The acid test for work safety gloves

Strong acids and bases that are caustic can cause major tissue damage from the briefest exposure

Bases typically result in more severe tissue damage than acids because they are more persistent during contact with the skin.

While a quick rinse can often remove acids, bases need a sustained body flush - for as long as 20 minutes - to prevent further harm

The chemical groups often used in industry which can cause chemical burns are:

Strong acids

• Sulphuric acid. In drain and metal cleaners, auto battery fluid, munitions, fertiliser manufacturing. Plus many other products
• Muriatic or hydrochloric acid: One of the most corrosive acids. In products for cleaning brick and metal, etch concrete, pool maintenance.
• Hydrofluoric acid: Extremely toxic. In rust removers and various cleaners; refrigerant and fertiliser manufacturing; petroleum refining.
• Nitric acid: Very strong. Used in production of numerous chemicals.
• Phosphoric acid: For metal cleaning and refining, fertiliser manufacturing, rust proofing. Also in disinfectants and detergents.

Common bases or caustics

• Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide: Used in drain and oven cleaners.
• Sodium and calcium hypochlorite: Are also oxidising agents. In bleaches, swimming pool chlorination. Can cause burns by more than one chemical mechanism.
• Ammonia: In many cleaners and detergents. Gaseous anhydrous ammonia is in various industrial applications, including fertiliser manufacturing.

Independently tested and approved chemical safety gloves protect against many of the chemicals in today’s work environments today. CHEMICAL WORK SAFETY GLOVES GUIDE

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