Blog #6 Preventing occupational skin damage/injury

Blog 6: Preventing occupational skin damage/injury

The skin is the largest organ in the human body, with an average length of 2 square meters when stretched out, accounting for 15 percent of the human bodyweight. The skin has three layers epidermis, dermis and subcutis.

 “Your skin performs a range of different functions which include physically protecting your bones, muscles and internal organs, protecting your body from outside diseases, allowing you to feel and react to heat and cold and using blood to regulate your body heat.”

-    http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/humanbody/skin.html

Occupational skin diseases are some of the most common occupational diseases reported. Occupational skin disease are separated into three groups. Irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and other occupational skin diseases.

“The following occupations account for 80% of reported occupational skin disease in developed countries in Europe; most involve wet working conditions, which commonly results in contact dermatitis.

-    Hairdressing/ beauty therapy

-    Food industry

-    Health care including dental and veterinary workers

-    Agriculture including gardeners and florists

-    Cleaning

-    Painting and decorating

-    Motor vehicle repair

-    Construction

-    Printing

The sites affected by occupational skin disease depend on exposure. About 80% of patients with occupational skin disease present with hand dermatitis.”

-         http://www.dermnetnz.org/reactions/occupational-dermatoses.html

Irritant contact dermatitis develops because of constant and prolonged exposure to ‘weak’ irritants like water or soap. When exposed to more severe skin irritants such as heavy metals while rare, the reactions are usually more serious.

Allergic contact dermatitis develops when one is exposed even minimally to antigenic substances, these are substances that evoke an immune response. This includes plants like poison ivy, nickel, and acrylics. If a rash appears at the point of contact, is likely to be very red, blistering, and a case severe swelling.

Other occupational skin diseases include, oil acne and folliculitis. Which develops when one is constantly exposed to solvents and lubricants. Occupational skin neoplasm aka skin cancer develops when one is exposed to polycyclic hydrocarbons, inorganic metals, and arsenicals. Symptoms may not be visible until two or three decades after the exposure.

Occupational skin diseases can be prevented by,

-        Educating employees, Employers should make sure employees are aware of the hazards of the substances which they are exposed to and how to use them safely.

-        Making washing facilities like showers and bathrooms with hot water, disposable towels and mild soap more accessible to all employees.

-       The use of local exhaust ventilation systems and enclosures to separate employees from the harmful substances that they use or come in contact with.

-        Protective gear and clothing, like gloves, aprons, barrier creams and skin cleansers. Not all protective gear resists all substances. Employers should pay attention to the manufacturers' specifications.

Finally, Employers and employees should continually make sure to identify possible work hazards and the risks of exposure. When a hazard cannot be eliminated, it should be minimized. When possible choosing less harmful chemicals to do the same job, and rotate tasks to reduce individual exposure. This should be an on-going process that responds to changes in the workplace.