EN ISO 18889 exists because EN ISO 374 works poorly for pesticides: a pesticide is not a pure chemical but a mixture of active ingredient, solvent and adjuvants, and it behaves differently in glove material.
The two types
- Type PA
- Pesticide handling and mixing — contact with concentrate, stricter requirements
- Type PB
- Re-entry into a treated area — contact with diluted residue
What is tested
- Permeation against a real pesticide formulation rather than a standard test chemical.
- Mechanical resistance to EN 388, since field work wears gloves out.
- Dexterity — the operator has to open caps, work a measuring device and adjust equipment.
A practical point: with pesticides, the technique for removing gloves matters as much as the gloves themselves. Touching the contaminated outer surface is the most common route of exposure.