Counterpoint on the rubber gloves debate from a 30 year vet

I heard a young sweeper at the supply house last week say rubber gloves are a waste of money because you can just wash your hands after every job. After 30 years in this trade I have to disagree - I got a nasty case of contact dermatitis from creosote in my early days that cost me 3 weeks off work. Has anyone else here dealt with skin issues from skipping gloves on a heavy soot job?

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

lindaw123mo ago

Honestly that sounds rough, sorry you went through that.

7

holly_foster3mo ago

My first year I tried to save a few bucks and skipped gloves on a big oil boiler cleanout. Ended up with a rash that blistered between my fingers for two weeks straight. I switched to the thick nitrile gloves that go up past my wrists and never looked back. Now I keep a box in my truck and a spare pair in my lunch bag. That creosote soaked right into my skin and I learned the hard way too.

1