DERMATITIS
HEALTH AND SAFETY
INTRODUCTION TO DEVRO
HEALTH AND SAFETY
DERMATITIS OUTBREAK 2008
 Safety Committee March 2008
 Occupational Health involvement
 Safety Dept changes May 2008 and June 2008
 2 RIDDOR Reportable cases
 11 suspected cases
 HSE visit 1st July 2008
 Following awareness sessions a further 26 employees
came forward
HEALTH AND SAFETY
ACTIONS IN 2008
 Get to the Root of the Problem
 Obtain Specialist Advice
 Management support
 Education and Awareness
 Policies and Procedures
 Risk Assessments
 Suitable and Sufficient Controls
 New OH provider
HEALTH AND SAFETY
GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
Obtain and analyse MSDS
Audit of all OH records
Creation of chemical spreadsheet
Interview all affected person and carried out
fault tree analysis
Skin questionnaires and photos taken when
on shift
Change management
Assess COSHH assessments
HEALTH AND SAFETY
SPECIALIST ADVICE
 Our in house OH nurse
 Occupational Health Physician
 Consultant Dermatologists at Ross Hall and
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
 HSE
 Occupational Hygiene
 Patch Testing
 Workplace Visits and clinic
 MSDS Analysis
HEALTH AND SAFETY
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
 Dermatitis training sessions in 2008
throughout organisation
 Skin care awareness sessions in 2008
 Introduction of Dermatitis on all
inductions
 Regular communications
 Dermatitis on noticeboards
 Increased focus of safety committee
on occupational ill health issues
Look for...
DRYNESS, ITCHING,
REDNESS
...which can
develop into
flaking, scaling
cracks, swelling
and blisters
HEALTH AND SAFETY
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
 Review of all Risk Assessments
 COSHH Assessments
 Mandatory skin protection policies
 Specific risk assessments on
affected persons
HEALTH AND SAFETY
CONTROLS
 Areas where gloves are mandatory
 Health surveillance
 Skin tracker
 Additional hand wash stations
 Provision of barrier creams, moisturiser and cotton liners
 Removal of alcohol washes
 Engineering Controls
 Redeployment
HEALTH AND SAFETY
PERSONAL ACCOUNT – LES PETERS
Les Peters was a production operator in our Moodiesburn plant. He has been in this
role since June 1990. In early 2008, Les developed a minor skin complaint and was
unaware of the consequences of not reporting to his manager. By May 2008 his
hands deteriorated.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
PERSONAL ACCOUNT – LES PETERS
Les was seen by our OH and then referred to the OH doctor and a Specialist. He had
to wear gloves and liners but his condition deteriorated further and began affecting his
feet.
This resulted in Les being unable to work and impacted his personal life massively
and affected his wife and children including a ruined holiday as he was embarrassed
by his hands and feet and in a great deal of pain.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
PERSONAL ACCOUNT – LES PETERS
Les underwent patch testing and photo therapy and
was redeployed into stores. His condition began to
improve.
He then successfully undertook a H&S role within
Maintenance and within 6 months his condition was
gone.
He is a wonderful asset to Devro and has recently
passed his NEBOSH certificate with distinction and
is starting his diploma in January.
He actively educates his fellow workers in the
importance of looking after their skin.
Les admits that he wishes his condition had been
addressed sooner as it may have been nipped in
the bud without all his pain and suffering.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
DERMATITIS IN 2010
In 2010 we have:
 A new Occupation Physician led OH Provider
 A skin awareness campaign in May throughout both plants
 Intranet and notice board communications
 Dermatitis training for all Middle Management in October and
November
 Responsible Persons training for three additional persons
 Increased awareness training for our Maintenance Dept who
are deemed most at risk
 Additional Moisturiser stations throughout the factories
HEALTH AND SAFETY
CURRENT POSITION
We have not had another work related dermatitis since 2008 but are still actively
monitoring a number of susceptible individuals.
Due to increased awareness a number of employees come forward regularly
with skin concerns to our OH.
With advice and precautions this ensures we are proactive in dealing with the
situation.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
CONCLUSION
Dermatitis remains our greatest occupational ill health risk and our biggest
challenge.
We must never become complacent and always be vigilant.