Skin disorders in chemical industry workers.

Introduction

Chemical manufacturing has a huge impact on important industries like agriculture, but the nature of this work can affect your workers. According to a study by the European Union, around one in four work cases skin disease it is related to chemical exposure. Occupational dermatoses affect approximately 4–11 out of every 1000 workers in the chemical industry.

Why are workers in the chemical industry at risk?

The elevated risk to workers in the chemical industry stems from several important factors:

• Constant exposure to a wide variety of chemicals, including chemicals that are irritants and sensitizers, carcinogens and mutagens
• Uneven safety standards throughout the global chemical industry.
• Lack of compliance with the use of personal protective equipment among some workers in the chemical industry.

In developed countries, dermatosis rates have been reduced due to increased automation, changes in chemical manufacturing processes, and better education for employers and employees.

Understanding occupational skin disorders

The skin offers a natural defense against pathogens and other potentially harmful substances. However, forces such as friction, heat and cold, irritants and Allergens all can eventually cause a breach in this natural barrier, leaving it more vulnerable to collapse and secondary bacterial skin infections While occupational skin diseases can affect workers in any industry, some occupations, such as work in the chemical industry, put their workers at greater risk.

Occupational skin diseases have an economic impact. The broader economic impact of these disorders comes largely from:

• Loss of occupation due to health problems.
• Medical costs
• Lost work days
• Decrease in labor productivity.
• The possible need to change occupation.

Work-related skin disorders in the chemical industry.

Workers in the chemical industry are at risk for different types of skin diseases.

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is the most common skin complaint among workers in the chemical industry, who can develop allergic contact dermatitis and / or irritating contact dermatitis.

• In about 80% of cases, the hands are affected; Other common sites are wrists, forearms, face, neck, and ears.
• Dermatitis can persist long term.
• Acute Dermatitis presents with swelling, redness and blisters, while later, chronic dermatitis is crackeddry or scaly.

Follicular injuries

• Oily folliculitis comes from exposure to cutting oils and tar products.

• Chlorine-based chemicals like chloronaphthalene and chlorodiphenyls can also cause chloracne.
• Poor hygiene and non-compliance with personal protective equipment contribute.

Skin Cancer

• Skin lesions can be due to exposure to chemicals such as polycyclic hydrocarbons

• They can be benign or evil one.
• Lesions may not appear for several decades after exposure.
• They are generally diagnosed by biopsy.

Chemical burns

There are high rates of chemical burns in the chemical industry.

• • Common causes are solvents, acids, alkalis, detergents, and oxidizing agents.
  • Wearing gloves and other forms of personal protective equipment can reduce the risk of chemical burns.

Contact leukoderma

Contact leukoderma or white patches can occur if the skin is in contact with phenolic compounds and are a hazard in industries exposed to them.

Occupational risk assessment

A thorough workplace risk assessment should identify any problems with poor workplace safety.

Safety guidelines in the workplace should include:

• Knowledge of all workplace chemicals and their properties.
• Protection or prevention measures.
• Methods for removing hazardous substances and replacing them with less hazardous ones when possible
• The goal of reducing employee chemical exposure through automation or process shutdown.

Personal protection equipment

Due to the hazardous nature of chemical work, different types of personal protective equipment may be needed to keep employees safe, including:

• Gloves
• Goggles or other eye protectors
• Respirator masks
• Chemoprotective clothing and aprons.

Hand Care Tips for Chemical Industry Workers

Caring for your hands is important for workers in the chemical industry. They can do this by:

• Choosing the right glove for the right job
• Wash your hands with mild soap as needed and dry them well; using alcohol gel or hand sanitizer where appropriate
• Applying emollients and moisturizers as needed
• Know the first signs of dermatitis, such as chronic dryness, maceration (wet peeling skin) and redness.

Diagnosis and treatment of occupational dermatoses of the hand.

The diagnosis of an occupational skin disorder should be based on the following:

• Clinical signs and symptoms (appearance, location, and course of lesions)
• The personal and medical history of the patient.
• The patient's work history (the nature of the patient's work, potential for hazardous exposure, duration of exposure and time on the job, and particular job tasks)
• Patch test if contact allergy It is suspected

• Biopsy, if indicated.

Dermatitis treatment may include:

• Emollients
• Current corticosteroids
• Short courses of oral prednisone or prednisolone.
• Referral to a dermatologist if symptoms persist or resist first-line treatment.