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Chemically Resistant Gloves and Manual Dexterity
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Hi All,
I am trying to source chemically resistant gloves that provide a good level of manual dexterity to allow our engineers to work on components/machinery contaminated with Hydrogen Peroxide. The msds tells me that suitable glove materials are PVC, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber and natural rubber which tend not to give a decent level of manual dexterity.
I have seen neoprene chemically resistant gloves on a suppliers website which claims that they offer what I am after.
However as neoprene is not listed on the msds as a suitable material for the gloves I am a little reticent to use these
Has anyone had any experience of using these gloves
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Chris.packham is likely the best respondent to this given his extensive knowledge of dermatological matters As a generalisation an SDS contains very generic information especially in Section 8 defining PPE often never straying beyond listing the European Standard - only the very good ones will list more detailed information such as required breakthrough times There are material compatability charts used by designers and your PPE provider can give suitable recommendation based upon you informing them of the materials being handled (product, concentration), the frequency of exposure etc.
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 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Chris.packham is likely the best respondent to this given his extensive knowledge of dermatological matters As a generalisation an SDS contains very generic information especially in Section 8 defining PPE often never straying beyond listing the European Standard - only the very good ones will list more detailed information such as required breakthrough times There are material compatability charts used by designers and your PPE provider can give suitable recommendation based upon you informing them of the materials being handled (product, concentration), the frequency of exposure etc.
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2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks Roundtuit.
I have contacted my PPE supplier with the info that you detailed below. You state a good point that the msds only offers generic info. Hopefully Chris P will pick up on this thread
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Rank: Super forum user
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I did a quick search and found these. https://www.safetygloves.co.uk/hydrogen-peroxide-gloves.html
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1 user thanked George_Young for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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There's presumably some toughness requirement which causes you to say you can't get dextrous gloves? My preferred 'default' thin disposable is the Ansell 92-670, which is a nitrile glove, and has a negligible impact on my dexterity (I could probably thread needles as easily with them on as without - though I haven't actually tried that, I can work fiddly little controls on a digital camera, notebook, papers etc). I don't handle H2O2 though.
For a fairly robust manual-handling type glove that has less impact on dexterity than most, I use Showa 720, also nitrile, but that might be down to their hand shape matching my hand shape, and me abusing my position as chooser-of-the-company-PPE (though actually I don't get any complaints about them).
I observe, however, that the datasheets for these gloves don't show H2O2 performance, so you'll still need to get manufacturer advice.
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1 user thanked achrn for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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First question is: "What is the concentration of the chemical, in this case hydrogen peroxide". This is relevant in establishing the permeation breakthrough time for any chemical protective glove. Secondly, treat any recommendations on gloves in safety data sheets with extreme caution. They are usually misleading or plain wrong!
The selection of and how the glove is used will depend very much on the actual circumstances in which it is being used. The manufacturers' performance data, given according the EN374, only relates to a static test for permeation breakthrough, and that at room temperature. This can bear little relationship to what will be achieved in practice.
As an example a nitrile gauntlet was being used for protection against xylene for two different tasks. Manufacturer's permeation breakthrough time was 39 minutes. In use testing showed the following: For task 1 no permeation breakthrough for two hours, for task 2 permeation breakthrough in just 5 minutes!
Selection and use of gloves for chemical protection can be simple, but it can also be extremely complex and require a careful analysis of what is really happening. It may require in-use testing to be certain that one really knows how long the glove will protect for.
If anyone needs more on this PM me with your e-mail address and I will respond with more detailed information.
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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Or alternatively, as there is always more than one way to skin a cat (meow), couldn’t you look at some way of removing the hydrogen peroxide contamination? It’s not the most persistent contaminant that there is and is very soluble in water.
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1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
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Rank: Forum user
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Originally Posted by: achrn  There's presumably some toughness requirement which causes you to say you can't get dextrous gloves? My preferred 'default' thin disposable is the Ansell 92-670, which is a nitrile glove, and has a negligible impact on my dexterity (I could probably thread needles as easily with them on as without - though I haven't actually tried that, I can work fiddly little controls on a digital camera, notebook, papers etc). I don't handle H2O2 though.
For a fairly robust manual-handling type glove that has less impact on dexterity than most, I use Showa 720, also nitrile, but that might be down to their hand shape matching my hand shape, and me abusing my position as chooser-of-the-company-PPE (though actually I don't get any complaints about them).
I observe, however, that the datasheets for these gloves don't show H2O2 performance, so you'll still need to get manufacturer advice.
Hi achrn Yes a degree of toughness is required as the guys are maintenance engineeers carrying out servicing and repair of food packaging manufacturing machinery (Tetra Pak) where hydrogen peroxide is used in the manufacturing process so many components within the machiinery are contaminated with Hydrogen Peroxide. The Ansell 92-670 would get quickly eaten by the chemical itself so would be unsuitable. The Showa 720 gloves could be an option. Many thanks
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Rank: Forum user
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Originally Posted by: chris.packham First question is: "What is the concentration of the chemical, in this casehydrogen peroxide". This is relevant in establishing the permeation breakthrough time for any chemical protective glove. Secondly, treat any recommendations on gloves in safety data sheets with extreme caution. They are usually misleading or plain wrong!
The selection of and how the glove is used will depend very much on the actual circumstances in which it is being used. The manufacturers' performance data, given according the EN374, only relates to a static test for permeation breakthrough, and that at room temperature. This can bear little relationship to what will be achieved in practice.
As an example a nitrile gauntlet was being used for protection against xylene for two different tasks. Manufacturer's permeation breakthrough time was 39 minutes. In use testing showed the following: For task 1 no permeation breakthrough for two hours, for task 2 permeation breakthrough in just 5 minutes!
Selection and use of gloves for chemical protection can be simple, but it can also be extremely complex and require a careful analysis of what is really happening. Itmay require in-use testing to be certain that one really knows how long the glove will protect for.
If anyone needs more on this PM me with your e-mail address and I will respond with more detailed information.
Chris
Hi Chris the concentration is 35% my PPE supplier has offered to let us trial the RNF20 glove. I await feedback. There is certainly much to consider to ensure we get it right.
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Rank: Forum user
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Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel Or alternatively, as there is always more than one way to skin a cat (meow), couldn’t you look at some way of removing the hydrogen peroxide contamination? It’s not the most persistent contaminant that there is and is very soluble in water.
Hi you make a valid point which I will further investigate
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