Medical vs Industrial Gloves in Australia: Standards & Compliance Guide

March 27 2026, by Tatianna Gerard , 24 min reading time

Many disposable gloves can look almost identical. But in practice, not all gloves are made to the same standard — or for the same purpose.

Some gloves are designed for medical use, where infection control, barrier protection and patient safety are critical. Others are intended for industrial, cleaning, food handling or general workplace tasks, where the risks and performance requirements are different.

That’s why glove standards and certifications matter.

They help show whether a glove has been tested for things like freedom from holes, physical strength, chemical resistance, food safety or suitability for healthcare settings. For buyers, understanding these standards can make it much easier to choose the right glove for the job — and avoid using a product that may not be appropriate for the task.

This is especially important for businesses in healthcare, aged care, disability support, cleaning, food service and facilities management, where glove choice affects not only comfort and cost, but also compliance, safety and day-to-day protection.

We’ll explain the difference between medical and industrial gloves, and break down some of the most common standards and certifications you’re likely to see.

What’s the difference between medical and industrial gloves?

The main difference between medical and industrial gloves comes down to what they are designed and tested to protect against.

While they may look similar, their intended use is not the same.

Medical gloves

Medical gloves are made for use in healthcare and clinical environments, where protection against contamination and cross-infection is essential.

They are commonly used for:

Patient care
Examinations
Laboratory procedures
Infection control procedures
Clinical and aged care tasks

Because they are used in settings where there is direct contact with patients, bodily fluids or clinical surfaces, medical gloves are generally required to meet stricter testing and regulatory standards. These standards typically assess things such as:

Freedom from holes
Barrier integrity
Physical strength
Biocompatibility and skin safety

In Australia, gloves marketed for medical use are generally treated as medical devices, which means they must meet relevant regulatory requirements.

Industrial gloves

Industrial gloves are made for non-medical tasks such as cleaning, food handling, manufacturing, maintenance and general workplace protection.

They are commonly used for:

Cleaning and janitorial work
Food preparation and processing
Automotive or workshop tasks
General workplace safety

Industrial gloves may still offer strong protection, but they are usually tested according to the risks relevant to their intended use — such as:

Chemical resistance
Abrasion resistance
Tear or puncture resistance
Food-contact safety

This means an industrial glove may be perfectly suitable for one task, but not necessarily appropriate for patient care or clinical use.

Why standards and certifications matter for PPE gloves

Glove standards and certifications are there for one simple reason — to show that a glove has been tested for its intended use.

Without these standards, it would be difficult to know whether a glove is suitable for tasks like patient care, food handling, cleaning or chemical exposure. While many gloves may look similar, their performance can vary significantly depending on how they are made and what they have been tested for.

Standards help provide confidence in areas such as:

Barrier protection – Does the glove prevent leaks and contamination?
Strength and durability – Will it tear or puncture during use?
Safety for skin contact – Is it suitable for prolonged wear?
Chemical or microbial resistance – Can it handle specific risks?
Food safety compliance – Is it safe for handling food products?

For businesses, this is not just about product quality — it’s also about compliance and risk management.

Using gloves that meet the right standards helps ensure that:

Staff and patients are properly protected
Workplace safety requirements are met
Infection control practices are supported
The risk of contamination or incidents is reduced

Standards act as a trusted benchmark — helping ensure the glove you choose is fit for purpose, not just for convenience or that it’s cost-effective.

Common standards for medical gloves

Medical gloves are held to stricter standards because they are used in environments where infection control and patient safety are critical.

These standards focus on ensuring the gloves provide a reliable barrier, are safe for skin contact, and perform consistently during use.

Here are some of the most common standards you’ll see:

1. EN 455 (European Standard – Medical gloves)

EN 455 is one of the most widely recognised standards for medical gloves. It is made up of multiple parts, covering:

Freedom from holes (AQL testing)
Physical properties such as tensile strength
Biological safety, including limits on harmful substances
Shelf life requirements

This standard is commonly used as a benchmark for gloves intended for clinical and healthcare use. These are what each part means:

EN 455-1: Freedom from holes

This part focuses on the glove’s ability to act as a protective barrier.

Gloves are tested to ensure they don’t have tiny holes that could allow microorganisms or fluids to pass through. This is typically done using a water leak test, where gloves are filled and checked for leaks.

You’ll often see something called AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) linked to this.

A lower AQL means fewer defects and higher quality
For medical gloves, strict AQL limits apply to ensure strong barrier protection

👉 In simple terms: this ensures the glove can actually protect both patient and wearer.

EN 455-2: Physical properties (Strength and durability)

This part looks at whether the glove is strong enough to perform during use.

It includes testing for:

Tensile strength (how much force the glove can handle before breaking)
Elasticity (how well it stretches without tearing)
Dimensions (consistent sizing for proper fit)

This helps ensure gloves won’t easily tear during procedures and that users can rely on consistent sizing across batches.

👉 In simple terms: this ensures the glove is durable and dependable in real use.

EN 455-3: Biological safety (Skin and chemical safety)

This section focuses on what’s inside the glove material and how it may affect the user.

It includes limits and testing for:

Residual chemicals from manufacturing
Proteins (in latex gloves) that may trigger allergies
Powder content (as powdered gloves can cause irritation)

The goal is to reduce the risk of:

Skin irritation
Allergic reactions
Sensitivity issues during prolonged wear

👉 In simple terms: this ensures the glove is safe to wear, especially for frequent use.

EN 455-4: Shelf life

This part ensures gloves remain effective over time — not just when they are first made.

Manufacturers must:

Validate how long gloves can be stored
Test durability over time (aging tests)
Provide a clear expiry date

This is important because glove materials can degrade, affecting their strength and barrier performance.

👉 In simple terms: this ensures the glove will still work properly when you use it months or years later.

EN 455-5: Chemical residues

This newer part looks more closely at chemicals that may remain on gloves after production.

It focuses on identifying and controlling substances that could:

Affect user safety
Cause irritation or long-term exposure concerns

👉 In simple terms: this adds an extra layer of chemical safety and transparency.

2. ASTM D6319 (USA – Nitrile medical gloves)

ASTM D6319 is a key standard used for nitrile examination gloves in medical settings. It focuses on making sure gloves are safe, consistent and suitable for clinical use.

This standard looks at both performance and quality, helping ensure nitrile gloves can be relied on during patient care and procedures.

ASTM D6319 assesses several important areas.

Freedom from holes (Barrier integrity):

Gloves are tested to confirm they don’t have leaks or defects that could allow fluids or microorganisms through.

Strength and stretch (Tensile strength and elongation):

Gloves must be able to:

Stretch without tearing
Withstand pressure during use

To assess this, they are tested for tensile strength and elongation, including after an ageing process designed to check how the material holds up over time. This may involve exposing the gloves to elevated temperatures — such as 70°C for an extended period — before retesting their performance.

Dimensions and fit:

The standard defines requirements for:

Length and width
Consistent sizing across batches

Thickness requirements:

Minimum thickness levels are set to balance:

Protection
Tactile sensitivity

Powder / residue limits:

Gloves must meet limits for:

Powder residue (if applicable)
Surface cleanliness

Many nitrile gloves are powder-free, but this requirement ensures they remain safe for skin contact and clinical use.

Sterility (when required):

If gloves are labelled as sterile, they must meet strict sterility assurance requirements.

Talc-free requirement:

ASTM D6319 also requires nitrile examination gloves to be free from talc on both the inner and outer surfaces.

This is important because talc and other powder-like residues can:

Increase the risk of contamination
Irritate skin
Interfere with clean clinical use

3. ASTM D3578 (USA – Latex medical gloves)

Similar to ASTM D6319, this standard applies to natural rubber latex examination gloves.

It ensures:

Consistent quality and strength
Adequate barrier protection
Suitability for medical environments

4. ASTM D5250 – Vinyl examination gloves

ASTM D5250 is the standard used for vinyl examination gloves intended for medical use.

Like other medical glove standards, it helps make sure vinyl gloves meet minimum requirements for:

Barrier integrity
Physical performance
Dimensions and fit
General quality consistency

Because vinyl gloves are typically used for lower-risk, short-duration medical or hygiene tasks, this standard helps confirm they are appropriate for that level of use.

5. ASTM D6978 – Chemotherapy drug resistance

ASTM D6978 is a specialised standard that looks at how well a glove resists permeation by chemotherapy drugs.

This is particularly important in:

Oncology settings
Hospitals and infusion clinics
Pharmaceutical handling environments
Any setting where hazardous drugs are prepared or administered

Chemotherapy drugs can be dangerous if they come into contact with skin, so gloves used in these environments need to provide an additional level of protection beyond standard examination glove requirements.

A glove that meets ASTM D6978 has been tested against a range of chemotherapy agents to assess how well it resists chemical breakthrough over time.

6. ISO 11193 (International – single-use medical gloves)

ISO standards are globally recognised. ISO 11193 applies to single-use medical gloves, including both latex and nitrile.

It covers:

Physical performance requirements
Dimensions and strength
Quality consistency

7. ISO 10282 – Sterile surgical gloves

ISO 10282 is an international standard for sterile single-use surgical gloves.

Surgical gloves are held to a higher level of control because they are used in procedures where:

Sterility is critical
Precision and tactile sensitivity are important
Barrier protection must remain reliable throughout surgery

This standard covers areas such as:

Sterility requirements
Freedom from holes
Physical strength and performance
Dimensions and fit
Labelling and packaging

Because surgical gloves are used in invasive procedures, the standard helps ensure they are not only sterile, but also strong and consistent enough for use in an operating environment.

8. TGA / ARTG (Australia – Regulatory requirement)

In Australia, medical gloves are classified as medical devices.

This means they must be:

Listed on the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods)
Compliant with TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) requirements

This ensures the gloves meet safety, quality and performance standards before being supplied for medical use in Australia.

Common standards for industrial gloves

Industrial gloves can vary significantly depending on what they are being used for. Unlike medical gloves, which are mainly focused on infection control and patient safety, industrial gloves may be designed for cleaning, food handling, manufacturing, chemical use or general workplace protection.

That means the standards applied to industrial gloves often depend on the specific hazard the glove is meant to protect against.

Here are some of the most common ones.

1. EN 374 – Chemical and microorganism protection

EN 374 is one of the most important standards for industrial gloves, especially where there is potential exposure to chemicals or microorganisms.

This standard looks at how well a glove performs against:

Hazardous chemicals
Bacteria
Fungi
Viruses (where applicable)

You will often see EN 374 gloves marked with chemical resistance symbols, letters or pictograms, which indicate what substances they have been tested against and how well they performed.

2. EN 388 – Mechanical protection

EN 388 applies to gloves designed to protect against physical or mechanical risks.

It measures resistance to:

Abrasion
Cuts
Tears
Punctures

This standard is most commonly seen on heavier-duty work gloves used in industries such as construction, warehousing, automotive or maintenance. However, it can still be a useful context when assessing glove durability in broader industrial environments.

3. EN 420 – General requirements

EN 420 sets out the general requirements for protective gloves.

It covers areas such as:

Sizing
Comfort
Dexterity
General safety requirements
Labelling and information provided by the manufacturer

This standard does not test for a specific hazard by itself, but it provides a baseline for how gloves should be designed and labelled for safe use.

EN 420 helps make sure gloves are usable, properly sized and appropriately labelled.

4. Food Safety Standards

When gloves are used for food handling, they must be safe for direct or indirect contact with food.

Food-safe gloves should comply with regulations that help ensure:

No harmful substances transfer from the glove to food
The material is suitable for food-contact use
The glove is non-toxic when used as intended

Common references include:

FDA Food Contact Compliance (USA)
EU Food Contact Materials Regulation (EC No. 1935/2004)

These frameworks help indicate whether a glove is appropriate for use in food preparation, catering, hospitality or processing environments.

Food-safe compliance helps show a glove is suitable for handling food without introducing unsafe materials.

5. HACCP considerations

In food handling environments, buyers may also look for gloves that are suitable for use within HACCP-based food safety systems.

HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. It is a food safety approach used to identify and control potential hazards during food preparation and processing.

While HACCP itself is not a glove performance standard, gloves used in HACCP-managed environments should still be:

Safe for food contact
Non-toxic
Appropriate for the task
Used in a way that supports contamination control

6. Australian Food Safety Requirements

In Australia, gloves used in food handling should align with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) requirements.

This means gloves used in food settings should be:

Safe for food contact
Non-toxic
Suitable for their intended use in food preparation and handling

For food businesses, this is especially important because glove choice is part of broader hygiene and food safety practices.

How to choose the right gloves

Choosing the right gloves comes down to one simple thing — what you’re using them for.

Even though many gloves look similar, the right choice depends on the task, risks and environment. Asking the right questions upfront can help you avoid using a glove that’s not suitable for the job.

Here are some practical questions to guide your decision:

1. What are you using them for?

Start with the basics. Is it for:

Patient care or clinical use?
Cleaning and disinfecting?
Food preparation?
General workplace handling?

2. Do you need medical-grade protection?

If gloves are being used for:

Healthcare or aged care
Contact with bodily fluids
Infection control procedures

Then you should be looking for gloves that meet medical standards (e.g. EN 455, ASTM) and are ARTG listed in Australia.

3. Are chemicals involved?

If you’re handling:

Cleaning chemicals
Disinfectants
Solvents or hazardous substances

You’ll want gloves tested for chemical resistance (e.g. EN 374). Not all gloves offer the same level of protection against chemicals.

4. Is food safety required?

If gloves are used for:

Food prep
Catering
Food processing

They should meet food-contact compliance standards and be suitable for use in FSANZ and HACCP-based environments.

5. How long will the gloves be worn?

Short tasks → lighter, more flexible gloves may be fine
Longer use → comfort, breathability and fit become more important

Poor fit or discomfort can affect compliance and safety over time.

6. Do you need strength or durability?

For tasks involving:

Heavy handling
Risk of tearing
Repetitive use

Look for gloves with good tensile strength and durability, or relevant standards like EN 388 (for mechanical resistance).

7. Is sensitivity or dexterity important?

For tasks that require precision (e.g. clinical work or detailed handling):

Thinner gloves may offer better tactile sensitivity
But still need to meet the required safety standards

8. Are there allergy considerations?

Latex gloves may cause reactions for some users
Nitrile is often preferred as a latex-free alternative

9. Do you need specific certifications?

Depending on the use case, check for:

EN 455 / ASTM → medical use
EN 374 → chemical/microbial protection
Food safety compliance / FSANZ → food handling
HACCP suitability → food safety systems

10. What is your usage and supply pattern?

How quickly do you go through gloves?
Do you need consistent supply?
Are you buying for a team or facility?

This helps balance cost, stock levels and reliability.

Where your gloves come from matters

Choosing the right glove is important — but so is where it comes from.

In today’s market, not all gloves are equal. Differences in manufacturing quality, testing standards and supply reliability can have a real impact on performance, safety and consistency.

Working with a trusted supplier helps reduce that risk.

What to look for:

Quality-assured products - Gloves that clearly meet recognised standards (medical, industrial or food-safe), so you know they are tested for their intended use.
Certified and compliant ranges - Products that align with relevant requirements (e.g. ARTG for medical gloves, EN/ASTM standards, food safety compliance), giving you confidence in both safety and suitability.
Reliable sourcing from established manufacturers - Sourcing matters — reputable manufacturers are more likely to maintain consistent quality, even when market conditions are changing.
Consistent supply and availability - Especially important for high-use environments like healthcare, aged care and facilities. A dependable supply chain helps avoid last-minute shortages or forced substitutions.
Clear and transparent product information - So you understand what the glove is designed for, what standards it meets, and where it should (and shouldn’t) be used.
Support when you need it - Whether it’s guidance on product selection, updates on supply conditions or help planning ahead.

For businesses where gloves are used daily, the goal isn’t just to find the lowest price — it’s to ensure ongoing reliability, compliance and performance.

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