The medical or healthcare industry was the first industry to introduce and adopt disposable gloves. Actually the first medical industry was also the first industry to introduce gloves in the late 19th century. These were reusable latex gloves and it was not until the 1960s that the first disposable latex gloves were introduced by Ansell.

Today disposable gloves are used in all types of industries and professions. But we still have specially designed and approved disposable gloves for the healthcare industry and these are referred to as medical-grade gloves.

Glove Testing — The FDA and OSHA

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the testing and approval of all medical-grade gloves. Disposable gloves for other industrial applications are referred to as industrial-grade gloves. The testing and approval of industrial-grade gloves is overseen by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).

Disposable gloves are now used in many industries and fields including the agricultural field, which encompasses farming, ranching, agriculture, and veterinary science. Let's look at the four main reasons why veterinarians wear disposable gloves when working.

Disposable Gloves Prevent Cross-Contamination

The first reason for wearing disposable gloves at work is to prevent contamination and cross-contamination. Using hands as an example, cross-contamination occurs as "un-gloved" hands contaminate a subject (an animal) and concurrently the animal contaminates the "ungloved" hands.  The danger for veterinarians is that they are always exposed to bacteria and germs when treating animals. They also come into contact with the chemicals in the drugs that they give to the sick animals. To prevent cross-contamination while treating animals, veterinarians wear high quality disposable gloves, like Miracle^® Exam Gloves, at work. Miracle^® Exam Gloves are 4 mil thick nitrile gloves that have a high dexterity and "skin-like" feel, and protect the hands from dangerous germs and contaminants.

To Prevent Animal Contamination

Veterinarians use disposable gloves to avoid contamination in the workplace. Being  exposed to disease-causing pathogens means that a veterinarian may also have an infection, such as a raw hanmd wound which can be transferred to the sick animal during treatment. To avoid contaminating the animal with their own germs, Vets wear disposable gloves at all times during treatment.

To Keep The Hands Clean

The veterinary field is messy business. Vets must keep their hands clean and healthy in the course of their work. High quality disposable gloves provide a barrier between them and the mess fluids, germs, and pathogens that they encounter daily.

To Avoid Physical Injury

Sick animals are injected with various drugs using syringes. Veterinarians also perform operations on animals. They use sharp tools and equipment in the course of their work. They also come into contact with many chemicals as they administer drugs to sick animals. All these physical and chemical hazards can cause serious injuries to hands. Uniquely designed heavy-duty gloves in nitrile offer a protective barrier from knives, scalpels, needles, and bodily fluids, like blood, urine, and vomit, that come the animals they treat.