SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH AND SAFETY


Swarfega grapples with the dangers lurking under gloves


MANY tradespeople now wear disposable gloves to protect their hands from contaminants and harmful chemicals.


Disposable gloves can be very eff ective at stopping these contaminants from coming into contact with skin, but they do not prevent occupational skin disorders (OSDs) from developing when worn. Workers can often remove protective gloves at the end of the day, only to fi nd their hands in less than perfect condition.


How common are OSDs?


Dermatitis is thought to aff ect 1 in 10 workers according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work - which can make routine manual tasks a challenge. Red, irritated and dry hands are often considered ‘part of the job’.


However, OSDs can cause severe, visible consequences for business and individuals. The estimated costs of OSDs in the EU is in excess of £500m per year, with around three million lost working days each year.


Sore, cracked fi ngers and hands, along with other symptoms of painful OSDs, can restrict hand mobility and the ability to carry out everyday workplace activities.


How do gloves cause problems?


Gloves are a great barrier and often seen as the way to prevent skin damage. In certain circumstances they are part of the solution, but when worn for long periods of time, this barrier can also be the cause of some serious skin complaints.


Normally, when not wearing gloves, moisture passes through skin and into the environment and helps regulate the temperature of the body.


When wearing disposable gloves, this moisture is trapped against the skin and can cause it to soften and become wrinkled similar to when skin is soaked in water. This can weaken the skin and can cause disorders such as those noted above.


Gloves can trap bacteria against the skin in a warm, moist environment often ideal for bacterial growth. If there are small cuts on the skin under gloves, these cuts can quickly become infected, and impact on the person’s ability to work safely.


An independent study commissioned by Deb Group, owner of Swarfega, found people who regularly wore gloves in the workplace reported the following issues were noticeable: - 74% found perspiration inside the glove - 51% found gloves uncomfortable - 47% reported damage to skin/cracked hands - 44% reported a foul odour - 40% reported an allergic reaction to gloves


Poor skin condition does not have to be part of everyday working life. By taking a proactive approach to skin health and integrating this with the use of disposable gloves it is possible to mitigate against and prevent OSDs before they became an issue.


Swarfega recommends the following steps when using disposable gloves:


P• APPLY protection cream, such as TOUGH by Swarfega • REAPPLY protection cream before putting on a fresh pair.


rotection Cream, to the skin before putting the gloves on, this will help keep the skin strong under gloves.


• WHEN fi nishing a shift and after washing the hands, use an after-work moisturising gel such as the TOUGH by Swarfega


• USE a suitable hand washing product. If the skin is not heavily soiled, do not use a harsh handwash as this can


• ABOVE all, it is important to remove disposable gloves regularly, allowing the skin to dry out, and do not reuse


Gel Moisturiser, to nourish and condition the skin, improve its strength, and prevent it becoming dry or damaged.


cause damage to skin. Swarfega has a great range of hand cleaners suited to all types of dirt and grime.


already worn disposable gloves. www.toughbs.com


British Safety Council to campaign more vigorously for safe workplaces


THERE were 144 work-related fatalities in Britain during 2017- 18, an increase from 135 fatalities in the previous year, according to the latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report.


“This increase in workplace deaths may be the fi rst sign of the eff ect of years of budget austerity, although the government cuts to health and safety investment have been taking a while to impact on workers”, said Lawrence Waterman, Chairman of the British Safety Council.


He added: “Every workplace death is a tragedy for the person and their families, friends and workmates.


"The latest rise in deaths at work reported by the HSE undermines the complacent belief that ‘we have the best safety record in the world,’ and raises questions about the hollowing out of the HSE’s and local authorities’ ability to inspect workplaces.


@ToolBUSINESS


"In every aspect of life, you tend to get what you pay for and our government is paying less money and less attention to workplace safety year on year.”


The largest number of deaths occurred in construction (38) and agriculture (29). Among the most common causes of fatal injuries were falls from height (35), being struck by a moving vehicle (26) and being struck by a moving object (26).


In addition to workplace fatality fi gures, the HSE has also reported alarming statistics of deaths related to mesothelioma, asbestos-related cancer, which is still prevalent some 20 years after the use of asbestos was banned in Britain.


In 2016, there were 2,595 mesothelioma deaths and it is also estimated that there was a similar number of deaths due to asbestos-related lung cancer.


TBH July-August, 2018 17


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36