Many industries require that employees must wear disposable protective clothing. For many jobs, protective clothing is a worker's first line of defense against chemical spills, liquid splash, biological contaminants, hot working surfaces, toxic airborne particulates, and for outdoor workers to protect their personal clothing from damage and dirt. And when you consider how many manufacturing and process industries that must minimize contamination of products originating from the worker - there is another large set of industries that rely on the right personal protection equipment (PPE) to maintain a quality controlled environment. The food and beverage industry, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceuticals processing, and many electronic consumer factories require uniformed workers to minimize cross-contamination.
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Protective garments are not fail-safe. There are some key considerations that can put a garment out of service. Even when PPE clothing has not been worn or damaged, it is advised to dispose of any protective clothing that has sat in storage or not used for 3-5 years (depending on environment and storage conditions). And prior to any employee donning a protective coverall, gown, gloves or other disposable PPE, the item should be inspected to make sure it is fit for duty.
Here are some ways to store and prolong the life of your PPE to reduce contamination, damage, or deterioration caused by extreme environments.
Employers should not expect workers to be protected when a garment has been damaged, garments that are very old, or those that have been improperly stored. You may want to consider the potential liability or worker's compensation claims that can arise when businesses hand out disposable uniforms that put workers at risk of serious injury or illness. To get the best service from disposable PPE including coveralls and lab coats, disposable boot covers, and disposable hoods, here are some guidance on proper storage.
Store in a Clean Area, Free of Harmful Dust Free - Many types of PPE will be shipped in a carton, with each uniform individually packaged. This is mandatory for sterile protective clothing to be used in controlled environment. But, for other PPE shipments it will depend on the manufacturer or the type of protective product. Consider the general purpose assortment of coveralls, bouffants, beard restraints, and shoe covers that are used in food service and packaging industries to protect the worker from dirt and grime. Often these items are shipped in bulk, without individual wrapping.
Always leave PPE garments in their original cartons and/or individual packages until needed. They should be stored on a shelf to avoid damage from water leaks or compression damage that can occur when stepped on or rolled over by equipment.
Avoid Any Possible Chemical Exposure - Both raw chemicals or end-product solutions are a source of incidental damage to disposable protective uniforms and coveralls. PPE outfits are manufactured from a wide range of engineered materials that must maintain their design specifications to be considered safe for individual use. Even the fumes from some chemicals can cause a rapid acceleration of the fibers deteriorating. Disposable PPE garments that have been comprised by toxic fumes may not be noticeable to the naked eye.
Avoid storing disposable PPE within the same are as chemical liquids, vapors, or gases. Keep in mind the many sources of chemicals that are not always thought about - batteries, cigarette smoke, and vehicle exhaust.
Protected from Penetration or Impact - Inform your workers that they have the right to reject any disposable PPE clothing that has a rip, hole, seam tear, or other damage from impact or penetration. A damaged uniform meant to protect employees should never be worn.
When selecting a storage area for PPE shipments, only consider those rooms, closets, or shelves that are free from general pedestrian traffic and safe from material handling vehicles and operations. Shelf storage at a reasonable height is always recommended to prevent accidental puncture or impact.
Protected From Humidity and Water - If your operations are wet or create a high level of humidity (such industrial laundering facilities), then the PPE garments must be protected from direct water and moisture in the air. Select a room that is a controlled environment for these type of industries. In other production or processing facilities, consider all sources of humidity and water, such as windows, overhead pipes, HVAC equipment, and foundation or roofing failures.
Disposable PPE should be stored in a water-resistant manner. This includes the original packaging and shipping cartons, a moisture-free environment, along with other measures to protect the garments from humidity and water.
Away from Direct Sunlight - UV protection is a crucial part of your storing employee protective clothing. The direct exposure of protective garments to sunlight and other sources of UV radiation. Again, engineered textiles should have minimum exposure to sunlight which not only causes fading, but also accelerates the deterioration of the fibers over time.
To avoid exposing PPE to direct sunlight choose a windowless storage area or keep the protective uniforms in corrugated boxes to extend their shelf life. But, it is best to use a storage area that does have air flow or some method of ventilation. Airtight containers are not advised for storing fiber PPE garments.
Store in a Temperature Regulated Area - Extremes in heat and cold should be avoided for the area where PPE garments are stored. While there is a large range of temperatures that can accommodate PPE storage - any area prone to freezing conditions or high heat should be avoided.
A temperature regulated area is recommended because these areas will also control the humidity levels. Air with a high moisture content can damage the boxes where uniforms are stored and eventually the protective garments will be negatively affected.
Label Cartons with Date of Storage - The best way to ensure your PPE shipments are within the usable dates as recommended by the manufacturer is to label cartons with the date they were received. If a shipping label with a date is adhered to the cartons, this can used as a tracking method to know when old, unused disposable PPE should be discarded.
Multiple PPE garments may be needed to protect workers from exposure to toxic substances or other harmful physical agents. They should be inspected before each use for damage that could compromise safety. A visual inspection or damage or garment defects should be performed before protective items are put on. Also any garment that has been previously worn or is dirty should not be donned. Here are other tips for inspecting disposable garments and other PPE items.
Worker's should be informed of their responsibility and their right to inspect and reject a PPE that does not meet the right criteria. For a wide selection of durable, disposable, protective clothing for all operating environments, visit International Enviroguard today.
Medical-grade gloves are a vital piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) for many professional environments. Though most often used in healthcare settings, disposable medical gloves are also necessary for caregivers, food handlers, dentists and other professionals. Wherever health and sanitation are top concerns, protective gloves are essential. They help stop the spread of germs and viruses, promoting the safety of both employees and those they serve.
If you need disposable gloves for your professional environment, choosing the best possible kind of glove is critical. You&#;ll need to understand the difference between various disposable glove types. Not all gloves are the same &#; different materials, strength levels and other features lend themselves to distinct purposes. Below, we&#;ll discuss the 10 most important considerations for stocking up on gloves.
Only some disposable gloves qualify as medical gloves. To fit the medical-grade description, disposable gloves must meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) quality assurance guidelines. These guidelines ensure all gloves used in medical settings are durable and reliable, not flimsy or brittle. For patient examinations, gloves must have an acceptable quality level (AQL) no higher than 2.5. That rating means no more than 2.5% of the gloves in a batch can have defects. These gloves are non-sterile &#; sterile gloves must have an even lower AQL measure.
Manufacturers have to keep up with stringent testing measures to achieve a score of 2.5 or lower. Gloves with an AQL higher than 4 or 5 are only acceptable for mechanical or industrial purposes. Rigorous AQL standards require glove manufacturers to employ uncompromising quality control. The AQL scoring guide helps ensure gloves used for medical purposes are without defects. Tears or other lapses in quality could leave healthcare professionals and their patients vulnerable to pathogens or other contaminants.
Depending on your application, you&#;ll have to decide on an acceptable AQL rating. You may be able to find industry standards, but if not, opt for lower AQL numbers for the best quality disposable gloves. Keep in mind, doctors use gloves with AQL scores of 2.5 or lower during patient examinations. A similar score would likely suffice for your environment unless you need them for surgical purposes.
Disposable gloves with an acceptable AQL rating come in a variety of materials. One of the first things you should consider is your glove material preference. Different glove materials are useful for different purposes, so it&#;s a good idea to learn about the available options before making a bulk purchase.
Nitrile gloves are one of the best alternatives to latex gloves, offering a longer average shelf life. Standard nitrile gloves are an ideal non-sterile option. A powder-free, latex-free nitrile glove is resistant to chemicals, oils and acids. Nitrile&#;s strength makes these gloves tough and helps them stay puncture-free, even when worn for extended periods. If latex allergies are an issue, nitrile gloves offer a flexible, touch-sensitive alternative. You can buy bulk orders of nitrile gloves in a variety of colors and sizes.
Latex is a comfortable, inexpensive glove option suitable for most medical environments. They&#;ve been a staple of many healthcare facilities since the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic of the s. With that said, latex allergies are common. There&#;s a high likelihood someone in your organization or someone you serve will have a latex allergy. If you&#;re purchasing gloves for widespread use, you might consider a material less likely to cause allergic reactions, such as nitrile or vinyl. Latex also has a short shelf life compared to other materials.
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Another option is a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) glove. PVC is a common synthetic plastic polymer. Since they&#;re easy to mass-produce, these gloves are one of the least expensive options. They&#;re also less durable than other glove types, and they offer limited hazard protection. For that reason, PVC gloves are best suited for low-hazard applications. In some cases, a nitrile-vinyl blend glove may be the best choice for affordability and durability.
For most applications, one of the above-listed materials will suffice. Here are a few other material choices you might consider for latex-free medical gloves:
For a glove to have a &#;sterile&#; rating, it must meet strict FDA guidelines. Sterile medical gloves are acceptable for surgical purposes, so they must have the best possible AQL ratings. Sterile gloves must have an acceptable quality level of 1.5 or lower. As mentioned above, examination gloves can have an AQL as high as 2.5, so sterile gloves can be considered even safer. Because their manufacture requires strict testing, sterile gloves may have a higher price.
Though the term &#;non-sterile&#; may sound concerning, non-sterile gloves with an AQL of 2.5 or lower are acceptable for any non-surgical purposes. Using non-sterile gloves in non-surgical settings is safe and reduces the risk of disease transmission. Most healthcare workers use non-sterile gloves for patient examination purposes.
Non-sterile gloves work well for other applications, as well. If you&#;re looking for disposable gloves for routine cleaning, food service, caregiving or other purposes, non-sterile gloves should be fine. It&#;s vital to decide on an acceptable AQL rating for your purposes.
You may come across powdered and non-powdered glove options. Powdered gloves feature cornstarch coatings, which makes them easier to put on and prevents them from sticking together. Though this can improve convenience, the FDA has banned powdered gloves for surgery and patient examination purposes.
According to the FDA, the risks of powdered gloves in medical settings outweigh the benefits. The powder can cling to the wearer&#;s skin, causing irritation, inflammation or allergic reactions. It can also cause surgical complications involving peritoneal adhesions, which are a type of bond between a person&#;s organs. Though the ban does not yet extend to food service applications, loose cornstarch from powdered gloves may cause food contamination. In most instances, a non-powdered glove is a preferable choice.
You should also consider glove thickness. Thicker gloves provide a stronger protective barrier. They also better resist tears, allowing for a longer wear time. A heavy-duty, industrial-grade glove will offer more thickness than a lighter, thinner glove.
With that said, a thicker glove may dull touch sensitivity, which isn&#;t ideal in certain settings. If your application requires a high level of touch sensitivity, you might opt for thinner gloves made from a durable material, such as nitrile. When browsing glove options, look for thickness measurements in mils.
Certain situations call for a high level of tactile or touch sensitivity. For instance, a surgeon needs unimpaired touch sensitivity to perform surgery with the necessary precision and accuracy. Tactile-sensitive gloves made of a lightweight material will allow for precision levels similar to an ungloved hand. Sensitivity may also be necessary for a number of applications, including food preparation, electronic handling and pharmaceuticals.
You should also consider glove comfort and fit, including various size options. Depending on your application, your staff may need to wear gloves while performing complex tasks. They may also need to wear their gloves for extended periods. It&#;s vital to choose comfortable gloves &#; an uncomfortable glove may hinder someone&#;s ability to perform their necessary responsibilities.
Size options are an essential consideration. If a glove is too small, it may cause irritability or limit blood circulation to the wearer&#;s hand, making the fit distracting and uncomfortable. A too-small glove is more likely to tear, as well, compromising its protective barrier.
If a glove is too large, other concerns may arise. Loose space between the glove and the wearer&#;s skin may leave the wearer vulnerable to pathogens. A glove that&#;s too big is also likely to fall off, causing a significant contamination concern. When buying gloves, be sure to acquire several sizes, at least small, medium and large.
Tensile strength refers to a material&#;s resistance to breaking when stretched or pulled. Gloves with higher tensile strength ratings are more tear-resistant. Nitrile and latex are both materials with high tensile strength ratings &#; you can tug and pull on them quite a bit before they&#;ll start to tear. Since a tear would compromise a glove&#;s protection, tensile strength is essential. It&#;s an important measurement to acknowledge, especially for applications requiring hand dexterity.
Though you may not think twice about glove color, it can make a notable difference. You may choose to color code your gloves so staff can easily differentiate between various glove types. For instance, you might choose blue for latex gloves and black for non-latex gloves, so those with a latex allergy will have no trouble selecting the non-latex gloves. If you need both sterile and non-sterile gloves, color coding could again be useful.
Certain glove colors also make tears more apparent. If you wear a dark-colored glove on top of a light-colored glove, tears will be easy to identify. You can then change gloves as soon as possible after a tear, minimizing contamination risks.
You may wonder whether or not double-gloving offers more protection than wearing a single glove. According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), double-gloving is an effective way to protect the wearer from pathogens and other harmful substances. They found that while glove perforations were common, there were no instances of inner double-glove perforation. The NIH recommends double-gloving as a routine practice for operating rooms.
Standardizing double-gloving may help you promote your staff&#;s safety and wellbeing. Should you choose to do so, you may need to store greater quantities of gloves. It&#;s a good idea to order gloves in bulk amounts for this purpose.
The final factor you should consider is a glove&#;s shelf life. Buying disposable gloves in bulk will ensure you always have gloves available when needed &#; but it may also mean some gloves sit unused for extended periods. A glove&#;s shelf life depends most on its material. Nitrile gloves last longer than any other material. You should always check the manufacturer&#;s guidelines, but most nitrile gloves will last in their original packaging for several years.
In most cases, it&#;s easy to tell if a glove is compromised. A compromised glove may have surface cracks or feel brittle to the touch. Always wear gloves with normal tensile strength and durability, and keep careful track of how long your gloves have sat on the shelf.
Proper storage can help make gloves last longer. For short or long-term glove storage, you should keep gloves:
When deciding where to store your gloves, opt for a cool, dark environment. In most cases, a shelf in a secluded closet will do fine. Proper storage will help you extend your gloves&#; shelf life, saving you time and money long-term and minimizing waste.
Choosing the right gloves for your application can make your environment safer, healthier and more productive. When shopping for new disposable gloves, consider several factors &#; the material, AQL, durability, comfort, dexterity, color and additional features. Each of these factors is significant. Once you&#;ve chosen the right gloves for you, be sure to purchase as many as you may need and follow best storage practices.
Reliable PPE, including gloves, masks, gowns and hand sanitizer, is vital for many settings. It can help prevent the spread of germs and viruses and reduce the risk of contamination. If you&#;re looking for the highest-rated PPE, choose SUNLINE Supply. Here at SUNLINE Supply, we offer affordable prices, convenient bulk buying options and fast shipping for all your occupational PPE needs. If you have any questions about our top-quality PPE products, contact us today.
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