Color is important in any discussion of disposable gloves, even if there are no industry standards for different colors of gloves. What makes it important is what you and your company do with it: Creating a color-coding scheme can prove beneficial in a variety of ways, from hygiene to general organization.
Thirty-five years ago, when AIC was just getting started, industrial gloves came in essentially two variations: ivory or off-white for latex, and for vinyl and poly, opaque or transparent.
Nitrile gloves were introduced in light blue to differentiate them from latex and vinyl. Over the years that blue morphed into today’s variety of colors, which are often associated with specific tasks.
Specialization has driven medical (exam) gloves made from nitrile to come in a wider variety of colors, whether it be to avoid contamination from pathogens, to differentiate one group of healthcare pros from another, or simply as a nod to getting everyone the right size.
As wearing disposable gloves in industrial settings has become more common, greater attention has been paid to nuances of color and gloves’ relationship with particular tasks.
Gloveworks Nitrile with Raised Diamond Texture, which come in 8-mil orange and green as well as 6-mil black and royal blue, are great examples of gloves that can be tailored to fit a variety of applications.
Nobody likes dirt and grime
Black, for instance, is popular with automotive technicians because it conceals dirt, grease, and grime and projects a professional look. For manufacturing and other industrial environments, Gloveworks’ high-visibility orange and green add an extra protection factor, not only because it’s easier to see hands in dark work environments but also easier for managers to ensure workers are wearing gloves.
If your industry involves food processing, color-coding can play a large part in guarding against cross-contamination. Whether it’s meat and poultry, seafood, dairy, produce, baking, or any number of other products involved, knowing whose hands have been where is paramount in keeping production pristine.
Color-coding can also help with issues other than cross-contamination. For instance, keeping the workplace organized is one benefit, because it helps keep confusion to a minimum. For a facility that has many employees, color-coding can help keep track of tools in a particular work area.
Color, color everywhere
The array of available multi-colored products offered for various levels of protection for different employees and workplaces can easily confuse buyers. Working out a color-coding plan before going too far down the road on ordering gloves can save a lot of hassles for safety directors and operations managers.
Between industrial and medical grades, AIC’s nitrile gloves come in green, orange, blue, black, royal blue, and indigo. Latex gloves come in ivory and blue, and vinyl gloves come in ivory, clear, and blue.
If your facility is not relying on color-coding of gloves to ensure top-notch compliance and better hygiene—especially if food is in any way involved—it is inviting potential problems.
