Hazards
• What are the hazards?
• Working with:
• cement
• solvents
• other chemicals
• natural products
• No welfare facilities
• Exposure to the sun
• Already have a skin condition?
Dermatitis
• The warning signs
• Dry, red, sore and sometimes itchy
• Skin may become brittle and crack
• You can prevent this getting worse
Act now!
Prevention
What should you do?
• Wear gloves and other protective clothing
• Replace damaged or dirty gloves
• Keep yourself, your gloves & your workplace clean
• Keep any cuts covered
• Use and store gloves correctly
• Tell your manager, boss, GP or occupational health
Skin care at Work
• Wash any contamination from skin promptly
• Use a proper skin cleanser and the mildest you can
• Dry hands carefully and gently, use soft cotton or paper towels
Use an after work
cream/moisturising
cream to put back the
waterproofing of your
skin
Not Fairy Liquid!
Working Outside
• Exposure to radiation can lead to skin cancer
• Most commonly this comes from exposure to the sun
Sunburn, skin cancer and heat stress
What should you do to prevent?
• Wear protective clothing
• Fair skin? Long sleeves and long trousers
• Wear hat with a brim, safety glasses with UV protection and sunscreen
• Drink lots of water
• Take breaks in cooler places
Health issues with HeatWorking outdoors all day – risk of Heat Stress
• Tired, grumpy, a bit out of it
• Feeling your heart beat faster
• Muscle cramps
• Urine will be a darker than normal colour
Act Quickly
Rest in a cool place
Drink cool, rather than cold drinks
Report to your boss or first aider
Heat Stroke
• Body overheats, sweating stops, rapid heart rate
• Confused
• Could become unconscious
Help required immediately
• Call an ambulance
• Cool the person down
• Lie the person down
• If the person is conscious give them water
Risks - Sun Burn and Skin Cancer
• Skin cancer is one of the most
common cancers in the UK
• Too much sunlight is harmful to your
skin
• In the UK, 2,000 people a year die
from malignant melanoma
Ouch!
Prevention
• Plan work where possible
• Keep covered up when you are in the sunshine
• Try to avoid working when the sun is directly overhead
• Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 regularly through the day
• Don’t forget your ears and scalp if hair is thinning
• Regularly check your skin for moles
Warning signs - ABCD
Speak to your Doctor if you are at all concerned
Your Boss Should
• Look at weather forecast and organise work to avoid heat stress and stroke
• Ensure shade is available
• Provide sunscreens
• Rearrange and lighten the work in extreme heat
• Provide information on how to prevent health problems
• Make sure you have water available to drink
• Make special provisions if you are young, pregnant or are disabled
Further Reading
Guidance and advice from the HSE: http://www.hse.gov.uk/skin/
General advice about skin: http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx
Skin Cancer: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/
Video’s and information on http://www.workingwellsolutions.com
