work, cleaning and janitorial work, and food processing.
High-quality disposable vinyl gloves meet several testing standards, including:
EN1186: Making them safe for food commodity handling.
EN455: The European standard for medical gloves.
EN374: The standard for penetration by chemicals and microorganisms.
Another aspect that makes vinyl gloves a favored option in many workplaces is that they are latex-free. They ensure safety in workplaces where employees and others may come into touch with substances known to be at risk of latex allergy and sensitization.
Properties of Vinyl Gloves:
- They are free from latex. It is said that the frequency of vinyl allergies is less than 1 percent. It can be in the form of contact dermatitis or urticarial contact when it occurs. The reaction has also been related to parts used to produce the finished product rather than the PVC itself.
- They are more loosely fitting. For some jobs, this may be a downside.
- They are cheap.
- They are anti-static.
- They breathe less, but there’s more to sweating than with most gloves. There is low skin breathability for all types of gloves, but it is more for PVC / vinyl types.
- They are not safe when treating rather contagious items.
- Not suitable for chemical handling.
If the safety and longevity level is not a priority, the way to go is for vinyl gloves.
- Powder-free: Within the hat, powder-free gloves do not contain powder residue. Although making it easy to remove gloves, this substance can cause corrosion of fabrics and surfaces in the workplace and wearers’ discomfort in some cases.
Powdered gloves are also the number one risk factor in the workplace for respiratory toxins; so many people often choose powder-free gloves.
There is an unheard-of allergic response to vinyl gloves themselves. There is no chance of allergic reactions and sensitization involving gloves made from natural rubber latex (NRL) as a synthetic glove.
