Greta
Solid Kevlar is great and will protect against needle stick injury as well
as bullets. However, a solid glove would not be much use to you. Therefore
the Kevlar for gloves is in the form of a flexible fibre that is knitted.
Herein lies the problem. Knitting leaves holes through which the points of
the needles can pass.
There is no glove to my knowledge that is thin enough to be used for
operations etc. that will also adequately protect against needles. The one
I mentioned in my e-mail does not provide sufficient dexterity for that, nor
is that its purpose. It is more for those people who in their work, e.g.
EHOs, local authority workers, utility workers, refuse collectors etc.,
might come into contact with discarded needles.
The answer for operations etc. is that we need to examine how the work is
done and see what measures can be adopted to prevent the needle stick injury
in the first place. This also accords with the spirit of COSHH, PPE regs
etc. where PPE has to be considered as a last resort. It should not be
beyond the wit of man to develop equipment and techniques to eliminate the
problem. In fact, some answers do exist already, but are not yet widely
applied.
Regards
Chris Packham
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greta Thornbory" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 12:24 AM
Subject: Re: Double gloving
> Interesting - our army headgear was (is) made from Kevlar - still got
mine -
> however, I actually didn't come into contact with any bullets so cannot
> guarantee its effectiveness!!!!!!! Certainly kept the head warm on
exercise
> though.........
>
> Greta
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: diane romano woodward <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, November 15, 2002 7:12 PM
> Subject: Re: Double gloving
>
>
> > Some years ago I did see Kevlar undergloves to prevent needlesticks/cuts
> > when operating on HIV positive patients .Do they still exist?
> > Diane
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Swann, Alan B" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Friday, November 15, 2002 12:23 PM
> > Subject: Re: Double gloving
> >
> >
> > > Dear Chris,
> > > Thanks. I knew you'd input. It is primarily for protection of the
> wearer.
> > > Double gloves are used as a standard in some pathogen labs e.g. HIV
> > research
> > > labs, labs handing genetically modified Vaccinia strains.
> > > The rationale is that:
> > > 1. Latex gloves not always impervious to viral agents. Double gloving
> > > reduces risk of skin contact: you'd need two 'micro-holes' one beneath
> the
> > > other.
> > > 2. Scratches from sharps (their use is not always avoidable) unlikely
to
> > cut
> > > both pairs of gloves
> > > 3. Answering phone or writing notes etc. The outer, potentially
> > contaminated
> > > glove can be removed but hand still protected during lower-risk
activity
> &
> > > lessended danger of inadvertent contamination of material (paper)
which
> > maty
> > > be taken outside of containment area.
> > > 4. With a puncture wound wiping effect of two layers of latex likely
to
> be
> > > better than one.
> > > Since writing my first e-mail, I've tried KY as a lubricant. Makes
> > donning,
> > > doffing & re-donning the outer pair a doddle. & if it's safe for
> condoms,
> > I
> > > assume fine for gloves.
> > >
> > > Dr. Alan Swann, BM, AFOM
> > > Director of Occupational Health
> > > Occupational Health Service
> > > Imperial College Health Centre
> > > Watts Way
> > > London
> > > SW7 1 LU
> > > Tel: +44 (20) 7594 9385
> > > Fax: +44 (20) 7594 9407
> > > http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Chris Packham [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent: 15 November 2002 11:54
> > > To: Swann, Alan B; [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: Double gloving
> > >
> > > I would be interested to know why you consider double gloving
necessary.
> > > Presumablyl we are dealing here with the thin, disposable natural
latex
> > > gloves being used for medical (non-sterile) purposes. My experience is
> > that
> > > double gloving with such thin gloves actually confers very little
> > additional
> > > protection, since what punctures the outer glove will almost certainly
> > also
> > > have punctured the inner glove as well. How would you detect that the
> > outer
> > > glove has actually been punctured? In your request for information you
> do
> > > not state whether the glove is being used to protect the wearer or to
> > > protect the patient/product. The answer to this will also have
> > implications
> > > about suitability of gloves.
> > >
> > > If you wish to contact me direct my phone no. is 01386 832 311
> > >
> > > Regards
> > > Chris Packham
> > > EnviroDerm Services
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Swann, Alan B" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Friday, November 15, 2002 9:58 AM
> > > Subject: Double gloving
> > >
> > >
> > > > Dear all,
> > > > How does one double glove without resorting to powdered gloves?
> > > > I have a research group here using a powered latex glove for the 2nd
> > pair
> > > > saying it's the only way to get them on over the first. I'm sure
there
> > is
> > > a
> > > > better way.
> > > > How do you do it?
> > > > (yes, they need latex and double gloving) I'm aware that Regent
supply
> > > > sterile theatre gloves already 'doubled up'. I'm looking for an
> > economical
> > > > way for non-sterile use.
> > > > Regards
> > > >
> > > > Dr. Alan Swann, BM, AFOM
> > > > Director of Occupational Health
> > > > Occupational Health Service
> > > > Imperial College Health Centre
> > > > Watts Way
> > > > London
> > > > SW7 1 LU
> > > > Tel: +44 (20) 7594 9385
> > > > Fax: +44 (20) 7594 9407
> > > > http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/
> <http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/>
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
>
>
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