Don't leave workers exposed to skin disease
Grease, oil, solvents, detergents, soapy water, dust, paper and cardboard are all common workplace materials that can be damaging to employees’ skin. Unfortunately, exposure to potentially irritating and harmful contaminants and environmental conditions is often unavoidable, which is why protective management measures are vital.
Occupational skin disease is a serious health issue that often goes unreported in the workplace as its importance is not widely recognised, yet in many cases could be prevented with simple skin care regimes. As part of our commitment to keep people safe in the workplace we have created a package of support materials to help you implement an effective skin care programme:
Please click on the sections below for more information...
All about Occupational
Skin Disease
About skin creams
Implementing a
skin programme
Occupational skin disease
AN INVISIBLE THREAT
to Efficiency, Health & Well-being
Occupational skin disease, is an invisible threat to efficiency, health and well-being. It can affect your efficiency and the health and well-being of your employees, yet it goes mostly unreported.
The risk for employees:
Sickness absence from work. Reduced efficiency. Reduced pay.
Lower morale and self-esteem. In worst cases, change of career.
The risk for employers:
Bad publicity. Increased cost due to sickness days. Reduced productivity. Increased training and recruitment costs. In worst cases, potential compensation claims.
The most common form of Occupational Skin Disease is dermatitis and every business can be affected, yet most cases can be avoided. Effective and often simple means of prevention are readily available. When they are properly applied, the incidence of dermatitis can be significantly reduced.
About the Skin
To understand what causes dermatitis, you need to know a little about human skin.
The skin is our largest organ and as individual as we are. An average adult has around 21 square feet of it and 300 million skin cells amounting to about 10% of their body weight. It regulates the body’s temperature, wards off infections and senses heat, cold and vibrations.
It has two layers, the inner dermis and the outer epidermis. As shown in this cross section of the human skin.
Over the epidermis is a layer of dead cells covered by a film of sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands which helps keep the skin supple. It’s vital to keep this outer layer intact as in a healthy state it is strongly resistant to bacteria and external agents.
What is Occupational Dermatitis?
Symptoms and seriousness depend on the type and length of exposure to the potential irritant, and on the
person’s susceptibility.
Symptoms usually begin with redness, irritation and sometimes swelling. Blisters may follow, and if these break the skin may become infected. Contact with some substances may cause small areas of the skin to thicken, eventually forming rough wart-like growths which may become cancerous.
Any part off the body may be affected, but most often it is the hands and arms. If the irritant is dust or fumes, inflammation may also occur on exposed areas.
Dermatitis is not contagious, but if untreated it can spread to other parts of the body, so proper treatment at an early stage essential. If anyone suspects they may be developing a skin problem they should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Threats to skin health
Every day you are potentially exposed to contaminants and conditions that can be harmful to your skin, for example:
Many substances can penetrate the skin and are capable of causing diseases elsewhere in the body.
While harmful substances and wet work are a major cause of skin disease, constantly working in uncomfortably hot or cold surroundings or excessively dry or wet conditions can also cause serious skin disorders.
THE BENEFITS OF SKIN CREAMS
* Reduced direct skin contact with specific types of physical contaminants and micro-organisms
* Help with retaining natural lipids and moisture in the skin whilst working
* Improved comfort and skin strength when wearing PPE, particularly gloves and footwear
* Protection for skin against exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays or cold working conditions
* Creams make skin quicker and easier to clean with less aggressive cleansers
When creams are not used, natural lipids and moisture are worn away, causing the skin cells to split into thin layers. Physical contaminants and micro-organisms can then enter the layers and, if left untreated, can lead to infections and skin disease.
An integrated skin care product approach
Where it’s not possible to protect the skin against workplace contaminants, and PPE can’t provide sufficient skin protection, cleaning and taking care of the hands offers a proactive, holistic defence against work related skin disorders.
A 3-Step Skin Care Product System should be adopted to:
Protect Pre-Work Creams
Formulated to help protect the skin from contaminants and the environment, and also make hands easier to clean after work. They should be applied to clean hands prior to working or after washing hands.
Skin Cleansers
Remove contaminants from the skin. Use the most appropriate cleanser to remove workplace contaminants as soon as possible after contamination and/or immediately before/after visiting the toilet. Seek manufacturers’ advice where necessary.
Restore After-Work Creams
These improve skin strength by moisturising, nourishing and conditioning the skin, preventing it becoming dry or damaged, reducing the risk of occupational skin disease. They help to replenish the skin’s natural oils and prevent dryness. Apply to clean hands at the end of the day/shift or prior to prolonged breaks.
Selecting the appropriate creams is vital for safety & health
Once skin exposure has been assessed and minimised through elimination or substitution of potentially harmful substances or the implementation of SWP and PPE, it is vital that a proper workplace assessment is conducted to ensure the correct Deb Protect and Restore creams are selected for use.
Arco offers a comprehensive range of occupational Protect, Cleanse and Protect products suited to all working environments and addressing the requirements and preferences of end users.
IMPLEMENTING
a skin care programme
A key element to skin care compliance is ensuring that the appropriate products are available and accessible to workers where and when they are required. As such, the provision of skin care must take into account normal workflows and worker behaviour.
This should be supported by 2 important steps:
Educate: staff training and communication to increase awareness and encourage compliance.
Audit: ongoing monitoring and review of skin care.
The Deb Stoko® Range
Incorporates options for communal dispensing of products, or personal issue packs to address specific needs and situations.
Whilst appropriate hand cleansers will need to be located at sinks specified for hand washing use, the location and availability of protect and restore creams will vary.
Key location areas:
In changing rooms
At the entrance to work areas
In rest areas and canteens
In washrooms and at dedicated hand washing points
At the work point
Mobile working e.g. vans and work cabins
Personal issue for specific applications or skin conditions
PPE vending machines where available and appropriate
Whilst effective prevention of occupational dermatitis requires full co-operation between all involved, the responsibility ultimately rests with the employer, who has a legal responsibility to ensure their employees have a safe working environment.
