Rank: Forum user 
|
if personnel occassionally come into contact with rusty metal, can you insist on everyone being up to date with their tetanus shots? Can we prevent perrsonnel from working if they don't?
thank you
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
I think there is a similar thread elsewhere on the forums with a similar topic; I believe that whether it's required is part of your risk assessment, you can't force employees to have an injection and it's unlikely that you can discriminate against them if they object to having one.
You may have to consider other control measures.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Not wishing to be pedantic - honestly, but rusty metal is not a problem. It's DIRTY metal that might contain bacteria, pathogens etc. Rust is just iron oxide and you can eat that. I would be concerned about cuts in general and the onset of any kind of infection. So whilst Tet jabs are a basic need for any citizen, I would think, you'll need to make sure that there is sufficient provision of welfare facilities and appropriate fist aid for cuts etc. But prevent them from working - I would think not.
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user 
|
Well, actually, Jericho (or Chris), its not strictly DIRTY (your caps) metal that is a problem.
The great problem is of soiling of a wound with any foreign material that can then provide the environment suitable for sporulation and growth of Clostridium tetani spores.
So a few bits of rust into a wound that is then quickly contaminated from another source could be a problem though hardly above the risks associated with daily activities.
If injury is a problem or the task is likely to soil hands, wear suitable gloves. Wash hands after glove removal and be sensible with hand hygiene. Clean minor wounds, having encouraged them to bleed (without squeezing so hard that you cause tissue damage). Seek medical attention for major wounds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
And here was me trying not to be pedantic.. But of course Ian you are quite correct. It's the cut that is the issue, into which many forms of contamination could enter. I was merely trying to point out that rust is not hazardous (in this context) as it can be completely sterile. Sure the metal could be sterile too, but subsequent contact with 'stuff' could result in infection. Uhm, operating theater anyone?
No, don't start.
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
That's exactly it!
It's the cut + 'stuff' that's the problem, and the 'stuff' could come from anywhere.
But foreign material - that is, the other sort of 'stuff' that may indeed be sterile 'stuff' - in a wound changes the tissue micro-environment, reduces the inflow of soluable and immune cellular components, and reduces tehoxydation/reduction potential by changing blood flow characteristics.
An effective immune response may be impaired or lost. In turn, this creates an environment for bacterial growth and increases the probability of infection, whether tetanus or some other infection.
So 'stuff', of whatever sort, is best avoided and in this case I think a pair of 'stuff-proof' gloves will suffice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.