General-purpose industrial gloves (single use) provide protection against harmful environmental influencers such as those found in food service and handling, automotive, non-medical laboratories, and general maintenance. Primarily used in settings where workers are required to change gloves frequently, they may be constructed of latex, nitrile, neoprene, vinyl and/or other polymers. The USFDA requires that the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) for general-purpose industrial gloves be 4.0 or less for defects.  General-purpose industrial gloves intended for use in food contact applications must meet specific regulations. 

Physically similar to exam gloves, but lacking USFDA certification. Necessary technical tests performed to determine medical/exam glove eligibility include puncture, abrasion, tension, elongation and chemical substance resistance.  General-purpose industrial gloves fail to meet the requirements to earn the medical/exam certification and therefore are not used for patient contact.

Fully textured surfaces and textured fingertips are common qualities associated with general-purpose industrial gloves to improve grip in wet and dry conditions. Glove lengths are usually 9.5 inches or 12 inches for extended sleeve varieties.  General-purpose industrial glove sizes generally range from small through extra-large, but some product lines may include extra-small or double extra-large options.

General-purpose industrial gloves are available in a wide array of colors.  Blue gloves are commonly used in food service and handling applications for identifiable purposes. Black gloves, which mask stains and facilitate viewing of lighter-colored objects, are suitable for inspection, automotive, and maintenance applications.