OCC/Physical Health/TBT-OCC-005

Dermatitis Prevention

Occupational Health › Physical Health › Dermatitis Prevention

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Occupational dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin caused by contact with irritant or sensitising substances at work.
Construction workers are at high risk from cement, epoxy resins, solvents, cutting oils, and wet work exposure.
Irritant contact dermatitis develops gradually from repeated exposure — the skin becomes red, dry, cracked, and painful.
Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the immune system becomes sensitised to a substance — it is permanent and irreversible.
Chrome VI in cement is the most common cause of allergic dermatitis in UK construction workers.
Symptoms include redness, itching, cracking, blistering, and scaling on hands, wrists, and forearms.
The APC skincare regime is the best defence: Apply barrier cream, Protect with gloves, Clean skin properly after work.
Waterproof gloves must be worn when handling cement, concrete, solvents, adhesives, and all irritant substances.
Washing with harsh detergents, solvents, or abrasive cleaners damages the skin barrier and worsens dermatitis.
Health surveillance including regular skin checks identifies early signs before the condition becomes permanent.

Career-ending condition	Allergic dermatitis from chrome VI in cement is permanent — once sensitised, you can never work with cement again.
Early detection	Dermatitis starts with mild symptoms that are easily dismissed — catching it early prevents the irreversible allergic stage.
Simple prevention	The APC regime — Apply, Protect, Clean — is free, takes seconds, and prevents a condition that ends construction careers.

Don't

Apply barrier cream to your hands before starting any work with irritant substances.
Wear waterproof gloves when handling cement, concrete, adhesives, or solvents.
Wash hands gently with mild soap and warm water — not solvents or abrasive cleaners.
Apply moisturiser after washing to restore the skin's natural protective barrier.
Attend skin check health surveillance appointments to detect early signs of dermatitis.
Report any redness, itching, cracking, or dryness on your hands to your supervisor.
Change gloves regularly and when they become contaminated inside or damaged.
Dry your hands thoroughly after washing — damp skin is more vulnerable to irritants.
Check the COSHH assessment for the skin protection required for each substance.
Use low-chrome cement where available to reduce the risk of allergic sensitisation.

DON'T handle cement, solvents, or adhesives with bare hands under any circumstances.
DON'T skip barrier cream because you are wearing gloves — use both together.
DON'T wash your hands with white spirit, thinners, or abrasive hand cleaners.
DON'T ignore dry, cracked, or itchy skin — it is the first warning of dermatitis.
DON'T skip health surveillance skin checks — early detection prevents permanent damage.
DON'T dismiss mild symptoms as just dry skin — report them before they worsen.
DON'T reuse gloves that are torn, contaminated inside, or no longer waterproof.
DON'T leave hands damp after washing — dry thoroughly with a clean towel.
DON'T use substances without checking what skin protection the COSHH assessment requires.
DON'T assume you are not at risk — dermatitis develops gradually with repeated exposure.

See also: COSHH Awareness | Cement and Concrete Burns

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