Stop work-related skin disease: it’s in your hands

David Lummis discusses the BSIF’s commitment to reducing the incidence of
work-related dermatitis

Since 2006, the BSIF has actively supported the HSE’s
‘It’s in your hands’ campaign along with Safety Groups
UK (SG UK), British Occupational Hygiene Society
(BOHS), the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) and
the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Seven years on, HSE statistics show that the incidence of workrelated
dermatitis is on the decline, but there are still
approximately 40,000 new diagnoses of work-related skin disease
per year and it is believed that this is the tip of the iceberg with
many cases still going unreported. So what can be done to raise
the awareness of work-related skin disease and more importantly,
what can be done to prevent further incidences?

Raising awareness A new initiative by SG UK called ‘Health Risks at Work’
(HRAW) has identified the skin as one of five key areas for
improving awareness and education of health risks at work. To
support this initiative, the BSIF,
Deb and BM Polyco have worked
closely to update the original ‘It’s
In Your Hands’ guide.

The updated guide provides
employers and employees with
the latest statistics on the
incidence of skin disease in the
workplace. It also provides advice
on how to avoid the risk of skin
cancer as well as work-related
dermatitis. This will be of
particular use to SMEs as it
provides all the information in a
clear and simple format.

The cost of work-related dermatitis Statistics show that skin cancer is a developing issue; of the 2055
cases reported, via physicians and dermatologists under the
THOR scheme in 2010, 73% of cases were contact dermatitis and
19% were skin cancer. Unfortunately, there are too many
individuals that live with the pain, discomfort and suffering
brought on by work-related skin disease. The cost implications of
this problem can also be significant and are widely accepted to be
under reported.

Occupational skin problems not only mean personal costs
for the employee, but there are compensation costs as well as
disruption costs to businesses such as lost productivity through
employee absence from work, reduced employee efficiency and
poor staff morale, together with the potential damage caused to
both an organisation and its reputation through negative
publicity.

However, research shows that the majority of work-related
skin disease cases are preventable by adopting steps to manage
risks in the workplace; along with applying simple exposure
reduction methods, including the provision of effective skin
care. As such, the ‘It’s In Your Hands’ guide has been developed
to reflect this and is now a comprehensive reference document
that details the risks relating to work-related skin disease and
what can be done to prevent such incidences.

The guide is now a comprehensive document. It was recently
presented to the All Party Group on Occupational Health and
Safety in Parliament and was well received. In developing the
guide to include ‘Skin Care
Consideration by Work
Area’, we are able to use
the document to highlight
that risks to health can be
managed and ill health
prevented, if every
business takes some simple
steps to identify sources of
harm and to put in place
measures to manage them.

In addition to the guide,
a campaign poster has also
been produced to
highlight the risks of skin
disease and shows the four simple steps of how to avoid these
risks: i.e. safe working distance; avoid skin contact; protect the
skin and check skin regularly. As well as ensuring that your
employees have access to appropriate PPE and skin care, I urge
you to share the content of this guide with all of your
employees so that everyone is aware of the risks to skin in your
workplace.

Whilst work related skin disease can be a serious problem, by
taking a sensible, positive approach to looking after health and
safety, you could prevent occupational skin disease and the
associated problems within your workplace. Whether you are
an employer or an employee, do not become a victim of workrelated
skin disease; remember it’s in your hands!
For more details on the ‘Health Risks at Work’ campaign and
to get a copy of the ‘It’s In Your Hands’ guide, go to:
www.safetygroupsuk.org.uk/topics/health_risks_at_work.htm