Lab gloves and eye protection: nitrile, latex and chemical resistance

For most lab work nitrile gloves are the better choice than latex: they resist more solvents, show tears clearly and avoid latex allergy. Gloves, eye protection and lab coats are the last line of defence in a lab. They protect the person when the other controls, such as a fume cupboard or a closed container, can't remove the risk completely. No single glove or pair of glasses suits every job. This guide explains the common glove materials, how chemical resistance is measured, the types of eye protection, and where lab coats and eyewash units fit in.

It gives general information. The right choice for a given chemical comes from its safety data sheet and your own risk assessment. Terms are defined in the glossary.

Protective equipment comes last

Under COSHH, protective equipment is the last control, used once removing, replacing or enclosing a hazard has gone as far as it can. See the controls in COSHH and safety data sheets. Gloves and goggles don't make a dangerous method safe. They cover what is left.

Section 8 of a chemical's safety data sheet, "Exposure controls and personal protection", is where to start. It names the type of glove and eye protection the supplier recommends.

Glove materials: nitrile, latex, neoprene and butyl

Each glove material resists some chemicals well and others badly. A university quick guide summarises the common ones (Caltech):

Treat the table as a starting point, not an answer. Performance changes with the chemical, its concentration, the glove's thickness and the manufacturer.

Nitrile vs latex

Nitrile has largely replaced latex for general lab use. It resists more solvents, and a tear is easy to spot. Latex has another drawback: some people become allergic to natural rubber latex. HSE advises non-latex gloves where they give the protection needed, and low-protein, powder-free latex only where nothing else will do (HSE).

Nitrile vs latex vs vinyl

Vinyl gloves are made of PVC. They handle acids, bases and oils but are poor for most organic solvents (Caltech), so they suit water-based work rather than solvent handling.

(Caltech; HSE)

Nitrile and vinyl contain no natural rubber latex, so both are options for people with a latex allergy.

Thin disposable or thick reusable?

Thin disposable gloves are for incidental contact: a splash that you notice and deal with by changing gloves straight away. Thicker reusable gloves are for extended contact, such as cleaning up a spill or handling a chemical for some time (Caltech). A thin glove that has been splashed should be taken off and replaced, not wiped and kept on.

How glove chemical resistance is measured

HSE describes three measures to look for (HSE):

• Breakthrough time: how long the chemical takes to get through the glove material to the inside. It shows how long the glove can be worn with that chemical.
• Permeation rate: how much chemical passes through once it has broken through. Lower is better.
• Degradation: whether the material hardens, softens or swells in contact with the chemical.

Gloves for chemical protection are tested to the EN 374 series of standards, and HSE advises choosing gloves that meet it for chemical work (HSE).

Using the maker's chart

Glove manufacturers publish charts of breakthrough times against named chemicals. Performance differs between manufacturers, so use the chart for the glove you actually have (HSE). Charts give figures for pure chemicals. For a mixture, HSE suggests basing the choice on the component with the shortest breakthrough time, and notes that only testing can confirm how a glove performs against a mixture.

Safety glasses vs safety goggles vs face shields

Safety glasses protect against impact from the front, safety goggles seal to the face to keep out splashes from every side, and a face shield covers the whole face and is worn over goggles. In more detail:

Safety glasses alone don't stop a splash coming in from the side or below. For any liquid that could splash, goggles are the safer choice.

Standards and markings

Lab eye protection in the UK and EU was certified to EN 166 for many years. From 11 November 2025, EN ISO 16321-1 became the only standard for new certifications. Products already certified to EN 166 can still be sold until their certificates expire, up to five years from issue (BSI). So for a few years both markings will be found on lab eyewear. The marking on the frame shows which standard it meets and what it has been tested against. Check that goggles for chemical work are marked as protecting against liquid droplets or splashes.

Lab coats

A lab coat keeps splashes and dust off your own clothes and skin, and keeps contamination in the lab. Wear it fastened, with sleeves down, and take it off before leaving the lab or going into eating areas. Coats that have been splashed should be removed straight away and cleaned or disposed of as the safety data sheet advises.

(UCLA EH&S)

Eyewash units

Wherever chemicals that can harm the eyes are used, an eyewash should be within easy reach. Plumbed-in eyewash units are covered by BS EN 15154-2 (BSI). Sealed eyewash bottles are a common alternative where there is no plumbed unit. Check that bottles are in date. Plumbed units are usually run once a week, long enough to flush the line and confirm water comes through; US guidance based on ANSI Z358.1 sets weekly activation, and stagnant water in the pipe is the reason (Ohio State EHS). Record each check on a tag or log. For what to do if a chemical gets into the eyes, follow section 4 of the safety data sheet, "First-aid measures".

Using protective equipment well

• Check before use. Look for tears, pinholes and discolouration in gloves, and scratches or cracks in eyewear.
• Take gloves off without touching the outside, and wash your hands afterwards.
• Don't touch door handles, phones or keyboards with gloved hands that have handled chemicals.
• Store protective equipment clean, away from the chemicals it protects against.
• Replace it when it is damaged, past its use-by date, or has been heavily splashed.

Related guides

For what the symbols on a chemical label mean, see hazard symbols explained. For the law and the 16 sections of a safety data sheet, see COSHH and safety data sheets. For engineering controls that come before protective equipment, see fume cupboards and safety cabinets. Each product page has a safety data sheet link, or says the sheet is available on request.