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Posted By MT
Did anyone see the episode of Street Doctor on BBC1 last night? They send 4 GPs onto the streets of a city, last night it was Glasgow, and diagnose people.
They visited a fruit and veg market, where an employee showed the Doctor his hands and arms which were covered in weeping cracks and sores. Doctor diagnosed occupational dermatitis. The man works in and out of a chill, handling boxes and crates of fruit and veg which have layers of ice on top. He knew nothing about barrier creams, moisturising or PPE apparently. His hands and forearms had been like that for 10 years.
It quite clearly demonstrates the ignorance of employees and employers of the causes of occupational dermatitis and the very simple steps that can be taken to avoid it. I think it also shows that people expect to suffer forms of ill health at work and will just put up with it. I sincerely hope the tide is changing.
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Posted By Lilian McCartney
I know, I saw that bit.
It shows, as you say, that some people put up with quite a lot and either don't want to say, think that nothing can be done or keep putting it off.
Did you see the bit where the young girl had a sore back after dancing so her auntie used to stand on her back? I thought the dr looked less than amused - shall we say?
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Posted By The toecap
What about the girl with the gooey ears. She had them for about 11 years i think.
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Posted By MT
The gooey ears was particularly distasteful! I actually started to wonder if she was being irritated by the wool fibres from the kilts, but no, it was just an infection.
Agree that many staff won't speak up and tell their employer that the way they are being asked to work is making them ill.
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Posted By Tabs
"his hands and arms which were covered in weeping cracks and sores"
Yeah I saw that... I will always wash my veg's from now on! Yeuk!
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Posted By MT
I'd also advise having your kilt dry cleaned if it came from that factory..... ;-)
Only joking!
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Posted By Chris Packham
Caution on the concept of "barrier creams". There is abundant evidence that these products do not provide the protection that many assume they are getting.
It is the view of the HSE (with which I totally agreed) that pre-work creams should not be used as primary protection as there is no validated evidence that they work and as there are many other factors that show that any protection that they may provide is illusory.
At the conference in September in Berlin of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis two papers were presented that showed greater absorption into the skin of the chemical when the cream was applied compared with untreated skin. There are other studies that confirm this.
I have a large collection of information on this and it all says: "Do not use them as protection".
Remember also that these creams are legally classified as "cosmetics" and are sold to you as such. If you then use them to protect your workforce then you will have reclassified them as personal protective equipment. On what evidence do you then base the assumption that protection is being achieved and what are the legal implications for you and your employer?
If anyone wants any more on this I will be happy to oblige. Just get in touch.
Chris
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Posted By MT
Re barrier creams, I only mentioned it because the GP on the programme told the man that he should be applying cream to his skin before starting work. I would not consider it acceptable either for a man working with ice to use barrier cream only and assume that it offers protection against skin damage. In this instance, the GP was giving the man some poor information, as he pointed out that his condition could probably be cleared up by using steroid creams and (as far as I can remember, but someone correct me if I'm wrong) he didn't say that in future the man would have to perhaps limit his exposure to that type of task, or as a last resort, use PPE to provide an adequate barrier between his skin and the ice. He definitely didn't say that he ought to be taking the issue up with his employer!
I have to say that in my experience many many hairdressers are still under the illusion that using barrier creams is as good as using gloves, and it's very difficult to get the message across that it's just not the case. Even junior hairdressers still appear to be being told this during their training at college.
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Posted By Chris Packham
I take you point on barrier creams. I just thought that since they were mentioned I should respond.
Having done some work with colleges I often find that a lot of what they are taught is incorrect.
For example, hairdressing students are still taught to patch test customers before agreeing to dye hair. This is totally pointless and potentially dangerous, but seems to be standard practice still.
For example, trainee mechanics are taught to wear the thin, powdered natural rubber latex gloves when working on engines. Not only do these provide no real protection but can actually increase the risk of damage from the chemicals they will be handling. There is also the risk from the powdered latex glove of developing an allergy.
I sometimes wonder what training on health and safety issues tutors at colleges receeive? (Actually, I think I probably know the answer!)
Chris
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