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Efforts continue to make UD latex-safe

10:15 a.m., Sep. 3, 2003--There are students at UD who have an allergy to latex and they require campus assistance with their sensitivity.

“Latex allergies are very serious and, in certain cases nationally, the reactions to exposures have been fatal,” according to Joseph Siebold, physician/director of UD Health Services.

Since latex gloves and balloons represent the majority of latex use on campus, Siebold said, units are urged to:

  • Use an alternative to latex gloves, and in those specific instances where latex gloves must be used, determine if anyone in the area has a latex allergy; and
  • When hosting an event that will be attended by persons for whom it is impossible to determine if they have a latex allergy, assume that they do have one and do not use latex balloons inside UD buildings or in any confined area.

Siebold said, “We appreciate the assistance and cooperation of the UD community in making the campus more latex safe. Please help us attain a latex-safe environment.

“About 5 percent of the general population and about 15 percent of the health-care industry population have allergies to latex,” he said. “This underlines the point that persons who do not currently have such allergies, but are subject to repeated exposure to latex, can also develop an allergic response.”

Robin Elliott, UD director of occupational health and safety, said a number of web sites address alternative products that may be substituted for latex-containing products, including:

The Department of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is available to provide assistance in choosing appropriate alternatives as are departmental chemical hygiene officers and Material Safety Data Sheets, Elliott said. OHS also should be consulted to determine when there is no occupationally safe alternative to latex gloves.


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