FS13.6 Risk management for workplace dermal exposure – a practical approach

Abstract

Contact dermatitis remains one of the most common forms of occupational ill health in most industrial countries. Eliminating or minimising contact can significantly reduce the incidence and prevalence of occupational contact dermatitis. However, this is often believed by managers to be associated with either expensive measures, such as constly changes in the process or in the need for expensive new equipment, or with the provision of personal protective equipment such as gloves. Frequently, however, an analysis of the actual source of exposure can lead to a simple change that can have a significant effect in elimninating or controlling exposure. In many cases not only has this led to the elimnination of the skin problems, but also to a reduction in operating costs and/or an improvement in productivity. A structured approach to the elimination or adequate control of exposure will be explained and its benefits illustrated by a number of case studies where simple intervention methods have achieved the desired results.