New carton graphics help healthcare workers identify which gloves are latex
Posted by Lisa McTigue Pierce -- Packaging Digest, 2/14/2012 6:38:53 PM
Healthcare employees work in a fast-paced environment where even the simplest mistakes can have serious consequences—like accidently using a latex exam glove when the worker or patient has a latex allergy. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), 8 to 12 percent of healthcare workers are latex sensitive with reactions ranging from irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact sensitivity, to immediate, possibly life-threatening, sensitivity. Another three million people in the United States are estimated to have latex allergies, according to the American Latex Allergy Assn.
Contributing to the latex issue is unclear labeling on the packaging whether or not a product contains latex.
Medline Industries Inc., the largest supplier of exam gloves in the United States, is making it hard for healthcare workers to select the wrong item with the introduction of new packaging for its exam gloves. Medline's new packaging now features key information prominently displayed on five sides of the box, including whether the glove is latex, latex-free, nitrile or vinyl, as well as the glove's size and color.
Since the information is printed on five sides of the box, it can be easily seen and will not be obscured by a glove box holder. These features can help ensure the healthcare worker is selecting the right glove.
"The new glove packaging will make it easier for the healthcare worker to quickly see which glove he or she is choosing for which type of clinical or non-clinical situation," says Candace Smith, MPA, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer for Medline. "We are constantly looking for innovative ways to solve key challenges healthcare workers face by creating innovative product and packaging solutions."
The transition to Medline's new packaging began late in 2011 with its Aloetouch line of gloves, which uses a proprietary technology to coat the inside of the gloves with pure freeze-dried organic aloe to help soothe and soften skin that is irritated from frequent hand washing and glove wearing.
The new packaging will be rolled out to Medline's other exam glove lines later this year.
SATO is a pioneer and leading global provider of integrated Automatic Identification and Data Collection solutions that leverage barcode and RFID technologies. SATO manufactures innovative, reliable auto-identification systems and offers complete...
more
ECONOCORP, INC. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of ECONOSEAL cartoning, trayforming, and casepacking caters to moderate volume users and features simplicity in design, operation, and maintenance. ECONOSEALS handle paperboard and corrugated...
more
QuickLabel Systems makes and sells digital color label printers and barcode label printers for use by manufacturers of foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and more...
more
Bosch Packaging Technology, Inc. is one of the world's leading suppliers of packaging machinery. Our diverse portfolio of packaging machines, including the well known Doboy brand, includes robotic automation with pick & place robots (delta robots)...
more
Hitachi America Ltd., Industrial Components & Equipment Division, supplies a broad range of industrial products and services. The division supplies sophisticated industrial equipment, components and services for application in pharmaceutical...
more
Markem-Imaje is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, print and apply label systems and RFID-based systems. Markem-Imaje...
more
Fogg is a world leader in the design and manufacture of rotary filling, rinsing, capping and enclosure systems for free flowing and viscous liquids. Fogg serves a growing number of dairy, spirits, water, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and...
more
Markem-Imaje is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, print and apply label systems and RFID-based systems. Markem-Imaje...
more
Microscan develops barcode and machine vision products that help manufacturers reduce costs, increase yields, improve product quality, and comply with regulations. Designed for precision applications, Microscan's line of 1D and 2D barcode readers...
more
Thermo Scientific Product Inspection and Processing equipment protects your brands by ensuring the quality, accuracy, efficiency and safety of your products. With more than 50 years of making sure little things don't turn into big problems, we know...
more
DOMINO is one of the world's largest manufacturers of digital printing solutions and is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange. Our products are used for date coding, product marking, serialization and variable printing. Among our customers...
more
Teledyne DALSA is a world leader in the design, manufacture and deployment of digital imaging components for the machine vision market. Teledyne DALSA image sensors, cameras, smart cameras, frame grabbers, software and vision solutions are used in...
more
Healthcare employees work in a fast-paced environment where even the simplest mistakes can have serious consequences—like accidently using a latex exam glove when the worker or patient has a latex allergy. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), 8 to 12 percent of healthcare workers are latex sensitive with reactions ranging from irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact sensitivity, to immediate, possibly life-threatening, sensitivity. Another three million people in the United States are estimated to have latex allergies, according to the American Latex Allergy Assn.
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
