Kara At Work

[Guest Happy]

WJKK WJKFateh,

I'll be starting a new job at the end of February in a hospital.

They need you to be bare below the elbows.

If I'm told to take my kara off (for safety or hygiene), is there any reason I can give for keeping it on?

Thank youuu

[ms514]

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Couple of options.

A) Full disposable gown that would cover everything is allowed in sterile areas.

B) Oversized Kara which can be moved up above the elbow and kept in place with a cravat/"ACE bandage" to be worn when in the sterile areas.

Mostly, it involves checking with the lead person of the hospital area (if you can find a Sikh working in the facility in that area - especially surgeon - they should be able to advise as well as put in a word to the hospital area as to your wearing a Kara) as to what can be accommodated. Most facilities will try to balance your religious needs with the hygeine needs. I was given the option to gown up in the hospital I used to work in - covered all of my my body and I have worked in a sterile compounding area making IV medications which required scrubbing up. Some may just tell you to scrub the Kara along with your handwashing.

[savinderpalsingh]

WaheguruJiKaKhalsa!!WaheguruJiKiFateh!!

you can wear kara in your kesh while tying turban

[Guest Legaljit Singh]

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Couple of options.

A) Full disposable gown that would cover everything is allowed in sterile areas.

B) Oversized Kara which can be moved up above the elbow and kept in place with a cravat/"ACE bandage" to be worn when in the sterile areas.

Mostly, it involves checking with the lead person of the hospital area (if you can find a Sikh working in the facility in that area - especially surgeon - they should be able to advise as well as put in a word to the hospital area as to your wearing a Kara) as to what can be accommodated. Most facilities will try to balance your religious needs with the hygeine needs. I was given the option to gown up in the hospital I used to work in - covered all of my my body and I have worked in a sterile compounding area making IV medications which required scrubbing up. Some may just tell you to scrub the Kara along with your handwashing.

Those 2 "options' are no options at all. There is only one option, and that is the option that holds sway among virtually all the NHS. That is, you wear your kara.

There is yet to be a single case where a Sikh has been denied the right to wear his or her kara whilst working in an NHS hospital, and the hospital has successfully pleaded it's case.

It may be possible that an NHS Trust here or there has attempted to enforce such a ban, but once a Sikh asserts his or her rights that ban is quickly overturned. An intitial reason they may give is that of health & safety, but that suggestion is rebutted by the fact that literally hundreds of Trusts up and down the land have no problem whatsoever with the kara. The Law will take the stance that if it's not a problem for them why should it be a problem for one.

[Guest Sugar]

In the UK as per DoH guidelines you do not need to remove your kara and you officially need to pull it up your arm as far as it will go and wash it after patient contact along with your hands. I have treated patients in A&E, wards and operating theatre wearing my kara without a problem.

[ms514]

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Not everyone on this website is from the UK...