21 Square Feet Work Related Skin Problems Tracey Sanderson Lead - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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• Work Related Skin Problems

Tracey Sanderson Lead Occupational Health Advisor MS FTG James Harm Occupational Health Advisor.

21 Square Feet

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Folding back the layers

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The Epidermal Region of the skin

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At the cellular level Basement Membrane

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The good, the bad and the ugly

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What is dermatitis? Dermatitis is a skin condition caused by contact with something that irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction. It usually occurs where the irritant touches the skin, but not always. Dermatitis

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Occupational Skin disease

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• The HSE define occupational skin

disease as “ a disease in which workplace exposure to a physical, chemical or biological agent or a mechanical force has been the cause or played a major role in the development of the disease” HSE definition

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• In 2013, there were an estimated 1297 new diagnoses of
• ccupational skin disease by dermatologists reporting to
• EPIDERM. Of these, 970 (75%) were contact dermatitis,

79 (6%) were other

• In 2013, there were 40 cases assessed for

disablement benefit

HSE Statistics

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• Contact dermatitis
• Contact urticarial
• Folliculitis and acne
• Mechanical Skin Disease
• Skin Cancer

Common Work Related Skin Problems

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• Common causes of irritant contact dermatitis
• Common causes of allergic contact dermatitis
• Be aware of:
• Check product label or material safety data sheet.
• CHIP regulations (Chemical Hazard information and Product supply) –

replace by European CLP regulation June 2015

• There are high risk Occupations e.g. hairdressers, printing, metal

machining, vehicle repair, dentistry, construction

• Harmful substances (list on HSE website and occupations)
• Natural Substances e.g. Food – list HSE
• Prolonged or frequent contact with Water

Substances that harm skin

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• Legal – our responsibility under health and

safety law

• Moral – our obligation as a good employer
• Financial – dealing with skin problems reduces

the costs to businesses by reducing sickness absence levels

Our responsibilities

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• Fitness for food handling
• Potential food safety

What can be passed over?

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Botulism
• Codes Of Practice

Implications for food industry

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A P T – Avoid / Protect / Regularly check

• Avoid contact with materials that can

cause skin problems

• Protect the skin
• Regularly check for signs of skin

problems. Managing work to prevent skin problems

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Other ways to try to prevent problems

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Risk Assessments

• Identify people at risk – from jobs and tasks
• Describe the hazards and any injury or loss that might arise from it
• Investigate any necessary control measures, gloves and protective

clothing, hygiene that are currently in place and control measures that are recommended

• Decide what health surveillance is appropriate
• Provide training

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• Regularly check effectiveness of controls
• Regularly check that gloves and

protective clothing are appropriate, and used and stored properly

• Check the COSHH assessments are up

to date especially when using new products that may harm the skin Managing work to prevent skin problems

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• What does good skin look like
• What affected skin looks like and how it may present
• Ensure risk assessments up to date
• Avoid / Protect / Regular check
• Regularly liaise with your Occupational Health Advisor
• Obtain a full history (in case it becomes a RIDDOR)
• Physical spot checks
• Train and provide as much information as possible

Summary