Janet Keyes, CIH, recently attended the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce) in Denver. Over the next couple weeks we will be featuring some of the highlights from that conference.
We all have skin. What many don’t realize is how important of an organ it is. Our skin protects us from a lot of things–chemicals, sun, etc. Skin protection is in important consideration in safety.
We are becoming more aware of the need to account for skin absorption and the effects of chemicals on our skin. We are all aware that working with oils and greases can cause acne and that some soaps can really dry out the skin. But the systemic effects from skin exposure have been neglected. We can measure employees’ exposure to chemicals in the air, and estimate how that correlates to toxic levels. We don’t have good ways to measure employee exposure to chemicals on the skin. But several researchers are developing models to account for skin absorption. None are in practical use yet.
NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) is revising its Pocket Guide to Hazardous Chemicals , replacing the notation “skin” (where skin absorption or skin contact is important) with more specific guides to what happens with skin contact (e.g., corrosive, sensitizer, systemic toxicity via skin absorption…).
Assessing exposures of skin hazards in the real world includes these considerations:
- If it’s there, it’ll get onto the skin.
- The sloppier the workplace, the greater the exposure (another argument for good housekeeping).
- There are a number of ways to assess exposure (wipe samples, patches, tape strips, hand wash or wipes, biological monitoring, etc.). Keep it simple and consistent, so it’s possible to compare exposure before and after controls are put in place.
- The wrong glove can be worse than none, as occluded (covered) skin can have higher absorption rates than skin exposed to air. (Think of times you have worn gloves that make your hands sweat).
- Use engineering controls, with PPE (gloves) as a backup. Engineering controls may include shields to control splashes or spatters, limiting the use of sprays, using containment, and not letting workers put their hands in or on contaminated surfaces.
For more information on skin exposures, personal protective equipment or other safety needs, please contact CHESS at 651-481-9787.