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Finger pricks? My mom used a thimble. I know it’s obviously not that simple in a medical research environment, but I do wonder if the basic idea of a sewing th

Finger pricks? My mom used a thimble. I know it’s obviously not that simple in a medical research environment, but I do wonder if the basic idea of a sewing thimble could be adapted into a contoured, finger-shaped thin metal layer that’s mounted inside special gloves for the researchers to wear. It would have to be done in such a way as to not hinder their dexterity, but I’d think that’s quite doable if said “thimble” was confined to the first segment of each finger.

lixtra 5y ago
Or that: > and did not wear both metal mesh and surgical gloves, as she was supposed to
- proactivesvcs 5y ago
  I think that tragedies like these should absolutely cast a spotlight on the institutional and procedural weaknesses that may have contributed. With this in mind I still I have to say - it blows my mind that someone could be working with prions and not be wearing the correct hand protection. Why? How often did they work so unsafely? How many others aren't? Did nobody notice and speak up? Even the article itself doesn't seem to ask these questions.
  - PoignardAzur 5y ago
    From articles I've read (and my father's experience in construction work), the biggest challenge in workplace safety is getting the workers to wear the damn equipment that's specifically made to save their life. It's especially dangerous with unscrupulous bosses, who will just shrug and not have a fight with their own employees over making them follow the regulations.
bzzzt 5y ago
That's exactly the kind of glove the article says the woman should have been wearing, but obviously wasn't...
supermatt 5y ago
You can already get gloves to prevent needlestick injuries. I think they use kevlar (or whatever the generic name is).
- delecti 5y ago
  I had never thought about kevlar being a brand name before and your comment made me curious. Apparently the generic name for that material is "para-aramid".

lixtra 5y ago

Or that: > and did not wear both metal mesh and surgical gloves, as she was supposed to

proactivesvcs 5y ago
I think that tragedies like these should absolutely cast a spotlight on the institutional and procedural weaknesses that may have contributed. With this in mind I still I have to say - it blows my mind that someone could be working with prions and not be wearing the correct hand protection. Why? How often did they work so unsafely? How many others aren't? Did nobody notice and speak up? Even the article itself doesn't seem to ask these questions.
- PoignardAzur 5y ago
  From articles I've read (and my father's experience in construction work), the biggest challenge in workplace safety is getting the workers to wear the damn equipment that's specifically made to save their life. It's especially dangerous with unscrupulous bosses, who will just shrug and not have a fight with their own employees over making them follow the regulations.

bzzzt 5y ago

That's exactly the kind of glove the article says the woman should have been wearing, but obviously wasn't...

supermatt 5y ago

You can already get gloves to prevent needlestick injuries. I think they use kevlar (or whatever the generic name is).

delecti 5y ago
I had never thought about kevlar being a brand name before and your comment made me curious. Apparently the generic name for that material is "para-aramid".