We have just started works on a project. We are working in very hot conditions, it can be very humid and the technicians are sweating very heavily when working. Of course this comes with challenges, with most of them having obvious controls which we have implemented...however, one issue that keep coming to light is the moisture build up and sweating within the gloves that technicians are wearing, this is causing their skin to saturate and for the skin to break down on their fingers/palms, with the outer layers of the epidermis to peel off. This has only been the first couple of days working with this, so I want to find some sort of solution to this quickly. Our project/company requirements require gloves conforming to EN 407 and EN 388 to be worn at at all times. Anyone faced this issue before? Or alternatively, any suggestions would be great. 

Chris.Packham is eminently knowlegeable in this field - you could try a PM

The simple fact is that all occlusive gloves will cause irritant damage to the skin regardless of the material they are made from. Whilst it is commonly believed that this is due to sweat, this is not the case. Nor is this an allergic reaction to the gloves as often assumend.

We all lose water through the skin all the time over the whole of the body, including the hands. It is called trans-epidermal water loss, generally referred to as TEWL. Normally TEWL is invisible and evaporates unseen and unfelt from the body. However, when gloves are worn this cannot happen for the hands. The moisture is reabsorbed into the skin and creates what is termed hyperhydration. Any sweating will exacerbate this. This hyperhydration causes reactions in cells in the epidermis and can easily lead to irritant contact dermatitis when gloves are worn for more than short periods. In the PPE regulations there is a requirement to manage this condition. How will depend on actual conditions under which gloves are used. One can argue that wearing occlusive gloves when they are not required contravenes the requirements of COSHH as it is deliberately exposing the workers' hands to damage. Happy to advise if contacted off the forum.

Kate, it is on a par with the one size of chemical protective glove will be suitable for use across a site of workplace. Totally disregards the complexity of selection and use of gloves for chemical protection.

not necessarily about the gloves more the work environment skind issue is a by product...rotation, regular changing of the gloves, we have had issues in the past with paramedics and doctors in hot countries (mid east and africa) more asbout working in extreme environments than the fact that they have the gloves on 

my wife works in an opticians and NHS england are still demanding that they all wear gloves apart from when on lunch. They have to adhere to the rules or lose their license, however to me the ability to quickly wash hands and sanitize (bear in mind all regulations have now been dropped in the bigger world) is a better solution than wearing gloves all day and potentially causing dermatitus issues later on.

Craig - I have just looked up the recommendation in the NICE accredited guidance for NHS England regarding gloves and this is what I find:

Recommendation SP22

Gloves must be:

• worn as single-use items;

• put on immediately before an episode of patient contact or treatment;

• removed as soon as the episode is completed;

• changed between caring for different patients; and

• disposed of into the appropriate waste stream in accordance with local policies for waste management

Note the one I have underlined!