HSE issues advice on workplace skin diseases

Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued advice on skin diseases in the workplace.

According to the HSE, while workplace skin diseases are not something that affects a narrow range of occupations, they are more likely to occur in a more limited number of professions considered to be high risk.

Among the professions considered to be high-risk are dentistry, catering, printing and construction.

"Prolonged or frequent contact with water, particularly in combination with soaps and detergents, can cause dermatitis (eg a long time spent washing up or frequent hand washing)," said the HSE, an organisation which merged with the Health and Safety Commission in April 2008.

"'Wet work' is the term used to describe such tasks in the workplace."

Irrespective of the workplace, the HSE recommends that - where possible - there should be no direct contact between unprotected hands and substances, wet work and products.