Skin Surveillance/Checks
Guidance for individuals who need/or may need skin surveillance at work.
Our aim is to promote and maintain the health of all people at work.
Work-related skin disease can affect people in a wide range of occupations and the main aim of a skin surveillance programme is to provide regular checks to reduce the chances of any employee suffering painful and sometimes debilitating skin conditions. Skin health surveillance focuses on collecting and using information about workers’ health related to the substances they use. It helps prevent the development of dermatitis by detecting the early signs of skin disease. Health surveillance is never an alternative to the proper control of exposure nor is it the same as health screening or health promotion
Skin health surveillance is required for individuals who are exposed to substances and processes where occupational dermatitis is a known problem. Your manager will identify if you should be on a regular skin surveillance programme – this will be in-line with your local COSHH risk assessments. Alternatively, if you have a previous confirmed skin disease your manager may present you to the Occupational Health Service (OHS) for periodic skin health surveillance.
You will be asked to complete a short questionnaire specifically asking questions about your health in relation to your skin system. (The questionnaire also refers to respiratory surveillance as this is usually undertaken alongside skin surveillance).
The questionnaire is and remains the primary consideration in any health assessment/surveillance. For general skin surveillance, the main undertaking is completion of the questionnaire only. This is then assessed by qualified staff who are looking for symptoms and history; and these staff make clinical decisions about the need for referral to clinicians for their guidance and/or to monitoring including recall frequency, any need to undertake further investigations.
Be assured that any information you include in this questionnaire is held within your clinical medical file in OHS. Information remains confidential, is not shared and it is not part of the COSHH health record. The purpose of the questionnaire is to obtain your health history and symptoms to assess whether you have any health problems (either past or current) that may place you at risk in the workplace or affect your ability to undertake the duties of your role. OHS will make recommendations to the University to guide either your continued potential exposure, any restrictions during further investigation of your lung function and/or if you require any adjustments or modifications to your role as a result of this assessment.
Your initial assessment will be undertaken by an OH Technician with follow-up questionnaires at six and twelve weeks later. If there are no problems identified, you will then be put on a six-month recall if your hazard exposure risk remains the same as decided by your manager according to local hazard identification and risk assessment of your exposures.
The COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) risk assessments for your area will identify what substances you work with, what control measures you should be following and what, if any Personal Protective Equipment you require. The risk assessment should also identify if you require skin surveillance e.g. if you are working with products labelled with H317 'May cause an allergic skin reaction' hazard statement. If you are in any doubt whether you require skin surveillance, it is advised that you speak to your manager in the first instance.
It is the responsibility of the employer to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments and present the names of affected employees to occupational health so that health surveillance can be carried out.
Work-related skin problems are caused or made worse by exposure to and/or coming into contact with substances such as chemicals, and through having wet hands for long periods, while at work. Employees who are required to wear gloves for prolonged periods may fall into this category. Dermatitis (also known as eczema) is by far the most common, but urticaria (also known as hives, welts or nettle rash and appears as a raised, itchy rash) and skin cancer are also problems. Exposure to the sun can also cause problems so if you work outdoors you should consider this in your risk assessment.
If you have experienced any of the above discuss this directly with your manager or contact the OHS.
Further guidance on occupational skin disease can be found at : HSE - Skin at work: What are work-related skin diseases?
In the first instance, speak to your line manager. It is their responsibility to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments and present the names of affected employees to Occupational Health so that health surveillance can be carried out. They will assess whether you require to be put on a skin surveillance programme and they will directly refer you to OHS by completing and returning Health Surveillance Request form to occupational.health@ed.ac.uk
You will then receive notification of the details of your assessment and requested to complete a questionnaire.
Generally, you will have an initial assessment and a follow-up assessment at six and twelve weeks later. If there are no problems identified at these assessments you will then be notified of a scheduled recall if your hazard exposure risk remains the same as decided by your manager.
If, following your questionnaire assessment, you are required to attend for further discussion of a skin check you will be contacted directly with appointment details.
If you are called for a skin check, it would be helpful if you could bring:
- Your completed questionnaire (if not already submitted electronically) including;
- a list of any potential skin sensitisers e.g. chemicals, animal products, you work with.
- what gloves you wear if possible. This will allow the advisor to ensure that you are wearing them correctly and also give general advice on how to care for them. It is also an opportunity to assess whether they are the most appropriate gloves for you.
- A list of any medication that you are currently taking.
Managers should ensure you are familiar with the hazards in the workplace and what effect, if any, they might have on your skin. Ensure you know about the skin care facilities in your area e.g. is there an accepted skin care regime and/or products, is there a selection of gloves. For example, have you developed any redness or dryness of your hands recently? Have you observed any broken areas of skin on your hands? Do these symptoms get better when you are on your days off or at weekends or holidays?
The Occupational Health Service can offer toolbox talks to areas on all health aspects of skin within the workplace. If you would like us to carry these out for your staff please contact us.
Can I contact Occupational Health Service directly?
Yes but in the first instance we would advise that you try to discuss, and resolve, the issue with your line manager. However if you feel your health is being affected by work you can either:
Self- refer to the OHS and someone will contact you directly
Self-referral to Occupational Health
or complete an ill health report if you feel your health is being affected by work. Please note that this may be referred directly up to the Health and Safety Department for further specialist input e.g. occupational hygienist, bio-safety advisor, radiation protection advisor etc.
Occupational Ill Health reporting
or contact OHS directly using one of the following contacts
Occupational Health Service
Contact details
- Work: +44(0)131 650 8190
- Email: Occupational.Health@ed.ac.uk
Legal Background
Statutory health surveillance helps employers fulfil their legal duty under Health and Safety legislation.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) (COSHH), employers have to make sure that employees’ exposure to hazardous materials by skin contact and absorption through the skin is either prevented or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled.
Further information
Health and Safety Department – Hand Protection
HSE Preventing contact dermatitis and urticarial at work