Latex Rubber Bands

[robnant]

Has anyone suffered/knows of anyone who has had a skin reaction to the "new" light coloured rubber bands? I have heard that it is a latex allergy caused by the change in the compounds since Royal Mail changed from the red/brown bands to the newer light coloured ones.

If there is anyone out there who has come across this reaction, were they told by management/Work Time Learning before the new bands were issued that there was the possibility of some people suffering an allergic reaction to the latex?

I would be grateful if you could respond if you are aware of this happening.

Many thanks.

[fishtank]

09 July 2012
LTB 515/12 Royal Mail - New Brown Elastic Bands:

No. 515/12
Ref C5/12
Date: 9 July 2012




To: All Branches with Postal Members



Dear Colleagues



Royal Mail - New Brown Elastic Bands:
Branches and representatives you will recall that originally and historically Royal Mail used standard colourless brown elastic bands and decided to introduced red coloured versions instead. Royal Mail consumes nearly 1 billion elastic bands a year and in mid-2004 it changed the colour of bands used from brown to red so that that they are easier to spot and retrieve as part of a campaign to encourage staff to re-use and not to abandon rubber bands everywhere. Additionally the red rubber elastic bands were of a type designed to be more biodegradable than previously used brown bands, so as to lessen the environmental impact. Royal Mail also said in 2004 it was seeking to redesign certain processes to diminish the use of bands.



The red bands certainly became more visible but brought with it Media generated interest and more criticism. For example Lewisham Council complained that 5,000 were dropped a month in the borough. BBC Essex ran a campaign and collected and returned 10,000 in 2005 and 2009 the 'Keep Britain Tidy' Campaign returned 13,000 red elastic bands to Royal Mail collected by the public.

Shortly after introduction of the red bands in 2004 we had a number of ASRs report three things;

· firstly some members had a dermatological reaction to them.
· Secondly they appeared to snap more easily.
· Thirdly that when the Red Elastic Bands were dropped on the floor, the floor became slippery.

This was raised with the former Royal Mail Group Head of Safety, the late Allan St John Holt and former Head of Heath Dr Steve Boorman. It was reported back to us that the red elastic bands were exactly the same as the previous brown elastic bands but contained a harmless red dye.

There was a batch which had been cut slightly thinner than required which may have contributed to snapping but other than that there was no change. The cutting tools were adjusted by the manufacturer A rubber band has three basic dimensions; length, width and thickness and a rubber band's length should be is half its circumference. Its thickness is the distance from the inner circle to the outer circle, and its width is the distance from one edge to the other. If one imagines a rubber band in manufacture, that is, a long tube of rubber on a mandrel, before it is sliced into rubber bands, the band's width is how far apart the slices are cut. It was this that was checked out and corrected.



Allan St John Holt and Dr Steve Boorman concluded that there was no distinct reason why staff should react to the change. However in relation to the issue raised with me that when the change was made from brown to red was that when the red elastic bands were dropped on the floor, the floor became slippery. Allan St John Holt reported that a small amount of French Chalk, also known as Unscented Talcum Powder (hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2) was added to the boxes of Bands which is used as a lubricant to prevent the Bands sticking together. We were told that it was a standard product as used in cosmetic Talcum Powder and Baby Powder as an astringent powder used for preventing rashes and as widely used as a lubricant and as a filler in paper manufacture. Talc is also often used in sports keep athletes, gymnasts and player's hands dry. Talc, one of the softest minerals, is used as an ingredient in bath and body powders and other household products. I was assured it was a standard product and contained no asbestos-like fibres or harmful products. Although this common mineral is innocuous enough, it may cause an allergic skin irritation or eye contact irritation in a small number of people. We were told that the amount used was extremely small and it soon wore off after unpacking. It was agreed to request that the manufacturers remove it. The initial complaints subsided until now when Royal Mail have changed back from red to brown elastic bands!

It has been reported to the Health, Safety and Environment Department that deliveries of the new red elastic bands are 'covered with a white powder'. The Health, Safety and Environment Department has requested that both the composition of the elastic bands and the packaging and lubricant powder be investigated to check for any changes which may cause more of a risk of a skin reaction to staff more than normal.

Royal Mail's Mark Wythe (Delivery Equipment) informed the CWU Walk Design Group last year that the intention was to reverse the change to red bands and return to standard, colourless, brown elastic bands. Not surprisingly with all the other major issues to hand this created little or zero interest.
In the past five years, Royal Mail has spent almost £5m on four billion bands which are used to bundle letters together. Complaints continue about Royal Mail elastic bands littering the streets from customers and the public. Royal Mail do remind our delivery members of the need to take care not to drop bands whilst on their rounds as they constitute a litter problem if not picked up and taking rubber bands back to the office for reuse is by far the best solution. However, under pressure members don't always do that as we know. The bands are designed to be reused many times. Royal Mail also state that over the last few years they have reduced the weight of each band to minimise the overall amount of material used in their production.

Royal Mail inform us that the bands we use are made from natural material, are non-toxic and degrade within approximately 12 months depending on prevailing weather conditions.

Now Royal Mail have changed back from the red elastic bands to the previous brown elastic bands which have been in use since 2004 without many complaint, we are now receiving exactly the same as we did when we went from brown to red? A small number of complaints of a dermatological, allergic skin reaction being experienced by some individuals, identical to when the change was made from brown to red! We are informed once again by Royal Mail, as was the case when the reverse change was made that the only difference between these brown Bands and the red bands is that the red pigment or Dye has been removed ! Royal Mail have said they will test some of the bands to see if there is anything else that may be causing a skin problem.

A small number of individuals, about 5% of the population do have an allergy to the protein content of natural rubber (latex) or to the chemicals used to process rubber which produces a skin reaction or irritation with redness and itching. Reactions may vary in severity from person to person depending on sensitivity. This is another possibility.

I have however requested an investigation, checks and fresh testing of the new Elastic Bands, the packaging and lubricant powder.

If Area Safety Reps receive reported problems do let the Health, Safety & Environment Department know and we will pass the information on to the appropriate manager in Royal Mail HQ Shaun Buttress, National Assets Supply Chain Manager.

Yours Sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[fishtank]

And yes we have one female member of staff who had a very bad allergic reaction to the new brown rubber bands.
We managed to source a couple of boxes of the red bands which are kept separate for her use,when they run out we may need to look at another solution.

[DGP1]

I've found cuts and nicks on my hands recently, I don't know if it's the weather or the bands but a good hand cream is helping.

[ziko]

Pesticides.
But this info will never be released. They are spraying the bands upon shipment. Closed shop, sorry.

[jessicarabbit]

Bring back the string I say