Occupational Health and Safety for Skin Diseases- myassignmenthelp

Question:j Discuss about theOccupational Health and Safety for Skin Diseases. Answer: Introduction The aim of this paper is to find the main causes of the skin diseases in work occupation and try to come up with a solution to the same problem. This paper will evaluate the main causes of skin diseases in hairdressing industry (Lyons, et al., 2013). It will focus on few comparisons of whether this industry is the leading cause of skin diseases or compared to other industries. Its objectives include determining the type of skin disease commonly associated with hairdressing activities, assessing the factors that contribute to the skin infection in the industry and establish the possible ways to reduce skin diseases in the industry. It is nearly impossible to find an organization or industry without skin related diseases due to the fact that skin is greatly exposed to chemicals and other contaminants making it very important to focus on. Skin diseases are categorized into three broad groups. These are Allergic contact dermatitis, Irritant contact dermatitis, and other related skin diseases. Occupational diseases are those long-lasting diseases believed to result from work or occupational activities. A disease can be termed occupational disease typically when it is shown that it is more prevalent in a given body of workers than it is in the general public, or in the other worker bodies (Mose, et al., 2012). Occupational skin diseases rank the top five occupational diseases in many countries in the world. Statistics show that Occupational skin diseases account for 15% to 20% of all the occupational related diseases (Diepgen, 2012). Skin diseases are categorized into three broad groups. These are Allergic contact dermatitis, Irritant contact dermatitis, and other related skin diseases. The manifestation of occupational skin diseases (hand dermatitis) in the barber and hairdressers started way back in 1898 and today contribute up to 70 percent with barbers and hairdressers getting some form of skin diseases in the careers(Lyons, et al.,2013). These two occupations contract the diseases through getting exposed to bleaches and allergens as well as other irritants. The other causes of these diseases are pre-existing sensitive skin also known as atopic dermatitis. Any individual or student with the skin sensitivity or pre-existing atopic dermatitis should be able to choose between contracting diseases in hairdressing career or choose a fresh one. Otherwise, they will have to wear protective gloves and take other precaution to keep safe all through. It is feared that over 14% of students in hairdressing school in the UK drop their career in second years of their training due to contact dermatitis (Apfelbacher, et al., 2009). Allergic contact Dermatitis is also known as contact allergy. This disease is caused by allergic reaction to certain allergic materials. These materials (allergen) come in contact with the skin and if the skin is allergic to the allergen they contract the disease and vice versa (Kezic, Visser, Verberk, 2009). Women are more vulnerable than men to contract allergic contact dermatitis reason being nickel allergy, and most recently acrylate allergy for nail cosmetics.A high percentage of young children are also allergic to nickel. Patients over 70 years old have a contact allergy to topical antibiotics. In addition to hairdressing, this disease is commonly found in other industries such as metal workers, beauticians, cleaners, florists and health care workers (Lysdal, et al., 2011). This disease, allergic contact dermatitis is a group of delayed hypersensitivity reaction or type 4 occurs in 48-72 hours after exposure to the allergen. Allergic dermatitis is caused by the mechanism involving CD4+, which is able to detect an antigen on the surfaces of skin which in turn releases cytokines that activate the immune system and cause the disease. Contact dermatitis occurs only from an allergen surfaced on the skin and not from internal sources with few people reacting on to a specific allergen which is harmless to those who are not allergic to it(Xu, et al., 2009). There are symptoms showing infection of dermatitis and they are itchy red face as a result of contact with methylisothiazolinone (a preserve of wash-off hair products plus baby wipes), swelling and blistering of neck or face as a result of permanent hair dye body reaction, eczema in skin and also swelling and blistering to most exposed parts of the body (Skudlik, et al., 2012). Allergic contact dermatitis is harmful and needs to be treated regularly by fast knowing which substance react in which way with your body. Identifying the allergen that causes you harm is important to avoid it as it is too persistent in life-long. The longer the person exposes to severe allergic contact dermatitis, the longer the longer it will take to cure after the treatment. Irritant contact dermatitis is a form of contact dermatitis where the skin is wounded by friction, cold, too much exposure to moisture (hydration), acids, alkalis, etc.(Behroozy, Keegel, 2014). It occurs when acids damage the skin surface faster than the skin is able to repair itself. The oils and moisture in the skin outer layer are removed allowing these chemical irritants to enter the skin deeply and cause further inflammation due to the inner damages. Factors that enabling severity are the amount and strength of irritants, skin size thickness, thinness, oily, previously damaged etc. environmental factors such as high/low temperatures or humidity as well as the length of exposure frequency. There are symptoms that show a skin has been affected by these irritants and are dribble rash around the mouth or baby chin, finger underneath the ring, dry irritable skin, itching and dryness of skin, hardening of the skin, pain when stretching the skin etc. However it should be noted that there is no specific indication of irritant contact dermatitis and in any case, it may result from accumulation effects of multiple irritants. To treat this disease use emollient creams, topical steroids, and antibiotics for secondary infection. It is also advisable to look for more treatment options. (Xu, et al., 2009). Australian government lacks mandatory to register for the occupational skin diseases unlike other countries like Germany and Finland. This makes it hard to know the incidences of skin disease infections amongst Australian workers correctly. If there is a register it would provide with useful information on those workers with high rates of Occupational skin diseases as well as enabling substance identification causing occupational skin diseases. Through the work of Rosemary Nixon, Dermatologist and Occupational Physician, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Monarch University Safe Worker Australia contributed funding for the establishment of a national database for occupational skin diseases (Skudlik, et al., 2012). The database has not yet been developed which is expected to be created by collecting patch testing data and employees terms of employment and the demographic information from those who are diagnosed with the disease in testing clinics of Australia. The clinics are yet to be equipped with software designed specifically for capturing data from the patients records, hence raising the understanding of occupational skin diseases as it is feared many patients with the disease has not been diagnosed and treated by a specialist in this field. A most recent Australian paper of 2012, has reported that there were over 10000 worker compensation claims for occupational contact dermatitis in a span of nine years since 2009. A typical compensation for the case was about $3000. Canadian researchers have suggested after the 2009 study that concluded that cleaners are more likely to develop dermatitis than those that dont, that employers should adopt safety skin-care training as a way to prevent the occurrences. The other was suggested to prevent the occupational skin diseases includes creating a healthy and healthy workplace. This is done by assessing whether there are threats in your workplace by looking at how people operate. Practicing good skin care using proper skin cleansers, with the ability to moisturize your skin could help reduce the risks of contracting the disease. In addition, employers should talk to their employees about the issues concerning skin hazards as well as consulting a doctor when the need arises (Skudlik, et al., 2012) There are Australian codes which provide with the methodology for implementing safety and reduce risks associated with irritants. These codes are to be used by the government and land developers in public and private sectors to manage water resources, planning development, creating awareness and achieve specific goals which are relate to the developers relating with the requirement of the water sensitive urban design (WSUD) respectively (Diepgen, et al., 2009). Conclusion The most common types of occupational skin diseases associated with the hairdressing industries are Allergic contact Dermatitis is also known as contact allergy and is caused by allergic reaction and Irritant contact dermatitis amongst other related skin diseases. It is important to note from the information provided earlier that Occupational skin diseases account for 15% to 20% of other occupational related diseases. If serious measures are taken by the Australian government and other government just like Germany and Finland will implement the establishment of national databases for occupational skin diseases and help specialist clinics to take their work seriously by providing with the needed Software there will be more people safe from occupational skin diseases. In conclusion, there is no evidence that shows that hairdressing industry could be the leading source of occupational skin diseases. 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