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Glove Awareness Week: Make one change

3-7 May 2021

Appropriate glove use and hand hygiene is as important as ever. This year, during Glove Awareness Week, we're asking you to reduce glove use safely using our approach to 'make one change'.

By making simple changes, together we can help the prevention of infection linked to glove use and reduce the risk of work-related dermatitis. 

Hand hygiene is a vital part of infection prevention with any practice. We know it is also an effective way to help reduce the spread of coronavirus and other infections, protecting yourself and your patients. 

It's also important to be aware of appropriate glove use in the workplace, aiming to reduce unnecessary usage and impact on your patients/clients. Use our resources below in your workplace, to support you and your colleagues to make one change. 

Make one change

Here are some changes you can make in the workplace to promote appropriate glove use.

1. Avoid using gloves at your computer

2. Avoid giving a vaccination with gloves on

3. Avoid wearing gloves when taking a drink

Use our social media pledge cards to share the one change you're making in your daily routine and show your support for Glove Awareness Week.

You can make an individual pledge or with your team at work. Tweet or post the change you're making on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using #GAW2021 and our pledge card. 

Download our pledge cards.

Download our resources

Use our resources on social media and in your workplace to help you and your colleagues make simple changes to reduce glove use.

Read our guidance

Read our Tools of the trade guidance for health care staff on glove use and prevention of work-related contact dermatitis.

Skin health

Glove Awareness Week 2021 also coincides with World Hand Hygiene Day, on the 5 May.

We've seen frequent hand washing can lead to and exacerbate dry skin issues including contact dermatitis - a painful, debilitating condition which may require nursing staff to be moved out of clinical areas due to the risk of infection. 

Read our guidance on skin health, including our toolkit.

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