What does needle stick resistant mean?
There are many different categories of safety gloves all offering protection against different hazards. Needle stick resistant gloves, also known as anti-syringe or hypodermic needle resistant gloves, offer protection against hypodermic needles and other thin, sharp items such as thin shards of glass and metal wire.
It is estimated that 100,000 needle stick injuries are reported in the UK each year, so ensuring the correct hand safety items are worn is of paramount importance.
It is a common misconception that puncture resistant gloves also offer protection against needles, as that usually is not the case. Only needle stick resistant gloves protect against very thin sharps like needles. Every needle stick resistant glove must go through a series of rigorous testing, however unlike other categories of gloves there is no standardised European testing rating. Please be aware that no safety glove is needle stick proof.
Testing for Needle Stick Resistance
The European EN388 Standards use regulation testing to test and analyse the performance of gloves against certain hazards - abrasion, cut, puncture (not needle stick) and tear). The gloves are then rated according to their performance. However, testing specifically for needle stick resistance is not a key part of this testing.
To assess puncture resistance of safety gloves a steel stylus is pressed into the taught fabric of four samples of the glove. The force required for the stylus to puncture the fabric is the measurement used to rate the gloves. However, due to the size and design of the stylus used (which is a similar thickness to the end of a ball point pen) this is not an accurate test against thin, sharp items like needles, thin wire or glass shards, which penetrate the fabric in a different way.
Manufacturers of needle stick resistant gloves must therefore look to other methods of testing and ensuring that their gloves are needle stick resistant. We are proud to stock needle stick resistant gloves from the most trusted manufacturers in the industry.
When looking for a glove to protect against hypodermic needles it is best to look out for the phrase "needle stick resistant" in the product description.
Materials Used In Needle Stick Resistant Gloves
Different brands of needle stick resistant gloves vary in the way they are made and what materials are used to provide the needle stick resistant capability. Depending on the application they are designed for, the gloves will have specific needle stick resistant areas to protect certain parts of the hands. For example, some needle stick resistant gloves will only be needle resistant on the palm and fingers of the glove while others will have needle stick resistance on the back of the hand and up the wrist as well. Below are examples of some of the materials found in the top selling needle resistant gloves.
- Nitrile
- Nylon
- Latex
- Polyurethane
- Leather
- Steel mesh
- HexArmor SuperFabric
Some needle stick resistant safety gloves are designed to be worn with an outer layer glove over the top. This means that you can protect your needle stick resistant glove from water, oil or other contact material by using a disposable barrier such as a disposable glove. This protects your needle stick resistant gloves against bacteria and moisture, keeping your gloves clean and fresh. Often our product descriptions will explain that a disposable glove can be worn over the top, but the final decision is down to you as the user, weighing up what kind of fluids or materials your gloves are likely to be in contact with, and the level of grip and dexterity you require for your particular handling application.
Applications for Needle stick Resistant Gloves
It is difficult to determine a definitive list of suitable applications for needle stick resistant gloves. The list of applications below details industries and sectors that can benefit from using needle stick resistant gloves to protect you and your fellow staff from the dangers of needle stick injury. Always be sure to read the product description thoroughly to determine which particular needle stick gloves are suitable for your particular task and industry.
- Waste Collection
- Hospitals
- Waste and recycling sorting
- Laundry and linen handling
- Law enforcement
- Prisons
- Hospital waste handling
Click here to see our full range of Needlestick Resistant Gloves
Not all needle stick resistant gloves will be suitable for every application above. Manufacturers of needle stick resistant gloves are always looking to enhance their hand protection offering, and create gloves with multiple hazard protection capabilities. The hazard protection profile of needle stick resistant gloves can differ according to their intended sector use.
When buying needle stick resistant gloves be sure to read the product descriptions thoroughly to assess if they are suitable for your needs, and use our product selection filters to choose the glove with the correct capabilities for your handling application.
Take a closer look at our full range of needle stick resistant gloves.