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Occupational Skin Disease Statistics

Find out about the full extent of occupational skin disease including costs, effects, and other statistics.

Occupational skin disease refers to a skin problem acquired in the workplace. This work-related health issue is more serious than is commonly recognised. According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, skin diseases are the second most common work-related health problem in Europe.

Up to 40% of industrial workers will suffer a skin issue at some point in their working lives. But only 2% of this occupational skin disease ever gets reported.

Workers may not be reporting the issue due to embarrassment, lack of understanding about the condition, fearful for their jobs or see it as just an unavoidable side effect of their work. It is likely that some of your workers have dermatitis - they're just suffering in silence.


The High Cost of Underestimating Dermatitis

Dermatitis is more common than you realise. For those affected, it can be both painful and embarrassing, affecting both work and family life.

It can also hurt businesses too, through lost productivity, fines, legal fees, compensation, and reputational damage.

Arco aims to help managers and those responsible for health and safety in the workplace to keep the skin of employees healthy and unaffected by their job role. We will focus on minimising the risks.


Effects of Occupational Dermatitis

Dermatitis can occur anywhere on the body, including the face. In severe cases, sore cracked skin bleeds and becomes infected. The results can be life changing.

Dermatitis doesn't just affect worker's skin. It can also lead to:

  • Lost working time
  • Loss of earnings
  • Loss of productivity, with workers unable to carry out tasks
  • Poor morale
  • Adverse effect on family and social life
  • Disinclines to satisfactorily clean and dry already sore skin
  • Change in profession or, in severe cases, career ending

The great majority of cases of occupational dermatitis are preventable - if a few effective and often simple steps are taken towards this aim.


More from Arco

Safety Standards

Learn more about your legal responsibilities as an employer, explore the relevant regulations and standards, and the steps to ensure you remain compliant and your workers protected against occupational skin disease.

Our Products

View our recommendations for the right skincare products including protect, cleanse, and restore creams and gels for all types of skin conditions, environments, and usage to minimise occupational dermatitis hazards.


Recommended Products

At Arco, we have a comprehensive range of skincare products that are suitable for different types of skin conditions, environments and usage to help reduce the risk of occupational dermatitis in the workplace.


Sources and Useful References

1: European Dermatology Forum White Book - Skin Diseases in Europe
2: European Agency of Safety and Health at Work - Skin Disease and Dermal Exposure Report 2008
3: European Dermatology Forum White Book - Skin Diseases in Europe
4: EPIDERM/HSE: Work Related Skin Disease in Great Britain 2021
5: European Agency of Safety and Health at Work - Skin Disease and Dermal Exposure Report 2008
6: Luckhaupt et. Al; American Journal of Industrial Medicine 56:623-634 (2013)
7: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
8: The Health and Occupation Research Network (THOR) GP Scheme 2011-2013
9: Journal of Environmental Medicine, Thyssen J.P. et al; Contact Dermatitis 2010; 75-87
10: Diepgen T.L. et al; Contact Dermatitis 2013; 69: 88-106
11: Enforcement statistics in Great Britain, 2021 - Page 4


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