Safer surgical gloves: evaluation and implementation.

In 2003 the Scottish Health Service Central Legal Office was consulted on the requirement to supply an alternative to natural rubber latex gloves for healthcare professionals within NHS Lothian University Hospitals Trust. Counsel stated that as latex is now accepted as being hazardous to health, employers must prove the statutory defence in Regulation 7(1) of the Control ofSubstances Hazardous to Health Regulations (HSE 2002). Counsel also stated that, as there are now adequate alternatives to latex gloves, NHS employers would have an indefensible position if no attempt was made to supply alternatives.