Occupational health skin disease can cause irreversible damage if not detected early enough. Irritants caused by working conditions such as latex gloves, soaps/cleaning products, chemicals & solvents, resins & oils, amongst others may cause skin damage.
Skin Surveillance & Occupational Health Monitoring
Common Occupations associated with skin disease include construction, paint spraying, food manufacturing, catering, healthcare and agriculture.
We recommend a tiered approach to skin surveillance:
- Skins checks – simple questionnaire and examination of the skin on the hands undertaken by a competent person.
- Skin Investigations – assessment of exposure (work and domestic) and symptoms by qualified and competent Occupational Health professional.
- Doctor assessment – formal investigation and diagnosis by a doctor.
Health surveillance is appropriate when employees are exposed to residual risk of harm from hazardous substances, following all appropriate means of control, and;
- The agent is known to be associated with an identifiable disease or an adverse health effect
- There is a reasonable likelihood that the disease or the effect may occur under the particular conditions of work
- There are valid techniques for detecting indications of the disease or effect.
How often should surveillance be carried out?
Skin surveillance checks are recommended for new starters as a baseline and then regularly at level 2 for the first 6 months as this is the time where we would expect the employee to start to have problems.
Surveillance should then be repeated at the end of the first year and then annually unless more frequent assessment is indicated by the risk assessment.
Investigating skin problems
Where someone is identified as having a skin problem which may be work-related, it needs to be investigated further. This involves checking:
- A full occupational and exposure history
- Past medical history
- The hand care routine
- Symptoms and photographing the problem if current
- Measurements of skin hydration levels
- Workplace exposure / practices / personal protection equipment
We provide the employer and employee with support in eliminating or minimising exposure and management of the skin problem. As skin problems tend to be cumulative, we usually find that the problem is resolved, but may not identify the cause.
However, if the problem is not resolved, a referral to a Consultant Dermatologist with a Specialism in Occupational Skin Disease may be indicated. In some cases, the skin problem may be so severe, that an urgent referral to the Consultant Dermatologist is recommended.
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