The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne has opened an internal investigation after learning that sterile gloves used for chemotherapy were not rated for cytotoxic agents.

Those same gloves had been used in certain wards for as long as ten years, even though international standards for chemo‑protective gloves were updated a decade ago. Some areas stopped using them earlier, but others kept the older stock.

WorkSafe Victoria sent a formal notice on August 26, urging RCH to review the equipment. The hospital responded by replacing the non‑rated gloves with ones that meet the current safety standard.

RCH also hired an independent testing organisation to examine the gloves and to assess any possible exposure risk for its nurses and other staff.

Maddy Harradence, spokesperson for the Victorian branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, said the incident shows inconsistent protective‑equipment standards across Victorian hospitals and called for a thorough probe.

Chemotherapy drugs are toxic; accidental skin contact can affect fertility and overall health. Without gloves specifically designed for cytotoxic agents, staff may be unknowingly exposed, making strict glove standards a vital safeguard for hospital workers.