Catering in a healthcare setting

Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) products impact on staff working in food preparation and the serving/delivery of food in healthcare because:

1. In situations where staff do inappropriately use natural rubber latex gloves in the catering department they are at increased risk of developing NRL allergy through the repeated use of NRL gloves.

2. They have a statutory responsibility to reduce risk of sensitisation in themselves, their colleagues and their customers/consumers.

Ensure you have and are familiar with:

  • A written Policy on action to protect staff from developing NRL allergy
  • A written Policy on safe accommodation of latex-sensitive members of staff
  • An Education programme to inform new and existing staff.
  • Educational materials for staff information, clearly displayed and on file Posters
  • An Occupational health surveillance programme, which includes pre-employment screening
  • A named responsible person for managing Health and Safety

NRL gloves are widely used in both domestic and commercial food preparation. However, some people become allergic to the proteins in NRL, and subsequent reactions to NRL-containing products can range from mild to severe, occasionally even life-threatening.

This may not only impact on the staff who wear the gloves but also on NRL-sensitive people who eat the food that has been handled or prepared with hands wearing NRL gloves, as the proteins can be transferred onto the food or it’s packaging. Food contaminated with NRL in this way can cause allergic reactions, which may be severe, in people with NRL allergy if eaten.

Glove selection
Natural rubber latex gloves are simply not required in catering environments as there are synthetic alternatives which will give an equally effective barrier. In many catering establishments, blue vinyl single-use gloves are being worn for food handling and preparation where there is a need for gloves to be worn. More important is thorough hand-washing to ensure good hygiene and keeping your hands in good condition, although it is accepted that customers tend to prefer seeing staff wearing gloves because they believe them to be “cleaner” than bare hands.

Strong long-cuffed natural rubber latex gloves are frequently used when oven cleaning with caustic substances. There are synthetic alternatives which offer just as good personal protection, for example PVC gauntlets.

Hand-washing, glove use and hand-care

  • Wash hands gently and thoroughly before and after each task
    • Keep nails short, clean and free of nail polish
    • Remove jewellery
    • Wet hands before using liquid and solid soaps
    • Wash hands ensuring that all areas are cleaned (remember thumbs, webs between fingers and include wrists)
    • Dry hands gently but thoroughly preferably using single-use soft paper towels
       
  • Apply gloves before task and remove after task
    • Select the right glove for the task 
    • Change gloves between tasks
    • Do not wash and re-use single-use gloves
    • Dispose of single-use gloves in the appropriate bin
       
  • Care of hands
    • Use perfume-free water based hand creams at the end of each working session to keep your hands in good condition Hand care protocols

Sensitised Staff
If staff are identified as sensitised to NRL, Occupational Health must work with the senior member of staff in the department to undertake a risk-assessment to ensure that the working environment is safe for the continuing employment of the affected member of staff. Risk minimisation and education of colleagues is vital.

Reporting
Employers have a duty to report incidences of occupational dermatitis and asthma attributable to latex to the Health and Safety Executive under the RIDDOR  (or Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 requirements). The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) is a Special Health Authority charged with improving patient safety in the NHS.  It was created in 2001, following the publication of two reports addressing patient safety incidents in the NHS (An Organisation with a Memory and its follow-up, Building a Safer NHS for Patients).

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has a voluntary reporting system for reporting cases of NRL sensitisation in both patients and staff.

Adverse reactions to Food and other Food/Latex-related issues www.food.gov.uk