IVF laboratory staff handling liquid nitrogen should use cryogenic gloves specifically rated for LN2 exposure. Standard freezer gloves or cold-store gloves do not provide adequate protection against liquid nitrogen splashes and should never be used as a substitute. Cryogenic gloves are designed with insulating materials that withstand the thermal shock of brief LN2 contact — a property that standard cold-protection gloves do not have.
The appropriate glove length depends on the task. Wrist-length cryogenic gloves are sufficient for low-splash tasks such as checking data loggers or reading temperature displays on storage vessels. Mid-arm or elbow-length gloves are required for any task involving direct contact with liquid nitrogen, such as topping up storage vessels using a CryoCrest dispensing dewar or charging a dry shipper. Shoulder-length gloves are required when reaching into a large storage vessel to retrieve or replace canisters, where the arm is fully inside the vessel neck.
Cryogenic gloves should always be used alongside a full face shield — not safety goggles alone, which do not provide adequate splash protection — and a waterproof apron. The HSE oxygen depletion threshold is 19.5 per cent oxygen concentration; laboratories storing or dispensing liquid nitrogen in enclosed spaces should have continuous oxygen monitoring installed. Cryolab supplies the full range of cryogenic PPE including gloves in all lengths, face shields, and waterproof aprons.
