Colleagues
I was asked a question recently by an NHS trust who told me that the HSE
were banning the use of NRL Gloves.
Like other correspondents, I questioned the validity and relevance of this.
I detail below the HSE's response to my question.
Hope this helps
Regards
Graham
Thank you for your enquiry regarding latex gloves
There is no information relating to a ban from the HSE on the use of latex
gloves at work. The following information which is aimed at employers is
taken from the latex pages on the HSE website:
What does the Law Say?
The Health & Safety At Work Act 1974 places a general duty upon you to keep
employees,
and others (such as patients), healthy & safe at work.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 ask you to
undertake an
assessment of any substances used at work that are hazardous to health.
Natural rubber
latex is hazardous to health.
What Should I Be Doing?
To ensure that you comply with your legal duties you should undertake an
assessment:
Eliminating the risk where appropriate gloves should only be worn
where there is a
risk of infection
Substituting to other glove materials where appropriate Nitrile,
vinyl, synthetic
Limiting exposure HSE's policy for this is:
"Single use, disposable natural rubber latex gloves may be used where
a risk
assessment has identified them as necessary. When they are used they
must be
low-protein and powder-free."
The main findings of the risk assessment should be recorded. This will also
help in
instructing, informing & educating your staff on the risks and appropriate
control
measures for natural rubber latex.
You should put in place systems for ensuring that staff or patients with
known latex
allergies can work and be treated in a latex-safe environment.
Health surveillance
As natural rubber latex is a potential asthmagen, health surveillance of
staff is
required. Single use disposable NRL gloves provide the majority of exposure
to NRL. As
NRL produces a risk of asthma & dermatitis health surveillance is
appropriate. The
extent and detail of the health surveillance should be related to the
degree of risk
identified during the COSHH assessment & determined in consultation with an
occupational
health professional.
Health surveillance for non-powdered low protein gloves should include:
An assessment of the worker's respiratory health & skin condition
before they
start a relevant job to provide a baseline record.
A regular (at least annual) enquiry for dermatitis and asthma. Such
an enquiry
might be undertaken by written questionnaire, orally during appraisal
reviews etc.
Positive results should be referred to an Occupational Health
professional for
assessment.
A responsible person identified and known to staff, competent to
deliver these
duties, and with lines of referral to an occupational doctor or
nurse, for the
reporting of symptoms as they might occur.
For staff known to be sensitised to NRL and those considered to be at
a high risk
of developing sensitisation i.e. Atopic individuals, a higher level
of health
surveillance including a periodic clinical assessment by an
occupational health
doctor or nurse will normally be deemed appropriate.
A record of the health surveillance
The above information can be viewed in full on the HSE website at the
following URL:
www.hse.gov.uk/latex
I hope this helps, but if you require further assistance, please do not
hesitate to contact this address again or telephone HSE InfoLine on 08701
545500.
Yours sincerely
Chloe Wells
-----Original Message-----
From: Townley Susanna [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 13 January 2004 09:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: re latex
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Can you mail the bulletin Chris as it would be much appreciated.
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Packham [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 6:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: re latex
Sandy
If you look at the HSE website on latex you will see that they are not
insisting on a latex free environment, nor is this necessarily the right
answer. Latex offers certain properties that no other glove material can
match. Unfortunately, there is a lot of hype and emotive nonsense talked
about latex. I frequently have to explain the real facts to some of those
occupational health nurses from the NHS when running one of our courses. If
the trust is going latex free (and this is not easy and very expensive) then
they MUST ensure that whatever alternative they choose provides AS LEAST AS
HIGH a level of biological protection as does latex. To reduce the level of
biological protection could increase the risk of infection, i.e. of damage
to health, and put the trust in contravention of both COSHH and the PPR
regulations. This could conceivably result in a criminal offence having been
committted.
A review of literature shows that many cases of skin reactions assumed to be
latex allergy are in reality irritant contact dermatitis. Type IV reactions
to the chemicals used in gloves is more common than the true latex allergy
and this can occur with other glove materials. Recently there has been a
report of a type I reaction to a chemical in a vinyl glove.
If you want to know more I will happily e-mail you our Technical Bulletin on
latex allergy which contains references to the studies I have alluded to.
Regards
Chris Packham
----- Original Message -----
From: sandy townsend <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 6:42 PM
Subject: re latex
A conversation with the HSE today has led to me being advised that nearly
all NHS Trusts are now latex free.
To NHS Colleagues out there-is this the case? I thought a risk assessment re
glove usage and provision of powder free/low protein was the common stance.
Obviously provision of suitable alternatives for use when there is a
problem. Looking forward to your responses
Sandy
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