Dear all,
We are attempting to implement a ban on the use of powdered latex gloves in
College.
I have one lab-based research scientist who claims that her nails crack &
split if wearing non-powdered latex gloves, but not with powdered gloves. I
am, of course, interfering unacceptably with the sacred cow of academic
freedom by imposing the ban.
Suggestions for appeasement, please.
It is probably reasonable for her to wear a latex glove for some work
handling GM viruses. She's handling a variety of histochemical solvents
including alcohol, acetone & 'Histoclear': a new terpene substitute for
xylene extracted from orange peel!
Nitriles seem to offer a slight advantage over latex in one glove selection
guide, but another says 'not recommended' for acetone.
She assures me that:
* Her gloves are the right size
* She does change them frequently
* Never gets a skin rash, only brittle nails
* It has happened twice & improved on returning to powdered gloves so
must be due to use of non-powdered gloves (oh, the certainly of scientists!)
* Her GP gave her a cream in case it was fungal, but it didn't help
* No. She doesn't want checked for a fungal nail infection
* Even if it was, she wouldn't take those tablets because I took
antifungals once for a toenail infection years ago and they were horrible...
What else might be cracking her nails?
What might help?
What glove material would you offer?
Happy Monday
Dr. Alan Swann, BM, AFOM
Director of Occupational Health
Occupational Health Service
Imperial College London
Southside building
South Kensington Campus
London
SW7 1 LU
Tel: +44 (20) 7594 9385
Fax: +44 (20) 7594 9407
http://www.ad.imperial.ac.uk/occ_health/
<http://www.ad.imperial.ac.uk/occ_health/>
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