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Posted By Mark Drury
Good Morning Everyone.
I am currently working t a vegetable processing plant where operators are required to slice, dice, chop onions and leaks. This is causing irritation (as onions do) resulting in stinging/tearing eyes.
Are there any short/long term health effects associated?
I would imagine this is a common problem in this industry and am hoping for some feed back on how others are dealing with this issue.
Mark
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Posted By cara
Chill the onions before chopping this is meant to make them less pungent and make sure there is adequate ventilation?? I'm not in that industry mind; others who are may have more technical solutions!!
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Posted By Bill Elliott
All the onion family release enzymes when cut, which when mixed with the water in tears give rise to a very mild sulphuric acid. This is constantly diluted as the body produces more tears to protect the eyes and as such is of short duration. I don't believe there are long term health effects but it is an unpleasant experience that can be minimised by: using SHARP knives that minimise bruising of the flesh, chilling the veg prior to preparation, adequate ventilation to take away the airborne gas produced and as a last resort wearing of goggles. Keeping the hands well away from from the eyes will also help.
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Posted By Andy Peters
Ive heard breating in through the mouth and out through the nose helps!
Not a technical answer I know.
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Posted By Pete48
Hello Mark, now that you have received the sensible answers to your problem, I cannot resist telling you my mothers solution to peeling onions in her kitchen.
You stick your tongue out whilst chopping them! It does sort of work on a domestic scale, try it sometime, but I just had this picture of your staff all sticking their tongues out as the Production Manager or MD walked along the lines, what a great safety picture that would make.
Of course my tongue is currently firmly in my cheek!
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Posted By Adrian Watson
Yes there is a real risk of irritant contact dermatitis; a COSHH risk assessment is required and appropriate controls put in place.
Regards Adrian Watson
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Posted By Peter Leese
I'd be interested in more information on irritant contact dermatitis caused by contact with onions Adrian, do you have any references I could follow up?
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Posted By John Murgatroyd
One presumes that you mean leeks, as opposed to leaks ?
Chopping a leek I can understand.....
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Posted By Mark Drury
Thanks for all your help, I didn't realise there is also a dermatitis risk .
Some interesting remedies there. I wouldn't like to write down; "Ensure operators work whilst sticking out their tounges" as a control measure on a COSHH Risk assessment.
My Mistake! Leeks not Leaks (I can't even trust a spell check now)!
Mark
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Posted By Adrian Watson
Mark,
Remember the aim is to protect workers. You must record the significant findings of the risk assessment (the significant risks, the precautionary and preventative measures, and the measures needed to comply with the law) and implement those measures (Reg 6(3)).
Regards Adrian
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Posted By Ken Taylor
Would goggles be unreasonable if there is a lot of leek and onion chopping? Personally, I don't even eat the things if I can avoid it.
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Posted By GSP
Find a Mechanical solution? Then you could probably lay off some staff and save some money as things will get done quicker!!!
Machines cant moan and do the job quicker.
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Posted By Jason Wiggins
No being in the field myself, but have you tried washing the onions after peeling them in water. This removes any excess solution produced by the onion, causing the eyes to water.
I have done this several times at home and it works.
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