I must confess to being somewhat cavalier myself about wearing gloves
when handling formalin fixed tissue (I never do so with unfixed - and
lets not start a conversation on "how do you know it's fixed?")

But a real good reason for wearing gloves if the danger of developing
contact allergy to formalin.  That can be very compromising to your
job.  I know several examples of people who have worked in histology
for 25+ years and suddenly developed the allergy without any hint of
previous problems with formalin OR ANY OTHER ALLERGEN - that's the
important point.

Some people do not consider themselves "allergenic".  Can be a dodgy
assumption.

[I know I have left myself wide open to start another "comic stream"
with my occasional choice of words above]

Ah well!
Russ Allison, Wales