Worker education in the primary prevention of occupational dermatoses

This paper reports the evaluation of a skin care education programme conducted on a fine chemicals manufacturing site where over 1,000 employees are located. Approximately 60% are involved in chemical manufacture. Over a 12 month period production staff received training in prevention of occupational dermatoses linked to a site-wide poster initiative. The incidence of new cases of occupational dermatoses fell from 0.055 (70 cases in 1,277 employees) to 0.021 (27 cases in 1,277 employees) before and after the intervention respectively (p < 0.0001). After other factors such as chemicals handled, observer bias and changes in reporting related to socioeconomic climate were taken into account it is concluded that this study demonstrates the importance of worker education as a tool for primary prevention of disease. Training materials such as video and poster presentations may be effectively used in the chemical manufacturing industry as an adjunct to prevention and control of exposure to substances hazardous to the skin. Such methods may also be used in other industries where there are significant risks of dermatoses.