Workplace Skin Safety: Steps for Employers
Skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects us, preserves water in our bodies, absorbs shock and controls our body temperature. So it makes sense to keep skin clean and safe, particularly in the workplace. This article provides information, tips and links to help protect skin on the job.
Workplace Skin Risks
Certain industries pose greater risks of harmful skin exposure than others. They include:
- Food service
- Healthcare
- Cosmetology
- Agriculture
- Cleaning
- Painting
- Mechanics
- Printing
- Construction
However, it is important to be aware of skin health practices in any work environment. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that every year, more than 13 million employees are exposed to harmful chemicals that could be absorbed through the skin. That makes workplace skin safety an important health and safety concern.
Contact dermatitis, also known as eczema, is one of the most common occupational skin illnesses, with costs of over $1 billion a year. Contact dermatitis is characterized by itching, pain, redness, swelling and blisters. Burns, punctures and abrasions are another common workplace skin injuries. Employers should take every precaution to ensure employees’ skin stays safe from harm.
Prevention
Ensure skin safety at work and reduce your potential liability by using preventive techniques. Avoid harmful cleaners and solvents, like paint thinners, abrasive powders and d-limonene-based hand cleaners (also known as “orange” hand soaps).
Commercial skin care provider Deb Group says that borax and pumice-based hand cleaners tend to strip skin of its natural barrier, making it more susceptible to skin issues like rashes and dermatitis. Instead of using these potentially harmful cleaners, employers can offer natural, health-conscious skincare brands and soaps from reputable companies. Providing employees with proper PPE, such as gloves or gauntlets, also can help reduce injuries.
Education
Another step to ensure workplace skin safety and good skin health is educating your employees. Workplace signage that reminds employees of PPE requirements or illustrates how to spot a skin issue is a good idea. Make sure your staff understands how to recognize a work-related skin disorder (bumps, rashes, itching, swelling and tender skin) and what areas of the body are most at risk (hands, arms, face and neck).
Make skin care a regular topic at safety meetings and training sessions to help employees keep their skin safe – and teach them how to treat skin that has been injured.
Action
Even when all precautions are taken, skin health may still be compromised at work. When this happens, you need to have the proper first aid items on hand. Your first aid kit should be OSHA-compliant and include burn-relief cream, rash and itch relief cream and a wide variety of bandages to cover open wounds and sores. It should also contain alcohol wipes, cold compresses, scissors, tweezers, hand sanitizer, first-aid tape, gloves, pain reliever and allergy-relief tablets. First-aid kits should be readily available at every work location and in work vehicles.
Effective workplace skin safety efforts can dramatically lower cases of dermatitis and skin issues at work, which, in turn, lowers the risk of potential lawsuits and improves employee and overall company performance.