Protecting Researchers from Chemical Exposure Hazards

Working in a laboratory frequently requires handling a large range of chemicals, from inorganic and organic chemicals, acids, bases, to solvents with different functional groups, each one introducing a different health hazard upon exposure. These health hazards range from respiratory injury and carcinogenic health effects to skin burns and irritation.

Image Credit: Ansell

The most commonly occurring hazard or incident in a laboratory is chemical splash. So, it is necessary to protect the researchers across the range of chemicals handled, and new chemical entities, for which complete toxicological testing has not been yet carried out.

It is paramount to understand how gloves protect from chemicals in order to protect researchers against chemical exposure:

• Read chemical safety data sheets, perform a hazard assessment, and consider all substances gloves may come in contact with
• Recognize that, based on the material of construction, every style of glove gives a different level of protection from specific hazards and chemicals
• Consider whether the wearer needs chemical splash or chemical immersion protection
  • If so, which chemicals are the user working with, and how long might they be exposed?

Ansell’s wide scope of disposable gloves will protect laboratory researchers against chemical splashes over a range of chemical compounds. This comprehensive offering, developed by scientists, protects you against most of the solvents that would be encountered in a research environment.

Image Credit: Ansell

Table 1. Commonly Used Hazardous Chemicals and Hand Protection Recommendations. Source: Ansell

*Recommendations made in this note are based on extrapolations from laboratory test results and information regarding the composition of chemicals and may not adequately represent specific conditions of end use. Synergistic effects of mixing chemicals have not been accounted for. For these reasons, and because Ansell has no detailed knowledge of or control over the conditions of end use, any recommendation must be advisory only and Ansell fully disclaims any liability including warranties related to any statement contained herein.

About Ansell

For over a century, Ansell has delivered the most advanced protection solutions to millions of people…at work, at home and in harm’s way.

In 1905, Eric Ansell recognized an opportunity when his employer was looking to dispose of some manufacturing equipment. With this discarded machinery, he founded what was to become the Ansell Rubber Company, initially a balloon & condom company that eventually expanded into surgical, household and work gloves.

In the years since, millions of people have come to rely on Ansell’s innovative products and safety solutions to protect them at home or on the job. The same dedication to quality and innovation that started with Eric Ansell, continues today, as Ansell has grown to serve 25 global industries in 120 countries in ways that shape and protect our modern world.

Ansell is SAFETY. We protect the most valuable asset of any company — its people."

Magnus Nicolin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

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