Disposable gloves have been around for a very long time, but the options used to be limited to just one or two colours. Latex gloves were usually white and nitrile gloves were blue. Today, the options for disposable gloves are vast, with a great choice of colours and materials available, but why? Colour coding gloves is a useful technique designed to help classify certain tasks and jobs and glove colours can be specific for different sectors. For example, many hospitals have adopted the colour coding idea and have assigned one colour for general use, another for surgical procedures and another for biohazard collection. This method is both efficient and highly effective for reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
Coloured gloves offer another advantage for doctors and microbiologists who frequently use the double glove strategy when working with highly infectious organisms or illnesses.
The need for a very high level of protection involves using two gloves, often one white pair and the other purple, black, or any other contrasting colour over the top. This enables easy identification of a glove puncture as soon as it occurs.
Blue gloves are one of the most popular choices and are commonly used in hospitals, laboratories and during scientific research. Doctors will often use them to perform examinations and surgical procedures. Nurses will wear blue gloves to take blood or administer vaccinations. We offer a great choice of both vinyl and nitrile disposable blue coloured gloves in several different shades.
White gloves are most commonly used in cleanroom environments. A cleanroom is a controlled environment with a focus on reducing contamination. White is a good colour that will make any potential contaminants visibly clear. Available in latex, nitrile and vinyl white gloves are used for double gloving, under or over another colour and are often the first choice for paramedics and blood can be easily seen.
Pink gloves were developed to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation and many physicians, nurses and healthcare providers make pink their glove of choice for this reason. Some, not all, purple gloves were designed as an alternative to blue gloves for treating patients requiring chemotherapy. They are suitable for use when there is a moderate to high risk of fluid and chemical exposure, be sure to check the specifications for such use before purchasing.
Pink and purple gloves are also used within the beauty industry and often in the dental profession too. These colours often provide an option for matching with scrubs and uniform.
Black gloves are suitable for use across a range of different working environments. Often chosen by mechanics, black gloves are resistant to staining, hazardous substances, paints and oils.
Tattoo artists will often choose black gloves because it can help to differentiate between their own skin and the customer’s. Additionally, black gloves hide ink stains and offer excellent tear resistance due to their durable material.
Black gloves are ideal for detecting dust and powders and are a suitable option for postal workers and law enforcement officers enabling them to easily identify illegal substances and even anthrax.
Many orange glove varieties provide heavy duty protection and excellent grip which makes them a good choice for use by mechanics, engineers, construction and agricultural workers and in other industrial settings. Orange makes it easy to spot grease and oil stains, and the heavy duty construction of nitrile makes them suitable for handling chemicals and petroleum.
Both red gloves and green gloves provide alternative options for colour coding whilst providing the same level of protection and can be used for cleaning, preparatory and even laboratory work where the risk is minimal. Red gloves for example may be a good option for handling raw meats in the food industry and green gloves for handling fruit and vegetables, assuming they are food safe of course.
Coloured gloves provide the ability to colour code and distinguish between different tasks and help to improve the working environment across a wide range of industries. You can browse all of our coloured disposable gloves here.
Sources:
https://medrux.com/colored-nitrile-gloves/
https://gtse.co.uk/ppe-janitorial/buyers-guides/why-use-different-coloured-nitrile-gloves-and-their-uses
