Protecting Skin at Work: A Practical Guide to Glove Use and Dermal Safety
10/27/25, 4:00 AM
Hands are the first tools on every job—and often the first point of contact with liquids, powders, surfaces, and equipment. Protecting skin is not only about comfort; it prevents injuries, contamination, and long‑term health effects. This edition distills key guidance from the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to help you make smarter glove and dermal‑safety decisions on a neutral, education‑only basis.
Why Skin Exposure Matters
Workplace chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and may affect individual organs or multiple organ systems. Across many sectors, skin exposure contributes to diseases and disorders—including occupational skin diseases (OSDs). Contact dermatitis is the most commonly reported OSD, accounting for the vast majority of cases in the U.S. (research estimates around 90–95% of OSDs).
How Chemicals Get Through the Skin
Dermal absorption occurs when a chemical passes through the outer skin layers into the body. The absorption rate and extent depend on factors such as skin integrity (damaged vs. intact), the body site (skin thickness, moisture, and temperature), the chemical’s physical/chemical properties and concentration, duration of contact, and the surface area exposed.
Two Common Patterns of Work‑Related Dermatitis
Irritant Contact Dermatitis: Direct chemical damage that inflames skin, often localized to the contact site. It can be caused by brief exposure to strong irritants (e.g., acids/bases) or repeated exposure to mild irritants (e.g., detergents, water).
Allergic Contact Dermatitis: An immune response to a sensitizer (e.g., epoxy/acrylic resins, rubber additives, some metals). Once sensitized, even small re‑exposures can trigger inflammation that may extend beyond the contact area.
Prevention Roadmap: Use the Hierarchy of Controls
NIOSH recommends addressing dermal hazards using the hierarchy of controls:Elimination – remove the hazardous substance.
Substitution – switch to a less hazardous agent.
Engineering controls – prevent contact (e.g., local exhaust ventilation, isolation/containment).
Administrative controls – training, work practices, scheduling, and hygiene.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – when other methods cannot reduce exposure sufficiently, provide PPE such as gloves, goggles, coveralls, and boots.
Typical tasks requiring PPE include: wet/dry cleaning and disinfection of tools/workspaces; handling solvents; working with uncured epoxy systems, hardeners, or tacky surfaces; and using preparations with soaps/detergents/disinfectants.
When Gloves Are the Right Control
Gloves are the last line of defense for the hands and should be worn when other controls cannot adequately protect workers. They reduce direct skin contact, help limit cross‑contamination, and support audit/compliance goals when used as part of a broader hazard‑control program.
Choosing Gloves Wisely (Material, Performance, Task Fit)
Glove performance is commonly evaluated through three concepts:
Permeation – movement of a chemical through an intact glove material at the molecular level (measured via breakthrough time/rate).
Penetration – passage of a substance through defects or pores in the glove (including seams).
Degradation – physical changes to the glove (e.g., swelling, softening, brittleness) that reduce protection.
No single glove material protects against every chemical. Selection should be task‑based and substance‑specific, using credible compatibility charts, manufacturer test data, and authoritative profiles. NIOSH Skin Notation Profiles and the NIOSH Pocket Guide can help identify chemicals that pose direct, systemic, or sensitizing risks to skin so you can set prudent glove‑use and change‑out practices.
Good Use Practices that Raise Protection
Change‑out discipline: Replace gloves according to breakthrough data, visible wear, or contamination. Do not wash/reuse disposable gloves.
Hand hygiene: Wash and dry hands before donning and after doffing; avoid occluding damaged skin.
Fit and comfort: Ensure correct size and dexterity to maintain compliance and reduce fatigue.
Decontamination: Remove contaminated gloves before touching clean items and areas; segregate waste appropriately.
Training & labeling: Teach recognition of irritants/sensitizers, proper don/doff, and first‑aid for skin symptoms.
Health surveillance: Encourage early reporting of skin symptoms; consider occupational health input for patch testing when appropriate.
Quick Checklist for EHS
Have you identified tasks with potential dermal exposure?
Are elimination/substitution or engineering measures in place and effective?
Do written procedures specify glove type, thickness, and change‑out triggers for each task?
Are workers trained to spot dermatitis symptoms and stop work when skin is compromised?
Are storage, sizing, and disposal set up to keep gloves clean, accessible, and used correctly?
- The Glove Academy Team