Disposable Gloves: The Importance of the Perfect Fit

While finding the right glove material is important, ensuring that gloves fit well on your hand can make all the difference in terms of ensuring comfort and preventing contamination. It’s important that the gloves you use are the right size. Using the correct size means the gloves won’t be too tight or too loose. Too tight and they might block circulation, or they might rip and tear. Too loose and they slide off your hands, or reduce your dexterity in handling things.

Know What Gloves You Need

The first step to finding the perfect glove for your needs is knowing what grade or material is suitable to meet your needs. Food service grade gloves generally have a loose fit and are designed for quick and easy tasks such as preparing food.

Medical/exam grade gloves should be secure and there should be no gap for foreign material to enter the glove and get into contact with the skin. They are used when there is a risk of coming in contact with bodily fluids or pathogens. They are used during medical examinations or medical procedures.

Industrial grade gloves are generally tight to ward off foreign material from entering any gaps. They can stand up to harsher chemicals. They are ideal for completing janitorial or general cleaning tasks.

Loose Fitting Gloves

While some gloves are naturally loose fitting, gloves that are too loose can result in gloves shifting or coming off while in use and may cause bare skin to come into contact with food items. They also provide inadequate protection against contaminants due to their loose fit that offer gaps that contaminants can get into. If gloves seem too long or wide on your hand, they are likely too large.

Loose fitting gloves can be uncomfortable and may cause skin irritation or chafing. They can also result in having less control over grip and handling, making detailed tasks difficult and causing strain on the hands.

Tight Fitting Gloves

Nitrile, latex, and vinyl gloves are designed to be form fitting to prevent them from slipping off your hands when in use. However, gloves that are too tight may result in gloves ripping or tearing while in use, putting users, customers, or patients at risk of contamination. Gloves that are too tight may also cut off blood circulation to the hands.

If the gloves you wear feels too tight, or there are already rips or tears forming, the glove is too small. Gloves should always allow for easy movement and should not put any strain on the hands or fingers.

Important Points to Remember

Always make sure that gloves are donned and removed properly to prevent contamination. If gloves become ripped or torn while in use, they should be removed immediately. Hand washing is another important aspect of using disposable gloves. Make sure to wash your hands before and after using disposable gloves to keep hands and surfaces clean.