It’s In Your Hands

Alan Murray – Chief Executive, BSIFJohn Cairns – Vice Chair, Safety Groups UK

Deborah Rogers – Head of Marketing, Deb Ltd

Health Risks at Work• Initiated by Safety Groups , HSE ,

RoSPA and NHS in Scotland (2009) Winner of IOSH “Partnership Initiative” 2010

• Campaign is now being rolled out across the UK, led by Safety Groups UK, in partnership with HSE and supported by RoSPA

• Every organisation, large or small, is invited to become involved in the Health Risks at Work initiative

 

breathing

Health Risks at Work• Health Risks at Work aims to raise awareness of

major occupational health issues• Less than 150 fatalities a year in the workplace

(excluding deaths on the road), in comparison to 12000 health related deaths

• 1.1 million injuries at work, compared to 2.2 million cases of work related ill health

• Of 26 million workdays lost, 85% are health related, costing £30 billion (nearly 3% of GDP)

www.healthrisksatwork.com

 

Major Occupational Health Issues• Respiratory diseases• Skin diseases• Cancer• MSDS• Occupational deafness• Stress• Falls from height• Work related road

accidents

• Slips trips and falls• Workplace transport• Machinery safety• Fires and explosions• Electricity• Noise• and many more…

What risks are identified ?

• Risks to your breathing• Risks to your skin• Risks to your muscles, bones and joints• Risks to your hearing and touch• Risks to your wellbeing

Health Risks at Work

Health Risks at Work has identified skin as one of five key health risks at work

Health Risks at Work

Why partner with It’s In Your Hands?

Provide SMEs with the guidelines they need to reduce the risk of occupational skin disease in a simple format

Initiative Overview

It’s In Your Hands

• 2006 launch• Aim: to reduce workplace dermatitis

It’s In Your Hands

UK:

HSE/THOR

• 40 000 new diagnoses of occupational skin disease per year

• Of working days lost reported by THOR GP scheme: 9% of diagnoses skin disease, accounting for 3% of total days sickness absence

Why update this initiative?

UK:

HSE/THOR

In 2010, of 2055 cases reported via THOR scheme :• 73% contact dermatitis• 19% skin cancer

Why update this initiative?

Europe:

EADV

“Occupational skin disease is the second most common cause of occupational ill health”

Cost: Over €5 Billion

Why update this initiative?

• “Occupational skin diseases are among the 3 most frequent groups of occupational diseases…However, occupational skin diseases have attracted relatively little attention in the global and national agendas for prevention of occupational and work-related diseases”

Global:

WHO/EADV

Why update this initiative?

• The majority of work related skin disease cases are preventable

How?

• Following the simple guidelines in It’s In Your Hands

Why focus on skincare?

It’s In Your Hands – Update

www.itsinyourhands.org

It’s In Your Hands – Update

• Updated statistics on incidence of skin disease• Advice on avoiding risk of dermatitis and skin

cancer• Skin care considerations by work area

It’s In Your Hands – Update

Content Overview

It’s In Your Hands

• Working with chemicals and hazardous substances• Wet working• Outdoor working/ exposure to cold conditions• Contact with mineral oil based substances• Contact with some natural substances• Those at risk of skin abrasion• Those with pre-existing skin conditions

Skin Disease - Workers Most at risk

• Direct contact with substances• Contaminated surfaces• Airborne substances can deposit on the skin

Skin Contact

Definition: Inflammation of the skin

• Itching of hands/ fingers• Blisters

Symptoms:•Redness/ Swelling•Cracked skin•Flaking/ scaling of skin

Occupational Dermatitis

COSHH Health & Safety at Work Regulations• Hazard identification• Risk assessment• Controls to minimise/ eliminate risk• Provision of suitable washing facilities• Employee consultation when prevention of dermal

exposure is not possible• Employees must co-operate with the employer

Your legal obligations

Those that :• Cause irritation to the skin leading to irritant contact

dermatitis• Sensitise the skin causing allergic contact dermatitis• Cause other skin diseases• Cause other effects, e.g. burns

What are hazardous substances?

Minimise skin contact to reduce the risk of dermatitis:• Safe system of work• Training & instruction• Provision of PPE• Appropriate skin care and washing facilities• Skin checks in some instances

Preventing Dermatitis – Control Measures

Avoid direct contact between unprotected hands and substances, products and wet work where this is sensible and practical: • Eliminate • Substitute• Introduce controls

to keep a safe SWD

Safe Working DistanceAvoid contact

Where adequate control of skin exposure cannot be achieved, provide suitable personal protection:

PPE and/ or skin care products

Safe Working DistanceProtect the skin

• Regular skin checks can help with early detection of dermatitis

• Can prevent more serious dermatitis from developing

• Help identify gaps in preventative measures and the need to reassess protection

Safe Working DistanceCheck the skin

• Maintains the skin in good condition

• Retains its protective function

• Consider use of pre-work creams, skin cleansers

and after work creams• Select according to work

environment

Skin Care

Gloves:•Must to be matched to the substance •Approved to the appropriate EN standard for the work situation•Must provide adequate protection against the hazard•Consider sizing, dexterity, user comfort, duration of use/ wear•Glove selection process•Glove care & use

Protective gloves & clothing

• UV exposure from the sun’s radiation

• Contact with carcinogens:– Used mineral oils (engine/

machine)– Coal tars and pitches

Skin cancer - causes

• Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK

• 125,000 new cases diagnosed each year• 2746 deaths per year• Outdoor workers have a higher than average risk of

developing skin cancer

Skin cancer - facts

• Long-term exposure to the sun causes skin damage• Every episode of sunburn increases your risk of

getting skin cancer• You are at risk if you are working outside in sunny,

shady or cloudy conditions (UV level 3 and above)

Skin cancer - facts

• Carcinogens – as workplace dermatitis• UV solar exposure: employer duty of care to protect

employees from hazards• UV considered an occupational hazard for outdoor

workers

Employer obligations

Outdoor working• Advise employees as part of H&S training – when &

how to protect• Include in hazard risk assessmentDrivers• Same advice• Glass is not completely sunproof• Most vehicle glass blocks UVB but not UVA

Control measures

• Shade• Cover up• Protect• Check

Employee advice

More information

• itsinyourhands.org• Contact the supporters:

BOHS M2550/1BSIF U2000Polyco Q2200SGUK L2064

• Event 10th July 2014