some HANDy advice for the future Mechanic
What is dermatitis?
Work-related dermatitis is a skin condition caused by things that people touch at work. The hands are the most commonly affected.
Dermatitis affecting construction workers:
Irritant contact dermatitis
...caused by things that dry out and damage the skin. These include solvents and thinners, dust and dirt and strong hand soaps.
Allergic contact dermatitis
...occurs when someone becomes allergic to something they touch at work. Allergic contact dermatitis shows up hours or days after contact. Common causes are cement, epoxy resins and glues.
Prevent skin problems at work
- Avoid using strong hand cleaners with sand in them or solvents such as petrol to clean your hands
- Apply moisturising cream at the end of work and before bed. A sorbolene cream is best
- Wear the right gloves for the job - ask your boss
Case study
James - Motor Mechanic
James was a 22 year-old motor mechanic. He handled parts and equipment that were always dirty. He was always getting oil, grease and petrol on his hands.
Sometimes parts were left to soak in a strong cleaner and he put his hand in to get them out. During the day, he washed his hands with a strong gritty hand cleaner.
James’ workplace provided him with gloves. He found that they were hard to work in, so he didn’t use them.
James had dry skin as a child and now has asthma and hay fever in spring. After 6 months of working, he noticed that his hands were becoming very dry and he had itchy blisters on his fingers.
A few weeks later he visited his local doctor. The cause of his skin problem was irritation from the strong chemicals. He had two weeks off work to let his hands heal.
When he returned to work he began to use gloves, which he found hard to work in at the beginning, but gradually got used to them. His boss also changed the way the parts were cleaned. He now uses a moisturising cream before and after work, so he can continue to work in the job he loves.
Points to learn from James' case
James may have been able to avoid skin problems by:
- Not putting his hand into the bucket of cleaner without wearing waterproof gloves.
- Using a mild hand cleanser rather than a strong sandy hand cleaner.
- Wearing the gloves that were given to him.
- Speaking to his employer as soon as his hands became dry
- Using moisturiser
