If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

Did you know your skin is your body’s largest organ? It is. And it’s important to keep it safe, whether you’re at home or at work.

Workers of all ages can have skin problems. They are common in certain occupations such as:

• Manufacturing
• Food production
• Construction
• Machine tool operation
• Printing
• Metal plating
• Leather processing
• Engine service
• Landscaping
• Farming
• Forestry
• Health Care

Path to improved health

Skin diseases and injuries come in several forms. The most common problems are skin rashes and irritation. These are often known as dermatitis. You can get it from contact (touching something) or allergies.

Contact dermatitis occurs from frequent contact with substances, such as:

• Water
• Soap or detergent
• Chemicals
• Acids or alkalis
• Oils and greases
• Heavy metals

Over time, the repeated contact removes natural oils from your skin. This can cause your skin to crack and dry out. The substances can block your skin pores and cause acne or inflammation. Some can cause painful burns.

Even small amounts of certain substances may cause allergic dermatitis. Those common in workplaces include:

• Glues or adhesives
• Epoxies
• Textile dyes or resins
• Chemicals
• Latex
• Poisonous plants, like oak or ivy

Dermatitis symptoms range from the following:

• Dry, rough, or flaky skin
• Hives or rashes
• Blisters (with or without pus)
• Redness
• Itching
• Burning
• Swelling
• Tight or stiff skin

You also can get cuts, scrapes, or bruises at your workplace. Tools, machines, and instruments can be the cause. Repeated contact or friction also can cause injuries. These may develop into worse problems, especially if infected.

Some workers are at risk of skin cancer. This applies if you work outside or are exposed to the sun or radiation. It often takes a while for skin cancer symptoms to appear.

Things to consider

If you use chemicals or other substances in your work, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) requires your workplace to provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical. The MSDS will describe any known risk for skin irritation, skin allergy or skin cancer. Be sure to read each MSDS your company provides.

Take precautions to keep yourself and your workplace safe and prevent skin problems. Follow these recommendations:

• Keep your workplace clean.
• Store all chemicals safely and label them correctly.
• Use proper waste containers.
• Have an MSDS available for any dangerous substance used in your work.
• Keep eye baths and safety showers available Wear protective items, such as gloves, aprons. hats, masks, long-sleeved shirts, and pants. These protect your skin from coming in contact with oils, greases and chemicals.
• Wear clean clothes to work, and take off oil-soaked or chemical-soaked work clothes right after work.
• Do not clean your hands or other skin areas with gasoline, kerosene, mineral spirits or turpentine.
• After you wash your hands, protect your skin with petroleum jelly, a lotion or a cream.
• Know what to do if your skin comes in contact with a dangerous material–how to get the material off your skin and how to get medical help.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke in your work area. Doing so can bring chemicals in close contact with your skin.
• If you work outdoors, put sunscreen on your skin several times a day. In addition, wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and a shirt or jacket with long sleeves.
• If you work with radiation, wear protective clothing and gear to prevent exposure.
• See if you can use a tool—instead of your hands—to handle dangerous materials