Officers often fail to use proper protection from contact with dangerous drugs and other toxic substances
Police officers come into contact with many dangerous substances on a daily basis.
Departments may feel that the added cost is not worth the expenditure and officers may choose not to wear cheap gloves that tear easily. It becomes a vicious cycle when police departments purchase the lowest-priced glove, and then officers are forced to use an inferior product that offers little protection.
HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT GLOVE
With many glove options available, selecting the right glove for the challenges of the law enforcement can seem overwhelming. In some situations, choosing the wrong type of glove can be harmful to the individual.
When selecting a single-use glove for optimum protection, look for these features:
1. Examination-grade
Examination-grade gloves are powder-free, single-use gloves that act as a reliable protective barrier against potentially infectious materials and other contaminations.
2. High level of force of break
It is recommended that at least a 6 mil (at the fingertip) nitrile glove be worn to protect the wearer from tear and puncture. Six mil gloves offer a high level of force of break, which is the amount of force that it takes to puncture or tear a glove.
The force of break standard is based on CE testing criteria EN388, which assesses the amount of force required to pierce the sample with a standard size point.
3. Barrier protection
A high-quality, third-party, barrier-tested glove is essential to protect the wearer from accidental transdermal exposure to fentanyl, heroin and other dangerous substances.
4. Nitrile
Avoid latex gloves as individuals can experience allergies from the proteins that are found in natural latex. Also, latex doesn’t create a significant protective barrier and can allow substances to absorb into the glove that eventually migrate to the wearer’s skin. Nitrile examination gloves provide the best protective barrier against chemicals and blood-borne pathogens.
CONCLUSION
Today’s first responders face serious threats from exposure to dangerous drugs and bloodborne pathogens. When thinking about personal safety, wearing high-quality, single-use nitrile gloves should be part of your daily uniform.
