A novel method of assessing the effectiveness of protective gloves - Results from a pilot study

We have devised a novel method for evaluating the effectiveness of protecti ve gloves and have undertaken a small study to assess this approach. Three types of glove were tested in a standardised simulation test with a permeth rin-based pesticide, Prewashed cotton gloves were used to collect the sampl es. One was worn over the protective glove on one hand to measure the poten tial deposition of pesticide on the hands had the gloves not been worn, A s econd was placed under the protective glove on the opposite hand to measure the actual deposition of permethrin on the hands when the gloves were worn , This regime was reversed half Hay through each test in an attempt to prev ent bias. Measurable inner glove contamination occurred on 25 out of 30 occ asions, Geometric mean protection factors were calculated from the ratio of outer and inner sampling glove contamination, with average protection fact ors of 470, 200 and 96 being obtained for the two nitrile and PVC gloves, r espectively. The PVC gloves were the least effective in preventing inner gl ove contamination, probably because the glove was thick and fairly inflexib le, causing more pesticide to enter the glove around the cuff. Although the tasks were standardised, variability occurred due to worker behaviour and equipment failure. The spray pump failed on five occasions, resulting in hi gher levels of inner glove contamination and a geometric mean protection fa ctor of 32, On the occasions when the pump worked correctly, the level of p rotection provided by the gloves rose dramatically with mean protection fac tors of 220 and 450 being obtained for workers categorised as "messy" and " tidy", respectively. (C) 2001 British Occupational Hygiene Society. Publish ed by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.