Dealing with the risks of latex exposure

A NEW Health and Safety Executive (HSE) leaflet highlights the problems that can be caused by exposure to natural latex and advises workers and employers on the steps needed to control the risks.

Latex is frequently used in the manufacture of protective gloves and is also used in a number of health sector products, including catheters, dressings and bandages.

Exposure to latex has been linked to skin irritation and a number of allergic reactions including rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma and dermatitis, and the number of reported adverse reactions increased during the 1990s.

The leaflet outlines the risk assessment process and the precautions and policies employers need to have in place to protect those at possible risk. It also tells workers what they should do if they feel workplace latex exposure safeguards are inadequate or absent, or they feel their health is being adversely affected.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) require restricted use of both powdered latex gloves and other latex gloves with a high leachable protein content, to ensure compliance. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) require employers to report incidents of occupational dermatitis and asthma attributable to latex.

Single free copies of Latex and you and priced packs of 10 are available from HSE Books (see box on page 18).