Chemical control measures for dermal exposure in Australian workplaces

To investigate the relationships between occupational, workplace, and demographic factors and the provision of multilevel exposure protection systems.

Respondents reporting dermal chemical exposure at work were asked about protective measures provided to them in the workplace, which we classified as personal protection or awareness measures. An ordered logistic model was used to investigate the odds of workers reporting that both, either or neither, types of exposure control measures were provided in their workplaces.

Larger workplace size and permanent and fixed-term employment were associated with exposure protection systems incorporating both hazard awareness and personal protective measures.

Our results indicate that employment in small workplaces, nonpermanent and self-employed workers may be important intervention targets for improving workers' exposure protection.

Chemical exposures in workplaces are an important occupational health and safety problem; however, there is little published information available about the provision of basic exposure controls to workers with dermal chemical exposures across industrial sectors. Using data from a large community-based survey,we found that workers in small workplaces and workers with less secure employment arrangements were more likely than others to report less comprehensive exposure control mitigation strategies. Small workplaces, temporary and casual workers, and industrial sectors in which these employment situations are common are likely to be worthwhile targets for efforts to improve exposure management systems for workers with dermal exposure to chemicals.