the health of individuals with existing latex allergy is not put at significant risk if colleagues use either low protein, powder free latex gloves or latex-free gloves. An exception might be if the affected employee has anaphylaxis. However, in all cases where employees have work-related medical conditions, competent medical advice should have been sought Latex is found in many products used in healthcare. These products are often for single patient use, for example disposable gloves or equipment. The use and availability of powdered latex gloves has reduced due to an increased awareness of latex allergy. Now alternative materials are used, such as nitrile, to provide safe alternatives to those with a natural rubber latex allergy. Gloves containing powder (used as a lubricant) can be a problem for those with a latex allergy or asthma as it is possible for latex protein to become airborne when the gloves are removed, releasing particles into the air which can cause allergic symptoms.

There are several types of synthetic rubber materials used instead of natural rubber latex for protective gloves. PVC gloves are widely available and safe. If you have been advised to carry non-latex gloves for use in an emergency, it is sensible to carry a large size. Suitable gloves are Ansell Dermoprene, Elastryren, Johnson & Johnson Allergard, Neolon People with latex allergy should avoid products containing latex. This will prevent their symptoms getting any worse. There are many lists of products containing latex available but as a general guide, you should try to avoid:The majority of healthcare products containing NRL are 'medical devices' as defined by the Medical Devices Regulations 1999. Therefore, their manufacture and provision are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Recent research As the use of such products has increased, particularly of single-use latex gloves in infection control, NRL allergy and sensitisation has been identified as a problem. What is the problem? In employees with latex-induced asthma or rhinitis, the use of powder-free, low-protein gloves by colleagues reduces symptoms and indices of severity in the affected employee to a similar degree as the use of non-latex gloves by colleagues In most cases, there are alternative products you can use. Latex balloons are banned at GOSH, but foil balloons are fine for a child with latex allergy. All wards and departments at GOSH now use latex-free gloves. Latex-free condoms are widely available in most chemists. The female condom is made from polyurethane and is safe for you to use. A variety of non rubber (latex free) condoms are available and should be available from a pharmacy.

Breathing problems such as cough, wheeze or difficulty in breathing as a result of breathing in latex protein that becomes airborne (from balloons and rubber gloves) All but the most severe cases of latex allergy and latex-induced asthma can be managed without the need for redeployment, ill-health retirement or termination of employment. Adjustments include careful personal avoidance of latex at work and minor changes in the workplace Powdered gloves pose an additional risk, not only to the user but also to sensitised people in the area. This is because the proteins in the NRL glove leach into the powder, which becomes airborne when the gloves are removed, leading to the potential for inhalation exposure to the NRL proteins. NRL can be found in many products used in health and social care. It has been extensively used in the manufacture of medical gloves (non-sterile examination gloves, surgical gloves) because it is a very durable and flexible material giving wearers a high degree of dexterity, sensitivity and microbiological protection. It is also used in a range of medical devices. The second option makes sense if you are the administrator of a multi-user system. If this is the case and if you expect that some of your users would like to work with MiKTeX, then you should install MiKTeX system-wide.

Coming to hospital

Once the diagnosis of allergy to natural rubber latex has been confirmed avoidance is the key to preventing exposure and further reactions. Letting other people know you have a latex allergy is important, including your employer, if you are at risk, through your job, of exposure to latex. You should also tell any Healthcare/ beauty/hairdressing provider that they will need to avoid latex gloves and equipment containing latex. If you have been prescribed allergy medication it is important that you can recognise allergy signs and symptoms and know how and when to use your medication and/or adrenaline auto injector device. If you do need to use emergency allergy medication (your adrenaline auto injector) then an ambulance should be called immediately to ensure that skilled medical help and access to any further medication is on its way. using low-protein, powder-free, single-use latex gloves in the workplace is unlikely to lead to new cases of latex allergy If you are highly allergic to latex, it may be worth carrying a set of sterile latex-free gloves, especially if you are travelling away from home. Hospitals and doctors in the UK are becoming more aware of latex allergy, but unfortunately the same may not be true of healthcare abroad.

This section provides useful links to sources of guidance, research and information on the management of dermatitis in the health and social care sector.The use of powder-free, low-protein latex gloves as an alternative to powdered latex gloves significantly reduces the incidence of latex allergy and latex-induced asthma, as well as the prevalence of latex-related symptoms. Powdered latex gloves should therefore not be used in the workplace Employees with latex allergy, latex sensitivity or latex-induced asthma should use non-latex gloves The evidence and conclusions from the NHS Plus Occupational Health Clinical Effectiveness Unit report provide reassurance that: Do you want to set up a private (for you only) TeX installation, or do you want to set up a shared (system-wide) TeX installation?

At a national and local level, a policy that encourages switching from powdered latex gloves to powder-free, low-protein latex gloves is a proven effective method of reducing the incidence of latex allergy

Document history

Employers should carefully consider the risks when selecting gloves for use in the health and social care sector. HSE has provided specific guidance on selecting latex gloves and recommends following HSE's glove selection guidance when considering glove use in the workplace (latex or otherwise), Further information In employees who are latex allergic/sensitised, taking latex avoidance measures results in symptoms reducing or disappearing Single-use disposable gloves. The use of gloves as part of infection control within healthcare rose exponentially during the 1990s. There are a number of different types of gloves available. All single-use latex gloves may present a particular risk of latex allergies but the risk is reduced in gloves with lower levels of latex proteins. In 2008, the NHS Plus Occupational Health Clinical Effectiveness Unit, in association with the Royal College of Physicians, produced evidence based guidelines for the occupational aspects of latex allergy management.