Types of Gloves Plumbers Should Use for Different Tasks

Gloves play an important role in the plumbing industry. They protect plumbers from issues like sharp objects, hot surfaces, chemicals, and contaminated water. For instance, when working in a dirty sewer, they are at risk from bacteria and submerged chemicals. 

Wearing disposable nitrile types of gloves can protect you from bacteria and submerged chemicals. Apart from that, they will ensure a good grip and a comfortable fit.

Wearing gloves will also ensure that you comply with regulations by bodies like OSHA 1910.138. Now, different plumbing operations will require different glove types as relevant. 

Let’s explore them in detail below.

Which Types of Gloves Should Plumbers Use For Their Daily Work? 

You should use disposable, nitrile, cut-resistant, latex, heat-resistant, chemical-resistant, heavy-duty, and insulated gloves for your operations. We’ve explored the different types of gloves in detail below. 

1. Disposable Nitrile Gloves 

Disposable nitrile gloves are an essential part of maintenance and light repair plumber operations. These gloves are made from a type of synthetic rubber, which gives them mechanical flexibility and durability.

Apart from that, they have a certain degree of cut resistance, meaning that they do not tear easily. Nitrile gloves also ensure that your hands stay protected from chemicals, solvents, pesticides, insecticides, and oils.

Using nitrile gloves lets you move about your hands easily since they are quite flexible. So you can use them for drain unclogging, fixture cleaning, and handling wet materials. These gloves are ideal for those people who suffer from latex allergies.

2. Latex Gloves 

Latex is a type of PPE glove known for its flexibility and tactile sensitivity. These gloves can be stretched until a certain limit without tearing and can handle high loads. So you can use them to lift heavy tools. Latex gloves are also quite elastic in nature, so they return to their original shape after being stretched. 

Some other properties they are known for include their comfortable fit and biodegradability. Their comfort ensures that you won’t feel them when you wear them. However, these gloves can cause latex allergies, so you should avoid them if you have sensitive skin. 

Apart from that, they are also more susceptible to tears and punctures. That’s why you can't use them to fix small leaks or similar operations.

3. Cut-Resistant Gloves 

Cut-resistant gloves are a type of PPE gloves that prevent you from suffering from cuts due to sharp objects like broken pipe ends or cutting tools. 

These gloves are made from materials like Kevlar, Dyneema, or Fiberglass. Each of these materials has a varying degree of cut resistance, as seen below.

Table 1: Cut Resistance of Cut-Resistant Glove Material 

You can use these gloves for sawing, cutting, and installing PVC or metallic pipes. 

4. Heat-Resistant Gloves

Heat-resistant gloves are made of materials like Kevlar, Fiberglass, Natural Leather, or Nomex due to their heat-insulating properties.

Take a look at the table below for an idea about the degree to which they can resist heat:

Table 2: Heat Resistance of Heat-Resistant Glove Material 

You can use them when you work with torches, soldering tools, or hot pipes. These gloves will protect you against the varying degrees of heat due to their flame-retardant coatings and long cuffs for forearm protection. These gloves are also compliant with EN 407 or ASTM heat protection standards.

5. Chemical-Resistant Gloves 

Chemical-resistant PPE gloves are commonly made from neoprene, PVC, or butyl rubber. PVC-coated chemical-resistant gloves have a protective PVC coating to protect you from unwanted accidents or burns due to chemicals. 

Neoprene chemical-resistant gloves have a perfect fit and protect your hands against oils, solvents, and environmental conditions. Butyl rubber gloves protect plumbers' hands against ketones, esters, and concentrated acids. 

Butyl rubber gloves are also comfortable and flexible, so you can comfortably use them during your work. You can use neoprene, PVC, or butyl rubber gloves when you’re working with drain cleaners, sealants, and harsh descaling agents.

6. Heavy-Duty Rubber Gloves 

Heavy-duty rubber gloves refer to are made from different kinds of materials like latex and neoprene. These gloves will protect you against various cuts and tears from sharp objects, bacteria, and organic waste.

They have a certain degree of slip resistance, which ensures that you can use your tools without any issues in wet areas. So, for example, when you have a leaking or broken pipe, you can use these gloves to fix it.

Heavy-duty rubber gloves also have a long cuff for protection. So you won’t have to worry about any chemical splashes from burning your hand. These gloves are ideal for working in trenches or cleaning blocked systems.

7. Insulated Gloves 

Insulated gloves are a type of PPE gloves that are useful for cold and hot environments or those with a lot of moisture. They are designed for comfort and dexterity so you can comfortably use them in such environments.

Consider the table below for a better idea:

Table 3: Types of Insulated Gloves

8. Vibration-resistant Gloves 

Vibration-resistant gloves are useful for use in operations that involve rapid or multiple vibrations. You can use them in operations involving power tools, such as drilling or sawing operations.

They are made of cotton-lined latex, neoprene, synthetic leather, and nylon. These gloves are quite comfortable, so you can move your hands about freely. Apart from that, they dampen or reduce the impact of the vibrations from the tools and prevent cuts and abrasions as well. 

You can find full-finger or half-finger gloves, which are ideal for high vibration risk and dexterity-required situations, respectively. Vibration-resistant gloves help prevent Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).

The Final Word

Using the gloves mentioned above will help protect you against many different types of injuries and situations. However, it is important to choose the right kind of glove, as you might face unwanted consequences otherwise. 

To do so, you will have to first understand the nature of the task you’re going to perform. 

Looking for Reliable Plumbing Gloves?

Choose certfied, task-specific options that keep your hands protected, and visit our website to explore PPE glove types like disposable nitrile gloves today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 Which Gloves Should I Choose Between Kevlar and Fiberglass for Welding Operations?

Ans. You should choose Fiberglass gloves for welding operations since they have a heat resistance of up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Q.2 Is It Ok to Buy Disposable Nitrile Gloves?

Ans. Yes, you can purchase disposable nitrile gloves since they are useful against chemicals, solvents, and oils. You won’t have to worry about any maintenance-related issues since you can throw them away after one use. 

Q.3 How to Check the Quality of Insulated Gloves?

Ans. You should check the base of the glove, along with the thumb and finger tip areas. Try stretching them to look for any issues.

Q.4 Can Latex Gloves Tolerate Kerosene?

Ans. No, latex gloves have poor resistance against kerosene.