Health and safety

Glove use survey

Just under 550 RCN members completed an online questionnaire on the issue of glove use and work related skin problems. The results from the questionnaires have been collated and will be used to help inform the RCN’s position and campaign priorities on the issue of glove use and occupational dermatitis.

Some of the key issues emerging from the survey are:

Continued use of powdered latex gloves, when powdered alternatives are available is cause for concern.
Extensive use of non-powdered latex gloves is also a concern despite the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommending latex gloves should only be used where the risk assessment indicates a clinical need to use latex gloves.
22% of respondents reported skin problems on their hands that have been confirmed as work related. This could lead to practical compliance with hand hygiene practices.
A lack of health surveillance/skin checks to look for skin problems on hands.
Variations in practice associated with glove use including both compliance and non-compliance with current best practice guidance on appropriate occasions for glove use.
A large number (22%) of respondents were unaware of their employers policy on glove use.

Thank you to all those who took part in the survey, in particular the additional comments on what you thought the RCN could do to help members on the issues.

As a result of the findings and associated comments we will be working with the RCN Safety Representatives Committee and RCN Dermatology Forum to develop resources for members and activists to use to promote good practice and help prevent occupational dermatitis. We will also be look at opportunities to work with organisations such as the Health and Safety Executive and National Patient Safety Agency to support and influence their work in this area.

For further information on latex allergy visit the HSE website. There is also some RCN guidance on infection prevention which includes how to become a member of the RCN infection prevention network.

Work related stress

The RCN's membership survey (Holding On, 2006) showed that nurses are exposed to high levels of stressors in their jobs, particularly in terms of demands and change. In addition, more than four in five nurses see their workload as too heavy.

The RCN supports the Health and Safety Executive's Stress Management Standards and believes that they can be successfully implemented when there is local engagement with staff and partnership working with RCN representatives.

Surgical smoke survey

The RCN is keen to revisit the issues around exposure to surgical smoke which has been an ongoing concern for some RCN members working in theatre environments. The body of evidence on the health effects of surgical smoke fumes has been growing since the 1970s and nurses from the North American Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses are campaigning for improvements and standards and have set up a surgical smoke task force.