Food Safety: Handwashing, Nitrile Gloves Are a Dynamic Duo

Gloved hands in a bakery.

Avoiding cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria in food service establishments is a perennial struggle. Washing dishes, pots, and pans at high temperatures, and thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces, are common and effective means of combating germs and assorted microorganisms.

One of the most important defenses against food poisoning, however, is proper handwashing. Hands can spread germs in both the kitchen and the dining area; some of these germs, like salmonella, can make employees (and, even worse, customers) sick. Washing hands frequently with soap and warm water is an easy way to limit the spread of germs.

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Currency Exchange Rate Provides a Key Glove Market Insight

Last in a series

Currency has real impact on disposable glove prices. The currency exchange rate has been favorable to U.S. buyers in the single-use glove market the last few months, with a strong dollar trading at its highest rate in 20 years. If the dollar should stumble, glove prices are likely to feel upward pressure.

That is why it’s important to monitor international markets closely. If you hear the dollar is weakening, be prepared—and prepare your customers for what could lie ahead.

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China Adds Volatility to Glove Market With Nitrile Push

Disposable gloves hang from hand formers at a factory.

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Pre-pandemic, China was a minor player in the nitrile disposable glove market. Post-pandemic, it has substantially grown its overall nitrile production capacity and is expected to grow it further.

In the single-use glove industry, factories—especially in Malaysia, the world’s No. 1 glove-producing nation—continue to have utilization challenges, with some operating at as low as 20% capacity, and others in the 40%-50% range.

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Glove Market Update: Strong Potential for Growth Is Forecast in ’24

A hand draws an upward curve that reads "Sales."

Now that 2024 has arrived, we’re a year further from the pandemic. Multiple trends are continuing to impact glove market conditions, from pricing of NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) to logistics, energy, and coal prices.

Overall, disposable glove use in the United States continues the upward trajectory it has been on since the 1980s. The market is projected to experience healthy growth throughout the next decade, again proving to be an excellent business opportunity.

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Maximize Industrial Safety With Gloveworks Nitrile RDT

A worker wearing orange nitrile gloves from Gloveworks adjusts a machine.

If you work with heavy machinery or use tools all day on the job, there is a significant risk to your hands from sharp edges, abrasive surfaces, chemicals, and other potentially harmful objects or substances.

When it comes to hand protection for hazardous environments, you want Gloveworks Nitrile with Raised Diamond Texture (RDT) on your side. These gloves stand up to the rigors of tools and machinery while also delivering dexterity, durability, and—maybe best of all—comfort.

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Gloveworks Has a Firm Grip on Auto Technicians’ Loyalty

An automotive tech works on a yellow car in a garage.

Historically, people who work on cars and trucks have not widely used disposable gloves. For generations of mechanics, hand protection simply was not a big concern.

Why? In many cases—at least until the last couple decades—they lacked the information they needed to make the right choice for safety. Heck, even today the industry is only 120 or so years old. The evolution to new ideas can be long and laborious.

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Dedication to Quality Control Sets AMMEX Apart

Disposable glove formers sit at the ready in a SE Asia factory.

Disposable gloves are essential for—among lots of other things—maintaining hygiene, protecting workers from potential hazards, and preventing the spread of infections. Without strict quality-control measures, even a tiny production slipup could cause an entire batch of gloves to go bad.

It’s likely both distributors and end users can relate to opening a case of new gloves, only to discover that they are all bricked together. Or they tear as soon as they’re pulled on. Or they have the distinctive odor of being well past their use date.

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A Little Glove Foresight Can Help Prevent Jan/San Injuries

Cleaning carpet while wearing Gloveworks green nitrile disposable gloves.

When you think of professions with high injury rates, you most likely turn to such jobs as commercial fishing, logging, or roofing. Janitorial work may not seem perilous—but the injuries jan/san crews suffer should not be taken lightly.

Especially troublesome are hand injuries, which can result in missed work, elevated worker’s comp premiums, and less quality control. A solution can be as simple as ensuring employees have the right glove for the job—something that AMMEX specializes in.

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