Latex products in the work place - Labout Studies
Over the last decade, many employees have developed allergies related to the use of latex. "The employees affected have mainly been found in healthcare, food services and in beauty services." As employees in these areas, as well as other areas have learned of the potential risk from the contraction of disease leading to death, caused by the exposure to bodily fluids, they have realized that the use of products to stop the exposure is absolutely essential. This has substantially increased and spread the use of latex products, mainly gloves. "The use of so many is very costly, so many employees turned to third world countries who produce a cheaper, untreated latex, which although it cannot be blamed alone for the development of latex allergies, does contribute to the problem." The repeated use of latex in the work place can lead to allergies that affect the worker's ability to function both at work and at home. "The allergies developed can result in degree from a minor irritation to an anaphylactic shock. Out of the many types of allergic reactions only two types, Type I and Type IV have been observed as being related to latex. Type IV reactions have proved to be a response to additives used by the manufacturer. They are
Latex-free Product Alternatives. (Pamphlet) (Published by the Spina Bifida Association of Canada. Winnipeg, 1995.) p. 1. "Many of the employees who develop severe reactions to latex, cannot find a job that they can practice safely. As a result they end up on disability allowance." As well as being costly to the employer and to the government, this is also costly to the employee. "It costs the employee their normal way of life and can make them feel less valued. Not being able to function in their work environment can have many psychological effects." "When it is at all possible, an alternate job is found for the employee, but even this option is costly. It costs the employer the employee's work and the cost or retraining." It costs the employee time and often a pay cut. This seems unjust to the employee, as he is not responsible for the situation in which he finds himself. These costs to the employee are the main reason that the government needs to become involved in this issue. Once an employee has developed a latex allergy it affects every aspect of their life, including when they are treated as a patient. It is very important that anyone taking care of the employee from a doctor/dentist to a hairdresser is made aware of the allergy. "Some common products that contain latex in the healthcare environment are air masks, blood pressure cuffs, catheters, dressings, bandages and I.V. tubing." These are just a few of the commonly used products, however, there are thousands more. "In one scenario in a hospital a healthcare professional was admitted for routine abdominal surgery. Her allergy to latex was known but the latex in the mask used for the induction of the anesthesia was overlooked. This caused an anaphylactic reaction that would have been fatal had it not been treated so quickly. The surgery was later re-done in a latex-free environment." "Another healthcare worker who developed an allergy to latex had a similar experience at an orthodontist." The severity of these reactions does not only show the need for employers to give employees with latex allergies a latex-free environment to work in but also the need to reduce the risk of developing the allergy to latex all together.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2193
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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