United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Design for the Environment, Auto Refinishing Shop Project
EPA 744-F-00-005
November 1999, Revised June
CHOOSING THE RIGHT GLOVES FOR PAINTING CARS
Why should car painters wear gloves?
Gloves help keep you safe and healthy! Chemicals in paints can pass through skin and enter your body.
Some of these chemicals cause health problems, even in small amounts. To protect yourself, wear chemical-
protective gloves every time you handle paint materials, and especially during paint mixing, spraying, and gun
cleaning. Painters should also wear chemical-resistant clothing, eye protection, and an appropriate respirator as part
of a complete protection program.
NOTE: This guide provides insights into some of the chemical-protective gloves presently available that may be
used by auto refinishers. It is not intended to be used as a glove selection guide.
What is the most important consideration when selecting gloves?
Above all, the gloves you use must provide a protective barrier to the toxic chemicals in paints. Of primary
concern are solvents, which typically have the fastest glove pass through times and pose serious health concerns.
Solvents also damage your skin, which makes it easier for chemicals such as isocyanates to enter your body.
Isocyanates are strong irritants and can cause allergic reactions to the skin and internal organs. Gloves that protect
against solvent exposure should provide a barrier to other chemicals as well. (Sources for information on gloves and
their chemical resistance are listed on the back of this page.)
What chemicals should gloves protect against?
Painters need to protect their hands, and other parts of their bodies, from a wide variety of toxic chemicals
used in auto refmishing. Thinners, primers, basecoats, and clearcoats all contain dangerous chemical ingredients.
The following lists indicate some typical ingredients in paint coatings:
Of course, the
chemicals in paint
materials vary from one
paint manufacturer to the
next. Painters and shop
owners should refer to the
manufacturer's material
safety data sheets
(MSDSs) for a complete
list of product ingredients.
Activator (hardener)
- ethyl acetate*
-toluene*
- aliphatic polyisocyanate
- hexamethylene
diisocvanate
Clearcoats
- methyl ethyl ketone
- toluene*
- mixed dibasic esters*
- petroleum naphtha*
Thinners (solvents)
- butyl acetate*
- ethylbenzene*
-toluene/xylene*
- methyl ethyl ketone*
Basecoats
- methyl ethyl ketone*
-titanium dioxide
- metallic pigments
- xylene*
Primers
- barium sulfate
- resins and fillers
-toluene/xylene*
- isocyanates often
added
Remember, paint
shops use many toxic
chemicals. Your
gloves must protect
against all of them!
The ingredients with stars (*) are all organic solvents—common chemicals in paint coatings.
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT GLOVES FOR PAINTING CARS (Page 2)
What type of glove makes the most sense for car painters?
Don't make your choice based on price alone! All gloves do not provide the
same level of protection. Latex gloves, for example, offer little or no protection
because they rapidly degrade after being exposed to many chemicals found in paint
materials. Latex gloves are not a good choice for most painting tasks.
Nitrile gloves, in contrast, provide a better
barrier to paints and organic solvents—the chemicals
that are some of the toughest on gloves. Because they
protect well and are durable, nitrile gloves (which cost
about $10.00 for a box of 100 pairs) offer good value for your safety dollar. Of
course, even nitrile gloves would not provide adequate protection against all chemicals
for all tasks.
Certain strong solvents used in paints and for clean-up, like methyl ethyl
ketone (MEK), pass through nitrile gloves. Nitrile gloves should not be used for tasks
where direct immersion of gloves in MEK lasts longer than a few minutes. Other
glove types, like butyl rubber, provide a stronger barrier to MEK and similar
chemicals, but these gloves are very expensive and might not offer painters the "feel" they need for most
tasks.
Ultimately, shop owners should work with their painters and glove distributors to identify the right gloves:
[ Remember: In a paint shop you 're exposed to many chemicals that pass through gloves at varying rates.
I right glove must protect you from the chemicals that penetrate gloves fastest.
The\
ones that protect against auto refinishing chemicals, fit comfortably, suit the task, and are a good protection value.
How often should painters change their gloves?
When to change gloves depends on the glove type, thickness, and condition of use. It's always best to
consult with the glove manufacturer to find out how often gloves should be changed. Before any task, painters
should carefully inspect their gloves for cuts, tears, or punctures. Painters should immediately change gloves that
show signs of wear!
How can I get more information on chemical-protective gloves?
Talk to glove manufacturers and distributors, listed in most phone directories. These companies offer technical
advice—and often free samples—to prospective clients. Your distributor of paints and
personal protective equipment might also provide these services.
Consult with Mary Cushmac (202-564-8803, cushmac.mary@epa.gov) or David DiFiore
(202-564-8796, difiore.david@,epa.gov) of the DfE Project Team.
THE DESIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT A urn REFINISHING SHOP PROJECT 's GOAL is TO WORK WITH A urn
REFINISHERS TO IDENTIFY AND ADOPT SAFER, CLEANER, MORE EFFICIENT PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES.
De5igi for the frwironment
Autobody Shop Project
www.epa.gov/dfe/autobody/autobody.htm
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