WORK RELATED DISEASES
SKINCARE: NOT JUST FOR SUMMER
Although work-related skin problems are beginning to be placed on the boardroom agenda, it’s still a major concern and issue within many industries. Nick Foort, Skin Care Specialist at Arco, explains why
and how industry leaders need to continue to promote good skin care regimes to UK workforces.
There are a number of issues that can arise from employees not looking after their skin, including occupational skin disease and sun damage. Employees in varying sectors are at risk of those diseases and issues including construction, social care and cleaning.
OCCUPATIONAL SKIN DISEASE For the employee, occupational skin disease can be seriously debilitating resulting in painful symptoms, absence from work, reduced efficiency, lower morale and in severe cases, it can even necessitate a change of employment. Employers have a Duty of Care to ensure they provide a safe working environment for employees, which includes taking measures to protect staff from work- related skin disease. Aside from these legal obligations, occupational skin disease can take its toll on a business in the form of sickness absence, reduced productivity and even recruitment costs, in cases where affected staff have had to change their employment; there is also the possibility of prosecution. For these reasons it is imperative for both employers and employees to take the issue of occupational skin disease seriously.
When using skincare products to protect workers, the following three-step skincare approach helps to establish best practice:
1. Protect: Apply protection cream prior to each work period or after washing hands; reapply at least every three hours
2. Cleanse: Wash hands regularly to avoid prolonged contact with contaminants and prevent them becoming ingrained in the skin. Ensure any soap is rinsed off and dry hands thoroughly.
3. Restore: Apply restore cream after working, either at the end of your shift or prior to a long break ensuring all parts of the hands are covered
SUN DAMAGE Whether it’s summer or winter, sunny or cloudy, warm or cold, UV exposure
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is extremely dangerous to humans and, unfortunately is extremely hard to detect. For this reason, it’s important that employers take responsibility when encouraging employees to use protection when the UV Index level, which is available online, reaches three or above. Additionally, UV is carcinogenic (cancerous) to humans, meaning those who work outdoors have a greater risk of developing skin cancer. Although UV rays are extremely damaging to the skin and can cause a manner of health problems, the risks facing those who work outdoors are often overlooked.
Employers have a Duty of Care to protect their employees from hazards in the workplace and, according to HSE guidelines, UV radiation should be considered an occupational hazard for people who work outdoors. Arco urges businesses to ensure UV protection is a staple PPE item, not just in summer but all year round, and is readily available for workers to use.
There are many issues that can arise from poor skin routines whilst at work, especially amongst those who handle harmful chemicals, substances and work outside, so it’s imperative both employers and employees ensure they are looking after themselves. It’s worrying that in many working environments across the UK, sun protection isn’t considered PPE; I cannot stress enough the importance of properly equipping your staff against the natural elements.
www.arco.co.uk/skincare
There are three types of UV: • UVA - accounts for up to 95% of the UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. UVA penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB causing skin cancer and premature ageing.
• UVB - main cause of skin reddening and sunburn and plays a key role in the development of skin cancer.
• UVC - blocked by the ozone layer, however, is created artificially during industrial processes such as welding.
www.tomorrowshs.com
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