Chemical and pharmaceutical industries occupational safety guide
For chemical risks, select by substance, concentration, route and duration of contact-not by product name.
In short
With chemical risk, the choice must follow the substance, its concentration, the mode of contact and its duration - not the product name. The same glove protects for hours against one chemical and minutes against another. The source of the decision is always the safety data sheet and the manufacturer’s permeation table, never a catalogue photo.
Where a good specification begins
What should be clarified first?
One glove material, protective-clothing type or respirator filter cannot be generalised across an entire plant. The safety data sheet, process, measured exposure, cleanroom or hygiene requirements and decontamination procedure together form the specification.
Typical risk areas
- Chemical splashes and permeation
- Dust, gas or vapour exposure
- Cross-contamination
- Decontamination and hazardous waste
Show us the work for a more precise quotation
A site photo or short video often explains more than a generic product list. It reveals the floor, working height, machinery and equipment worn together.
- Where does the work happen?
- Indoors, outdoors, in a wet zone, around vehicle traffic or at height.
- How long is it worn?
- For a full shift, a short intervention or only one defined work phase.
- What is worn with it?
- Helmet, eyewear, earmuffs, respirator and harness must remain comfortable and compatible together.
Which starting kit suits each role?
These are procurement starting points, not automatic PPE requirements.
| Role | Procurement starting point |
|---|---|
| Production operator | Process-specific hand, eye, body and, where required, respiratory protection. |
| Laboratory and sampling | Gloves and eye protection verified for small-volume but frequent substance handling. |
| Cleanroom operator | A clothing system meeting both personal and product-protection requirements. |
| Maintenance and emergency response | A separately stored, documented kit for higher-risk intervention. |
Expert product selection
Recommended products for your first shortlist
Start with relevant, easy-to-compare products selected for this working environment. Prices, availability and technical data are kept up to date.
Building blocks for the complete solution
Which markings are useful starting filters?
A standard marking can narrow the live product range quickly, but it does not by itself prove that a product is suitable for a particular role.
- EN ISO 374-1
- Requirements for gloves protecting against dangerous chemicals. The type and chemical codes do not replace permeation data for the actual substance, concentration and contact time.
- Filter products by this marking
- EN 14387
- Types and classes for gas and combined filters. Determine the letter code, class and service life from the actual substance, concentration and manufacturer limitations.
- Filter products by this marking
- EN 13034
- Requirements for Type 6 clothing offering limited protection against liquid-chemical splashes. It is not general-purpose chemical-protective clothing.
- Filter products by this marking
- EN ISO 16321-1
- General requirements for occupational eye and face protection. EN 166 remains common in existing stock; for new procurement, verify the applied standard edition and hazard-specific markings.
- Filter products by this marking
Always compare the results with the documented risk assessment, the required performance level and the product’s current EU declaration of conformity.
Plan in three layers
- 1. Core role kit
- Clothing, footwear and basic PPE used on every shift, with size runs and defined replacement triggers.
- 2. Task module
- Additional protection and checks issued for less frequent but higher-risk operations.
- 3. Reordering plan
- Minimum stock, size distribution, seasonality, inspections and documented approval points.
The detailed knowledge behind the decision
Respiratory protection
Choosing respiratory protection: FFP mask or reusable respirator?
How to select respiratory protection for particles, gases and vapours: FFP1–FFP3, A, B, E, K and P filters, combined cartridges, powered systems and face-seal checks.
Read more →Hand protection
Protective glove selection guide
Protective glove standards and markings explained: mechanical and chemical risks, cut resistance, materials, coatings, grip and sizing.
Read more →Documentation
PPE documentation: what buyers should request and retain
EU declarations of conformity, Hungarian user information, issue records, training evidence and inspection reports organised for audits and inspections.
Read more →Procurement checklist
Before requesting a quote
Better input produces more comparable quotations, a more accurate size run and fewer later changes.
- 01 Record the current SDS and process version
- 02 Verify glove permeation and actual wearing time
- 03 Define decontamination and waste procedures
- 04 Check emergency equipment and eyewash facilities
Frequently asked questions
The questions that come up most often during procurement - the ones the rest of this article does not cover.
How do I know which glove protects against a given chemical?
From the manufacturer’s permeation table, which states the breakthrough time chemical by chemical. That is the period before the substance passes through the glove - after it, the glove no longer protects, even if it looks intact.
How long can a chemical-resistant glove be worn?
For less than the breakthrough time, counted from the start of contact. In practice it is better to write a replacement regime tied to the operation rather than to the shift - what counts is the time actually spent in contact with the substance.
What should be done after a splash?
Contaminated equipment must be removed immediately in line with the decontamination procedure, and must not be reused if the substance may have penetrated it. That is why eye wash and showers have to be available at the workplace, not in the store room.
Professional and legal framework
This page supports decision-making. Specific obligations must always be established from current legislation, the local risk assessment and the documentation for the selected product.
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Hungarian Act XCIII of 1993 on Occupational Safety
The Hungarian legal framework for risk assessment, prevention and employer responsibility.
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Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment
Essential requirements and conformity assessment for PPE placed on the EU market.
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Hungarian Decree 65/1999 (XII. 22.) EüM on the use of PPE at work
Direct Hungarian requirements for workplace selection, compatibility, use, training and inspection.
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EU-OSHA OiRA risk-assessment tools
A step-by-step risk-assessment framework, particularly useful for micro and small enterprises.
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Hungarian Decree 3/2002 (II. 8.) SZCSM-EüM on minimum workplace safety requirements
The comprehensive Hungarian framework for the design, operation and risk control of fixed workplaces.
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EU-OSHA: dangerous substances at work
How substitution, engineering controls, safety data sheets and PPE form a hierarchy of protection.
Important professional note
The product groups and combinations shown are starting points. They do not replace the employer’s documented risk assessment, PPE issue rules, the manufacturer’s instructions or the decision of a competent occupational safety professional. Always verify markings, compatibility and protective performance in the current documentation for the selected product.
Request a quotation assembled by role
Tell us the headcount, roles, current problem and required deadline. We will help plan trial items, size runs, decoration and replenishment.