Rank: Super forum user 
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Hi this may be my brain not working on a Friday afternoon. When selecting a glove, you need to be able to determine which of the following types the particular chemical fits into. Is there somewhere (online database etc) you can easily type in your chemical name and it tells you the particular class (below) it comes in, or if it comes under none of them.
A - Primary Alcohol, B - Ketone, C - Nitrile compound, D - Chlorinated paraffin, E - Sulphur containing organic compound, F - Aromatic Hydrocarbon, G - Amine, H - Heterocyclic and ether compound, I - ester, J - saturated hydrocarbon, K - inorganic base, L - inorganic mineral acid
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Rank: Forum user 
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I'm sure that you are describing a table above the comprehension of the PPE appendix but this is what i always refer to in the first instance.
OM 2009/003 - Standards and Markings for Personal Protective Equipment - Appendix 5 - HSE.
If this is of no help then i would be keen to learn of the outcome to this post.
Regards
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Rank: Super forum user 
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If you need to do this a lot, it would be worth finding out what these terms mean so that you can interpret each case for yourself. Anyone who has studied Chemistry to A-level or above would be able to explain these to you or you could get a dictionary of chemistry or an introductory textbook.
There are plenty of free online databases that give you the chemical structure from a CAS number or chemical name, and when you look at the structure you can work out which of these classes it falls in. I find my Chemistry degree is very handy - I don't know why everyone doesn't get one!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Kate # 3 :o)
Yes when I did the diploma training I remember the tutor asked us” you all have A level Chemistry and Biology don’t you?” - lots of blank faces haha I was just hoping in this day and age that there was a nice database of chemicals, where you could just type the chemical name in and hey presto it tells you the answer of which group it was in or materials that would resist it. How naive am I as that would be useful! Gary
Thanks for your help, but I know the info from that link. What I was after was part of the process for selection.ie the process I see is
Determine your chemical name and how the exposure will likely take place ie splash or submergence etc. You next need to work out which of the above groups noted in my OP the chemical falls under, in or to work out which letter designation should be under the shield symbol for the glove. This will help work out the correct glove material that will resist for the appropriate length of time.
Mind you to make it just a little more difficult the main sellers of Gloves, when you use their web sites tell you all about the symbols and markings, but don’t readily show them with the product info ( if you see what I mean). These best you can do is open an attached PDF data sheet. So much simpler if they just had the mechanical, chemical and thermal properties etc listed on the main screen. Again, that is naïve of me as it would be helpful to customers.
Thanks anyway Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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Choosing gloves is difficult. You need to be sure of the toxicity of the substance and be cautious in many cases. There is the chilling case study of the professor who died from exposure to dimethyl mercury that permeated through her gloves.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wetterhahn
Of course, only relatively few substances are this toxic.
One of the best documents I have found is the Ansell data for breakthrough times. You can see a copy here:
https://ansellpro.com/download/Ansell_8thEditionChemicalResistanceGuide.pdf
Personally, I do not put much trust gloves. I have a chemistry degree and was brought up in the era before gloves, safety spectacles and pipette fillers. Yes, we did experiments with concentrated acids at school without gloves or eye protection! I design my work to avoid exposure and use the gloves as the belt and braces, not the primary protection.
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 1 user thanked Jane Blunt for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Caution when using any manufacturer's database on glove performance. The test for permeation is done according to EN374-3. Unfortunately this is flawed as the test is done at room temperature, i.e. 23 deg C. When gloves aree worn they tend to adopt skin temperature. As a result the permeation breakthrough time can be very different. For example I have a study done at 23 and 35 deg C where in some cases at the elevated temperature the breakthrough time is only 7.5% of that shown in the manufacturer's literature! In addition many factors, such as flexing, stretching, etc. can affect the performance. Testing gloves under actual conditions of use can reveal some interesting effects. For example in one case with xylene and a nitrile glove with a manufacturer's stated breakthrough time of 36 minutes what was measure was with task A no breakthrough for two hours, whereas with task B permeation breakthrough in just five mnutes. Mixtures can also have surprising effects on permeation breakthrough time. If you need more drop me a PM with your e-mail address and I will e-mail you a document reviewing the selection and use of gloves for chemical protection. Chris
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2 users thanked chris.packham for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thanks Chris, you already have my details and I'm seriously considering attending one of your training sessions in a few months’ time. HAHa had not got as far as break through times, still trying to determine the best glove materials for the chemical (or at least narrowing the options). Manufacturers info is always treated with caution at the best of times. PPE supplier sites are less than helpful, you want to be able to type in what category class glove you require and it provide the options they stock. And you just might want some that meet two standards say chemical and thermal, but no you can only search by one or other. Almost as if they don't want to sell you anything.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Or avoiding any blame attaching to poor advice being used in court against them The chemical substance and mixture suppliers are meant to be recommending suitable types of PPE including gloves within Section 8 of the CLP format SDS (not just quoting the European Standard) be interesting to see what the current evaluation of SDS content and quality throws up
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Rank: Super forum user
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Or avoiding any blame attaching to poor advice being used in court against them The chemical substance and mixture suppliers are meant to be recommending suitable types of PPE including gloves within Section 8 of the CLP format SDS (not just quoting the European Standard) be interesting to see what the current evaluation of SDS content and quality throws up
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Rank: Super forum user
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The concept that the supplier can recommend the type of glove on the safety data sheet is impracticable. The performance of a glove depends upon so many factors that a generic recommendation stands a massive risk of providing inadequate or even incorrect advice. When putting a glove system together for a client I often have more than one glove suitable for the same task, depending upon factors such as duration of contact, temperature, effect of mixtures, etc. As an example, a glove with a permeation breakthrough time in excess of 240 minutes for each of toluene and methyl ethyl ketone had, when these were mixed 1:1 a permeation breakthrough time of just 9 minutes! How do you cater for this on a safety data sheet? Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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Chris fully agree that a remote manufacturer has little opportunity to understand my local risks
In defence of the statement made the legislative text reads REACH Regulation Annex II: Requiremements for A Safety Data Sheet 8.2 Exposure controls 8.2.2.2. Taking into account Council Directive 89/686/EEC ( 1 ) and referring to the appropriate CEN standards, detailed specifications shall be given on which equipment will provide adequate and suitable protection, including:
(b) Skin protection
(i) Hand protection
The type of gloves to be worn when handling the substance or mixture shall be clearly specified based on the hazard of the substance or mixture and potential for contact and with regard to the amount and duration of dermal exposure, including:
— the type of material and its thickness,
— the typical or minimum breakthrough times of the glove material,
If necessary, any additional hand protection measures shall be indicated.
So legally they are meant to be telling us something
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Rank: Super forum user
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Chris fully agree that a remote manufacturer has little opportunity to understand my local risks
In defence of the statement made the legislative text reads REACH Regulation Annex II: Requiremements for A Safety Data Sheet 8.2 Exposure controls 8.2.2.2. Taking into account Council Directive 89/686/EEC ( 1 ) and referring to the appropriate CEN standards, detailed specifications shall be given on which equipment will provide adequate and suitable protection, including:
(b) Skin protection
(i) Hand protection
The type of gloves to be worn when handling the substance or mixture shall be clearly specified based on the hazard of the substance or mixture and potential for contact and with regard to the amount and duration of dermal exposure, including:
— the type of material and its thickness,
— the typical or minimum breakthrough times of the glove material,
If necessary, any additional hand protection measures shall be indicated.
So legally they are meant to be telling us something
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Rank: Super forum user
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We asked a glove supplier to advise on glove selection and they sent in a specialist who observed the work practices, asked questions about what we were doing, identified the substances including mixtures, provided sample gloves for user trials and then compiled a report recommending which gloves for which activities.
It's worth a try - as Jane says, it's difficult.
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