A list of external accredited fit testerscanprovide training for additional fit testers within your organisation. Raising concerns

If there is an urgent requirement that cannot be currently met, please call the National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) team on 0800 915 9964. HSC Business Services Organisation procurement and Logistics Service manage procurement to all public health and social care organisations in Northern Ireland. Wales Where there is a change in PPE requirements such as in response to a pandemic, new issues can arisefor health care professionals who have not previously been disabled at work. It is essential that processes allow theopportunity for employees to discuss their specific needs regarding PPE and that theyare supported by managers in this process. The RCN also recognise that certain health conditions will make it more difficult to tolerate wearing PPE. Employers should assess any risks to these individuals and make necessary adjustments under both health and safety and equality law. See ‘PPE for staff with disabilities or impairments’ above. You can also see our Health ability passport guidance. Further informationDouble gloving is not required for care of patients with COVID-19 in any care setting. Please see your respective country national IPC guidance. Raising concerns Where no safer alternatives are available and the risk of exposure to a biohazard exists, then a COSHH risk assessment will inform whether the use of PPE containing NRL is acceptable for use by staff without NRL allergy. Incident reporting The RCN expects that line managers undertake a workplace risk assessment and refer to Occupational Health for further advice if appropriate. Where adjustments cannot be made, temporary redeployment to work that does not require PPE should be considered. You can also see our COVID-19 workplace risk assessment toolkit.

Your employer should work with you to ensure that any risk of PPE affecting your impairment and ability to continue in your role is recognised and processes put in place to mitigate the risk. This may mean adjusting processes around donning and doffing of PPE, exploring options for adapted PPE and/or opportunities to fit PPE, and be confident that it is fit for purpose prior to use in a clinical setting. Safer alternatives or latex free products should be used and staff and patients with known latex allergy should never be exposed to NRL containing products. Powdered NRL gloves should never be used. See also NHS England and NHS Improvement: Accessing supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Scotland Your organisation should provide accessible information on this and on what the household can do to reduce risks, in advance of and during any visits. You can also see our COVID-19 workplace risk assessment toolkit. Guidance for adult social careis also available Some of the patients I visit refuse to have the window open where I am working to increase ventilation. What should I do?regular rest breaks during the shift: manufacturers’ recommendations on maximum time for wearing FFP3 face masks should always be followed (see RCN workplace risk assessment toolkit) Your manager or organisation should send out a communication to all patients and their families explaining why this is important and encourage them to look at government advice. The RCN expects all health and social care organisations to have and to follow their policies on the management of latex allergy in staff and patients. Forinformation on how to reduce the risk of heat stress and related illness, please see Rest, Rehydrate and Refuel. If families refuse to support these actions, discuss with your manager what additional steps could be taken to encourage the family/carers to be more proactive.

There are two fit test methods, qualitative and quantitative. HSE’s guidance requires a fit test report/certificate to be made available to the employee to include the date, method and make and model of mask they have been fit tested for. Remember, PPE is just one way of protecting staff at work. Handwashing, social distancing measures, training, workplace cleaning practices, ventilation, vaccination and risk assessments for staff health also play an important role in infection prevention and control and managing the safety of staff and patients.

Next, draw an inch-wide seam allowance around the outline you just drew. Remove the template and set it aside. For those experiencing symptoms due to menopause, this can sometimes add to the burden of working in intensive areas of practice.

The Health and Safety Executive also provides guidance for employers and employees on reasonable adjustments. Raising concerns The NMC statement on personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic(April 2020) supports the RCN guidance and reflects the realities of clinical decision-making in the context of this pandemic.Under health and safety legislation, employers have a legal duty to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out and adequate control measures are put in place to reduce the risk of harm to staff and patients, so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes identifying when PPE is required, and the type of PPE which should be used. PPE is designed to protect you from harmful substances such as chemicals or infectious agents. In some situations such as during the pandemic, it can also help prevent the transmission of infection between staff and patients. The type of PPE you need will depend on the risk assessment, which should include the environment you work in and the procedures you carry out. Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) such as FFP3 masks are a form of PPE and, where a risk assessment or national guidance indicates that they should be used, they must be fit tested by a person competent to do so. FFP3 face masks provide a higher level of respiratory protection than surgical face masks. Their effectiveness is dependent on the wearer undergoing a ‘fit’ test, to ensure a protective seal can be achieved. Wearing PPE can be uncomfortable and can lead to heat stress, fatigue and heat related illness. It is recognised that wearing PPE for long periods can also create additional health and safety risks for staff.