Chemical Resistant Gloves: A Guide for Industrial Employers

If workers might be exposed to chemical hazards, employers must provide them with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Chemical resistant gloves are especially crucial gear on industrial worksites — and as with other types of PPE, gloves must be suited to the task.

When purchasing chemical gloves, several factors are especially important:

• Material resistance to the chemical hazards identified in a hazard assessment.
• Material resistance to physical hazards (such as hot or piercing objects).
• Material effect on grip strength and dexterity.
• Wear resistance.
• Cost.

Roughly speaking, these factors are organized by importance: It’s worthwhile to sacrifice some grip strength for adequate chemical resistance, and cost — while always a consideration — is much less important than functionality. 
Below, we’ll provide detailed info about how different materials aid in chemical resistance. To discuss PPE outfitting with a member of our sales team, call Solus Group at 314-696-0200.

Chemical Resistant Gloves: Common Materials

Natural Rubber Latex Gloves

Known for their comfort and flexibility, natural rubber gloves are popular for general-purpose use. They offer excellent strength, elasticity, and heat resistance. They’re typically thin and lightweight, which makes them particularly useful for tasks that require a decent degree of dexterity.  
Latex gloves protect wearers from water-based solutions of acids, alkalis, and some chemicals. However, oils and organic solvents (such as gasoline) can break down latex quickly and easily. That makes them essentially useless in automotive work — and in many industrial environments where gasoline exposure is a predictable part of the job.

Important note: Latex allergies are a concern with natural rubber gloves. While some workers may prefer latex, employers should also maintain a supply of hypoallergenic alternatives, liners, or powderless versions for those with allergies.

Best for: General, short-term exposure to certain chemicals. Natural latex is not appropriate when working with gasoline or oils. 

Neoprene Chemical-Resistant Gloves

Combining pliability with high tear resistance, neoprene gloves are another synthetic rubber option. They’re produced by the polymerization of chloroprene, which is a chemically stable process — that translates to a decent level of durability and usability over a wide temperature range. 

Neoprene provides a good barrier against hydraulic fluids, fuels, and various acids and alkalis. Generally, neoprene offers superior chemical resistance compared to natural rubber gloves.

Best for: Handling common caustic chemicals such as petroleum or diluted acids. Neoprene is highly resistant to environmental wear from UV rays and oxidation, so it’s often used for outdoor tasks. However, nitrile gloves are a better option for regularly handling industrial solvents and acids. 

Products to Consider:  Personal Protective Kit (PPE Kit) 

Nitrile Chemical-Resistant Gloves

Made from a copolymer material, nitrile gloves are ideal for handling chlorinated solvents. They excel at maintaining dexterity and grip, even during extended use. 
Nitrile offers protection against oils, greases, and common chemicals, but it’s vulnerable to strong oxidizers, aromatic solvents, and certain ketones. As compared with neoprene, nitrile is more protective and more reusable. It’s highly resistant against abrasions, and resists oil and gasoline well.

Best for: Handling corrosive acids and organic solvents. Nitrile is also popular for food handling and medical use. It’s an affordable and versatile option for general applications, but tough enough for many case-specific uses.

Products to Consider:

Nitrile Chemical Gloves - 5 Millimeters
Nitrile Chemical Gloves - 11 Milliliters
Hydrofluoric Acid Spill Kit (5 Gallons)

Butyl Chemical-Resistant Gloves

Made from synthetic rubber, butyl gloves provide a broad shield against harsh chemicals. This includes highly corrosive acids, strong bases, alcohols, and even rocket fuels. They also resist deterioration from oxidation, ozone, and cold temperatures. However, butyl gloves don't fare well against certain oils and solvents.

Best for: Specific applications that call for butyl — due to the high cost and limited usability with solvents, butyl gloves are best for applications that involve direct exposure to chemicals like acetic acid, ammonium hydroxide, and butyl alcohol. 

How Can I Determine Whether Chemical-Resistant Gloves Are Appropriate for the Task?

The easiest way to determine whether a glove is appropriate for a specific hazard is to consult Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and to review the approved uses for the product. 

It’s important to remember that material alone is not enough information — the thickness of the glove certainly matters, particularly for gloves that are washed and reused. 
With that said, the chart below uses data from the Department of Labor to show the general resistance of PPE materials to common industrial chemicals. For information on material resistance to other chemicals, see the full OSHA Personal Protective Equipment guide.

Training Workers to Don, Doff, and Dispose of Chemical Gloves

Remember, it’s not enough to simply supply your workers with chemical-resistant gloves. If employees aren’t actually wearing gloves while working around hazards, you’ve wasted your money — and you’re at risk for a potential OSHA violation.

Per OSHA 1910.132(f):

The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use PPE.

That training must be documented, and regular “refresher" courses should be provided as needed. PPE training should include:

1. When PPE is necessary;
2. What types of PPE are necessary;
3. How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE;
4. The limitations of PPE; and,
5. The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE.

You must test employees and ensure that they understand their training before allowing them to perform work that requires the use of PPE (such as spill cleanup or battery room management). 

To learn more, read: OSHA PPE Requirements for Employers

PPE Solutions from Solus Group

Industrial PPE outfitting isn’t always straightforward. Even if you’ve conducted a thorough hazard assessment, maintaining an adequate supply of PPE can be overwhelming.  

Solus Group provides employers with a simple way to stock gloves, aprons, and other equipment individually, along with comprehensive PPE kits optimized for spill cleanup and other common tasks. We also offer specialized material equipment such as Bin Dumpers, which can act as an engineering control to limit worker exposure to chemical hazards. 

If you’re looking for simple ways to improve safety and compliance, we’re here to help. View chemical-resistant gloves and our full lineup of PPE kits here.