ABSTRACT
Millions of gloves are worn every day around the world in an attempt to protect workers from chemical hazards. Unfortunately, in all too many cases the protection that employer and employee believe the gloves provide is not achieved. This is simply because neither has adequate knowledge of the factors that affect glove performance when used with chemicals. Assumptions are made about glove performance that do not conform to reality. Gloves are not simple membranes that, provided they do not disintegrate, are protecting the worker. The way gloves perform in contact with chemicals is complex and affected by a wide range of factors.
