Health and safety behaviour and compliance in electroplating workshops

Skin problems are reputedly common in electroplaters. To examine the steps taken by employers and employees to prevent or control skin problems, we visited six randomly selected electroplating establishments in Dorset and interviewed the employers and 50 of the employees using structured questionnaires. Several of the companies had not complied with the statutory requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1988, and deficiencies were evident in assessment, control and health surveillance. A third of the employees had current or recent work-related skin problems, typically dermatitis. Workers were generally ignorant about the hazards of materials handled. They knew about personal protective equipment, but did not always use it, or used gloveware that was deficient or contaminated. Only one in five employees adopted a rudimentary skin care programme; many were unaware of the provision for skin care. There is an urgent need for better training and more attention to skin care in electroplating workshops.