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Original poster

In my ignorance to healthcare establishment procedures I have NO IDEA what the Health and Safety ishoos are regarding TIGHTS!!!!!

31 replies

VeniVidiVickiQV · 13/08/2006 11:08

Someone please explain what is so terrible about NOT wearing them with a skirt? And what H & S issues that might raise.....

OP posts:
WelshBoris · 13/08/2006 11:09

Tights= sweaty foof

Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 13/08/2006 11:11

Well, my thoughts exactly.......

Tights are sweaty, and dusty and stuff. Why are they preferable to bare legs?

OP posts:
Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/08/2006 13:36

Anyone? Honestly - this is a serious question....
A work colleague told me you must wear tights if wearing a skirt because of "health and safety" issues.

OP posts:
Iklboo · 14/08/2006 13:53

Ask your colleague to clarify - I mean, they're hardly any protection are they?

I personally wear tights with a skitr cos I've got legs that look like someone else played rugby with them and then gave them me back

Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/08/2006 13:56

Well, i did. All she could say was "well, its for when you handle patients" er...i dont "handle" patients, I sit behind a desk doing admin!

LOL at rugby legs!

OP posts:
fattiemumma · 14/08/2006 13:58

i think it might be for accidental spills maybe?
or to stop patients getting stuble burn if you havent shaved?

i honestly have no idea

KathyMCMLXXII · 14/08/2006 13:59

Call me an old cynic but it strikes me as complete and utter twaddle - ie somebody using the H&S justification to dress up their personal opinion/prejudice.

Iklboo · 14/08/2006 14:00

Still not clear how tights would help even if you handled patients - unless it was something for them to grab hold of??
She sounds like a weirdo to me

MrsBadger · 14/08/2006 14:08

Actually I overheard some nurses talking about this on the stairs the other day - apparently it's 'inappropriate' to have bare leg skin-contact with patients if you're hoisting them on/off beds etc which is why they all have to wear either trousers + tunic or dress + tights.
They were saying how silly it is that bare arm contact is ok, even if its the nurse's bare arm on the patient's bare legs.

Not entirely sure how this works if you're a) not handling patients and b) not wearing a uniform though. I'd have found it more believable if they'd said you had to wear tights because it wasn't professional not to, like they do at some law firms etc, rather than it was dangerous not to.

eefs · 14/08/2006 14:13

surely it is more dangerous to wear tights if you spill something hot on your legs - the tights could melt on/are hard to rip off quickly.

poppiesinaline · 14/08/2006 14:16

maybe its to help mop up any weak pelvic floor problems?

Health and safety TUT honestly!

Tiggly · 14/08/2006 14:45

May be as far as the nurses are concerned, certain uniforms in different lights go see through. My uniform is white with blue piping and goes see through with the slightest bit of water spillage, or if the sunlight streams through!! certain nurses also wear cheesewires (thongs) under their uniforms and in certain departments it can cause a rise in blood pressure with staff as well as patients!! I also understand that tights are not only uniform policy in our trust but with spillages etc, they provide protection for my hairy wee beasties!! Lol!

HappyDaddy · 14/08/2006 15:28

As long as they are not being worn on your head, what's the problem?

HappyDaddy · 14/08/2006 15:29

Tiggly, I think that is the strangest post I've ever read!!

Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/08/2006 19:25

LOL! I do wear a uniform, but its a dark blue skirt.

With the tights and the see through clothes/revealing thongs etc, how on earth are they going to check that? I mean if you wear stockings instead of tights? Does that mean no stockings then - it has to be tights? How weird! Hate tights.

Am totally puzzled by the bare skin thing. Its not like I'd be planning to rub my legs up against a patient. Cant see how a nurses legs would ever come into contact with a patient unless ....well....you know.

OP posts:
Bucketsofdinosaurs · 14/08/2006 19:34

Have you got an intranet type thing with all the policies on it you could have a look at maybe?

lexiemum · 14/08/2006 20:16

isn't jsut tradition? maybe this is the last bit left of the pre 1980's uniforms?

bring back paper hats and buckles

smurfgirl · 14/08/2006 20:17

I wear tights because I have a white uniform and its totally see through.

I also wear tights because its not unusual for me to kneel on the floor and crouch down and I would rather not have my bare legs on the floor or my pants on show when I bend down. Oh and sometimes to move a patient you have to put one knee on the bed (proper moving and handling stuff BTW not just pulling them around!!) and again I would rather not have bare legs then.

And I think it is a smartness issue it looks a bit more formal to wear tights and certainly for admin thats probably the only reason. In the hospitals/drs offices I have seen the admin staff tend to have bare legs in summer.

smurfgirl · 14/08/2006 20:18

lexiemum, district nurses where I live ALL still wear their buckles it does look v.smart

Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/08/2006 20:26

Fair do's. But I wondered how it affected someone sat behind a desk the whole time (bearing in mind I cant even wander off and make a cup of tea or go to the toilet willy nilly.....)

Is there a difference between tights and stockings though?

OP posts:
Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/08/2006 20:26

Fair do's. But I wondered how it affected someone sat behind a desk the whole time (bearing in mind I cant even wander off and make a cup of tea or go to the toilet willy nilly.....)

Is there a difference between tights and stockings though?

OP posts:
Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/08/2006 20:26

I mean, aside from the obvious.....

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Tiggly · 14/08/2006 20:31

I wear tights AND a belt with buckle!! I love wearing my buckle because I was given it on my graduation!

With regards to the pants on show, I believe it is up to the ward managers (some of them male) to police the uniform policy. Very recently we have had a memo go round about jewellery, keeping long hair tied back and for adhering to "appropriate underwear under uniforms, that leave more to the imagination" Obviously some of the senior nurses have had more than an eye full, and I am aware that one of the senior consultants has complained about staff having see through uniforms!!

Happydaddy, which bit in particular tickled you?? The cheeswires or the hairy wee beasties?? Lol!! So glad to entertain!

drosophila · 14/08/2006 20:34

Get a letter from your Doc saying you can't wear tights for soem reason. On a serious note contact the H&S executive or aske
to speak to the H&S rep.

Tiggly · 14/08/2006 20:34

One of the auxillaries I worked with a while ago was adviced to reconsider her "racey underwear" and that tights were more practical than stockings for nurses , the ping of a stocking might have someones eye out!!