Occupational Dermatology Research and Education Centre

Occupational Dermatology Research and Education Centre


	Cleaners
	Who are cleaners?
	Industrial and commercial cleaners Window cleaners Carpet cleaners Hospital cleaners Vehicle cleaners and detailers House keepers
	What is occupational contact dermatitis? Cleaners, whether they work at home, businesses or schools are exposed to a mixture of cleaning products such as detergents, soaps and disinfectants every day. Occupational contact dermatitis is a skin condition caused by substances that people touch at work. It most often affects the hands.
	How can cleaners prevent occupational contact dermatitis? REGULAR use of moisturiser Feed your skin with the moisture it loses during a working day A rich Sorbolene cream, which contains no fragrances is best Always apply at the end of the day and before bed You may find that a less greasy moisturising lotion is easily applied during the day and does not take much time to apply Also apply at the beginning of the day and when you have a break Rub well into the hands and wrists, not forgetting between the fingers
	Wear SUITABLE gloves for the job For wet work and when using detergents, bleaches and disinfectants wear either PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or kitchen style rubber gloves If thin disposable gloves are required wear vinyl If gloves that are to be worn for long periods of time, reduce sweating, by wearing cotton gloves underneath
	Safety equipment suppliers can be very helpful at advising on the right glove to use to protect against particular chemicals. Most glove manufacturers have chemical resistance charts, which they supply, free of charge, visit www.ansell-edmont.com/us/html/home.asp
	Important Tips Limit the number of times you wash your hands, if possible Take your rings off at work - chemicals, detergents and water get trapped under rings and cause dermatitis to develop Wear gloves from the start. Remember, if your skin is already damaged, you increase your chance of developing allergic contact dermatitis Change gloves regularly Dilute all products (bleach, detergent, soaps, disinfectants) appropriately Clean spills up immediately, wash skin and change clothes if they have become contaminated
	There are three types of contact dermatitis Irritant contact dermatitis Allergic contact dermatitis Contact urticaria
	Irritants are the most common cause of occupational contact dermatitis. Continual wetting and drying of the skin, as well as handling some particular substances, will de-fat the skin and cause it to dry out,flake, split and crack. This will occur more rapidly in people with sensitive skin, especially those with a history of eczema, asthma and hay fever. In the cleaning industry the most common irritants include; Water from holding wet sponges, cleaning implements and washing hands frequently Soaps, detergents and disinfectants Furniture polishes Bleach Frequently drying hands with paper toweling Dust, fibres and heat Sweating from wearing gloves for long periods
	Allergy is less common. Allergic contact dermatitis can occur at any time in a cleaner's career and often happens after irritant dermatitis has damaged the skin. Allergy will cause the skin to be very itchy, flake, split, crack and blister. The skin will flare-up a few hours after the particular chemical has been contacted. It may take days or weeks to settle down again. It is diagnosed by patch testing at a specialised clinic. Once this condition has developed there is no cure. Prevention is the key. In the cleaning industry the main allergens are: Accelerator chemicals used in the manufacture of rubber gloves Fragrances and preservatives in cleaning solutions
	Commonly, people don't wear gloves until after they have developed irritant contact dermatitis. This predisposes to the development of allergic contact dermatitis, especially to chemicals used in gloves.
	Contact urticaria is a different type of allergy and occurs immediately (within 10-30 minutes) of the allergen touching the skin and settles down an hour after contact ceases. It is a reaction to specific proteins, which produce welts on the skin, itching and swelling, and can also cause a runny nose, sneezing and asthma. Contact urticaria can ultimately develop into a life-threatening condition. In cleaners the wearing of cheap, powdered, disposable latex gloves can cause this type of allergy. It is tested through a special blood test at a specialized allergy centre. Powder free latex gloves tend to lessen the likelihood of this type of allergy developing, however there is no need for cleaners to wear these types of gloves unless there is likelihood of contact with bodily fluids such as blood.

Occupational Dermatology Research and Education Centre, P O Box 132 Carlton South Vic 3053 Australia
ph)+613 9639 9633 fx)+613 9639 9644