Hang this poster beside the glove boxes, so the glove is chosen for the chemical, not by habit.
What is on the poster
No glove stops every chemical. The Safety Data Sheet names the material; check it first.
| Glove material | Good for | Poor for |
|---|---|---|
| Latex | Biological and water-based materials; close fit. | Organic solvents, little chemical protection. Punctures are hard to spot. Can trigger a latex allergy. |
| Nitrile | The general-purpose lab glove: solvents, oils, greases, some acids and bases. Tears show clearly; no latex. | — |
| Vinyl | Water, oils and fats; light-duty work such as preserved specimens. | Very little chemical resistance: never with hazardous chemicals. |
| Butyl rubber | Ketones and esters. | Gasoline; aliphatic, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons. |
| Neoprene | Acids, bases, alcohols, fuels, peroxides, hydrocarbons, phenols. | Halogenated and aromatic hydrocarbons. |
| Viton | Chlorinated and aromatic solvents; resists cuts and abrasion. | Ketones. Expensive. |
On the maker's chart: degradation (the glove hardens, swells, cracks), breakthrough time, permeation rate. For a mixture, choose on the shortest breakthrough time. Inspect every pair; never reuse a disposable one.
The poster draws latex, nitrile and vinyl as thin, short-cuffed gloves for incidental contact, and butyl rubber, neoprene and Viton with long cuffs for extended contact.
Built to the Science Safety Teaching Standard
This poster carries the SSTS mark. Like every Science Safety course, it is built to the Science Safety Teaching Standard (SSTS): every rule on it is taken from the body that governs it, at its current edition, and the source is printed on the poster, so you can check it yourself.
Stay current
When you get this poster, it is saved to your Science Safety account. If we revise the poster, or the Personal Protective Equipment module it comes from changes, we will email you, and the latest version will be waiting under Downloads in your account. Every revision carries its revision number and date at the bottom of the poster, so you can tell at a glance whether the copy on your wall is current.
Printing and hanging
- One-page PDF, US letter (8.5 by 11 inches).
- White background, so it prints clearly on any office or classroom printer without using much ink.
- Hang it beside the glove boxes.
- The QR code in the blue title band opens this page, so anyone can get their own copy.
- The QR code at the bottom opens the Personal Protective Equipment module.
Learn more
The Personal Protective Equipment module teaches the full topic this poster comes from.
Sources:
- 29 CFR 1910.138, Hand protection – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (reviewed October 2, 2026)
- Gloves – Princeton University Environmental Health and Safety (reviewed October 2, 2026)
- Bloodborne Pathogens Training Course, glove comparison chart – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (reviewed October 2, 2026)
- Environmental Health and Safety – University of Massachusetts Amherst (reviewed October 2, 2026)
Poster SSP-0049, Rev. 1, October 2026.
