Industrial vs. Medical Grade Gloves… So what are the differences?
Medical Grade Gloves
‘Medical grade’ is a standard set by the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods). It’s based on the (AQL) Acceptable Quality Level, which refers to the number of defects in a batch of gloves.
All medical gloves should have an AQL of 1.5 or less to be categorised as safe for medical use. Medical gloves are used in situations where, doctors, nurses, dentists, health care professionals and other occupations are likely to come into contact with bodily fluids (such as blood, urine and faeces).
When subjected to standard quality testing (Medical-grade gloves are tested for water-tightness, correct dimensions and tensile strength), no more than 1.5 gloves in a batch of 100 can have flaws like rips or pinholes. This helps to minimise the risk of exposure to germs, body fluids and other materials that could put healthcare workers at risk.
But it’s not just healthcare workers who need medical-grade gloves. Janitorial staff cleaning around toilets, a prison guard doing a cell search around toilets and bedsheets… a childcare worker, changing nappies… these workers should all wear medical-grade gloves to prevent penetration by micro-organisms.
Medical grade gloves are identified by the term ‘Medical grade’ on the packaging and being called ‘Examination Gloves’, rather than ‘Disposable Gloves’ which are Industrial Grade.
Industrial Grade Gloves
Most industrial-grade gloves are also food-grade and for safe food handling.
Compared to medical gloves, the standards governing industrial / food-grade gloves aren’t as strict, since there’s less risk of disease transmission in non-medical settings.
Most manufacturers ensure their industrial-grade gloves have an AQL 3-4 or better.
Industrial gloves are also generally thicker than medical-grade examination gloves and therefore designed for heavy-duty use and have higher levels of puncture resistance.
RapidClean Range of Medical and Industrial Grade Gloves
RapidSafety premium gloves provide optimal protection across many industries and professions and are available in sizes S, M, L & XL.
The range consists of Medical Grade Blue Nitrile, Natural Latex, Clear and blue Vinyl examination gloves plus tough industrial grade Blacksteel Nitrile disposable gloves. Colour-coded packaging ensures easy identification.
Reach out to your local RapidClean Member for more information about our wide range of gloves
