Hygiene and welfare

[Drsplib]

I'm working at a site which is GMP Production, with active pharmaceuticals. A problem I have is that the operators wear nitrile rubber gloves all day to prevent exposure to the drugs, but there are no wash areas downstairs in the production area, only in the changing rooms upstairs. Where do I stand with the Welfare regs - washing facilities are provided, but they're so far away as to be unpracticable? I'm training the guys at the moment on gloves and hygiene, but this sort of thing keeps throwing a spanner in the works.
Cheers,
Andrew.

[Alexis]

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 say it all QF.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1992/Uksi_1 ... htm#mdiv21" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lowenp]

Just a thought you may get away with providing Deb alcohol gel dispenserrs and some hand cream dispensors cheaper options no need for sinks if you have them else with in the vicinity, have seen this in hospitals when going into wards etc because there's no ways they would be able to provide hot water & sinks to every hospital ward entrance?

regards

[Drsplib]

We've got the gel alcohol dispensers - only prob is that these are for killing pathogens on your hands and so avoiding contamination of the product, rather than protecting the individual. In fact they make things worse, as the gel partially removes the oils from the skin, increasing risk of dermatitis. Got a real problem here with Quality versus Health and Safety. Barrier creams are out, as they are not permitted under GMP!
Time for some research I guess.

[lowenp]

Non scented Hand conditioning creams should be acceptable, we produce food packaging for the food industry and have BRC accrediation which when auditted they have accepted, we do have the benefit of wash basins on the shop floor though which may be apositive bonus though, tricky one if your standards are very different

[HelenPJ]

Hi Drsplib
You might find something useful on HSE's microsite Skin at Work, here:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/skin/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hope so anyway