Effects of Skin Contact with Chemicals: What a Worker Should Know

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  "More than 13 million workers in the United States have jobs that result in exposure of the skin to chemicals, such as in these fields: 1. Agriculture 2.Manufacturing 3.Services 4.Transportation/Utilities 5.Construction 6.Sales. Skin problems/diseases are the most common noninjury health issue reported by workers. The costs of work-related skin problems in the United States exceed $1 billion each year. Take action to reduce or control your exposure: MODIFY: Modify a process to eliminate chemical exposure. For example, rather than hand-cleaning metal parts during repair operations, use a mechanical cleaner. Modify work practices to reduce or eliminate skin contact with chemicals. For example, rather than applying a solvent with a rag, use a brush. VENTILATE: Reduce airborne exposures by adding local or general ventilation. For example, use ventilation during spray-painting operations to reduce airborne levels of isocyanates. MAINTAIN SKIN: Clean skin with mild soap, rinse thoroughly, and use moisturizer. Dry skin is damaged and more affected by chemicals. CLEAN UP: A clean work area helps prevent contact with chemicals on work surfaces. PPE: Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when exposure to chemicals is unavoidable. PPE may include chemical-resistant gloves, aprons, coveralls, and boots. For example, use appropriate gloves when mixing epoxy resin, to avoid skin contact. Selection of the correct PPE is critical. Check a source such as the "Quick Selection Guide to Chemical Protective Clothing." -- NIOSHTIC-2
• Subjects:
  Adverse Effects Chemically Induced Dermatitis, Occupational Dermatotoxicology Environmental Exposure Hazardous Substances Industrial Toxicology Occupational Exposure Skin Absorption Skin Diseases
• Series:
  NIOSH Numbered Publications
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Pamphlet (or booklet)
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Pages in Document:
  print; iii, 17 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20039708
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9302e1982956649677ca66998f67f56dd8de593ff14c00384cf7e2a7872e1bc13192e38bab3d1cb9a7addd4f3d6f9dc3763ecf2fdaef1563b23095c4dcd07f34
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/6027/cdc_6027_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.82 MB ]