Archives

Date:	December 17, 1997
To:	Member Districts
From:	Jim deSpelder, Risk Manager
Re:	Allergic Reactions to Latex Gloves

Background

In March of 1994 we sent members a Risk Control Bulletin addressing allergic reactions to latex rubber. The 1994 Risk Control Bulletin identified an employers legal duty to do the following:

Inform employees that potentially dangerous physical reactions can occur with the protracted use of latex gloves;

Inform employees that those who experience allergic reactions to the latex gloves will be given non-latex gloves to use (numerous alternatives exist such as PVC, neoprene and hypoallergenic gloves); and,

Establish and distribute a procedure that the employees can follow to obtain new gloves in a timely fashion. As part of that procedure, ensure that some written documentation is maintained that the new gloves were issued.

Copies of that Bulletin can be obtained by calling our office.

Update

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and independent federal agency conducting research on worker safety, has recently released a publication entitled "Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex in the Workplace." Topics include:

Causes of latex allergy;
Symptoms of the allergy;
Reactions to the allergy;
Products that contain latex;
Treatment; and more.

Product Update

A new latex-free glove is now available. N-DEX glove (below), from Best Manufacturing, is made of a synthetic, non-latex material that is safe for latex-sensitive individuals. The synthetic material distributes pressure quickly, conforming to the hand and reducing stress on muscles and joints. According to the manufacturer, the glove protects against intermittent or splash contact with chemicals and material is puncture-resistant.

We hope this updated information helps your risk control endeavors regarding the latex allergy. Fund staff is available for further information and assistance.

Date:	October 11, 1996
To:	Trust Members
From:	Jim deSpelder, Risk Manager
Re:	Slip and Fall Risk Control

There were a number of temperature changes above and below the freezing point last winter. This resulted in a higher than expected number of incidents involving slips and falls.

Slip and falls can result in minor bumps and bruises or extensive injuries. One slip and fall injury to an employee cost roughly $19,000. A large quantity of deicing products could have been purchased with this amount of money.

Enclosed is a risk control fact sheet analyzing the slip and fall hazard, evaluating deicing products and recommending various risk control techniques.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call the Risk Control department. Thank you.

Controlling ice hazards involves recognizing potential injuries to employees and the public, identifying the factors contributing to slip and fall incidents and evaluating common deicing products. The following paragraphs will elaborate on these three risk control measures.

Injuries can occur to employees, depriving members of their workforce and increasing workers’ compensation costs. Injuries can also occur to students and the public which may result in a liability claim or lawsuit.

Slip and fall injuries often result from the presence of ice and/or water on surfaces. There are several factors that when combined with slippery surfaces increase the likelihood of a slip and fall incident. These factors include:

• shoes with soles that offer little traction (leather soled shoes for example),
• a false sense of security caused by the presence of a deicing product that has unknowingly been rendered ineffective due to the quantity and/or temperature,
• presence of ice is hidden by snow or lack of illumination.

Common deicers include salts, chlorides and urea-based products. Every deicer has its strengths and weaknesses for controlling ice hazards. Some deicers work in temperatures below freezing, some are environmentally safe and some offer traction. The following section provides guidelines for evaluating deicers.

EVALUATING DEICING PRODUCTS

Deicing products differ in price, form, spreadability, efficiency due to concentrations and effectiveness in low temperatures. Evaluate deicers using the following parameters:

• traction
• environmental impact
• deicing capabilities (time and temperature)
• cost

Traction materials are designed to reduce ice hazards by adding friction to slippery surfaces. These materials can be utilized as a quick remedy since deicing products require time to melt the ice. The most common traction material used by private, public and commercial practices is sand. Anti-Sssskid® is an alternative product to sand. This product is environmentally safe, it has little or no adverse effects on surfaces and it works as a slow deicer.

When considering traction methods it is important not to mistake fertilizer as a traction option. It contains lime and urea which works well as an environmentally friendly deicer but offers poor traction.

Deicing capabilities vary by the rate of time required to melt ice and the temperatures at which they work effectively.

Deicing products that contain chloride are harmful to the environment and concrete. These products include rock salt, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride.

Cost

Prices vary based on quantities purchased, vendors and the time of year.

*Cost of based on minimum purchase of approximately 40 bags at 50 lbs each. Prices are subject to change.

1. Rock salt adversely affects the environment. Avoid using salt in areas where bushes, flowers and trees are a high concern. An environmentally safe alternative deicer is favored in these areas.

2. Use deicers appropriate for the designed temperature ranges. Below freezing temperatures are too low for rock salt to work effectively.

3. Use deicing and traction products in high traffic areas such as exits and entrances. If a product offers good traction at a slow deicing rate, combine the traction product with a rapid deicing product. Using a combination of deicing and traction products enhances ice hazard control practices.

4. A district’s maintenance program should consider offering flexible hours to the custodial and maintenance personnel distributing the deicing products. In addition, deicing products should be given enough time to work completely.

5. Place floor mats inside all entrances to allow employees, students and members of the public to wipe their shoes as they enter the buildings. Keep the entrance floors dry by mopping on a regular basis.

6. "Wet Floor" signs should be present in entrances and areas where water accumulates to warn students and employees of slippery surfaces.

Since all potential slip and fall hazards have not been addressed, some members may find and/or already use products and procedures not mentioned above. If so, the Risk Control Services department would like to hear your opinions on these products so that we may pass them on to the other members.