Susan
Presumably the nurses in question will be wearing appropriate personal
protective equipment (this, in addition to the other control measures you
will have introduced). I imagine that this will include gloves. Have you
done a risk assessment to ensure that the gloves are providing adequate
protection. Normally, the optimum protection would be with natural rubber
latex (but unpowdered, low free protein). If certain chemicals are present
then you may need to use an alternative material, e.g. nitrile, butyl, etc.
You may need to check on permeation breakthrough times for the chemicals for
the gloves in use.
If anyone is wearing occlusive, i.e. chemical or biological protective,
gloves for anything other than occasional, short term use, then you should
be considering skin health surveillance. Almost certainly under the
definition in regulation 11 of COSHH it will be a legal requirement.
Remember that wearing occlusive gloves equates to wet work and that this can
cause irritant contact dermatitis.
If you need more on this feel free to get in touch direct.
Chris
EnviroDerm Services (UK) Ltd.
2 Amery Lodge Farm, North Littleton, Evesham, WR11 8QY, U.K.
Tel: 0044 1386 832 311
Dermatological Engineering for a healthier workplace
For more information about our support, services and technical aids, visit
our recently revised website: (www.enviroderm.co.uk)
For immediate help e-mail us at [log in to unmask] or phone on +44 1386
832 311
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