Avoiding Occupational Dermatitis: Don’t Make Rash Decisions When It Comes To Skin Safety!

Unfortunately, itchy, red, scaly, painful skin on the hands and arms is common on the shop floor. Called contact or occupational dermatitis, it’s caused by exposure to everyday chemicals found in your shop and is often overlooked as a workplace hazard. However, your shop employees are particularly susceptible because they work with these products all day, every day.

While a rash might not sound like anything to worry about, industrial dermatitis can become complicated, with varying severity, interfering with employees’ ability to do their jobs.

With that in mind, let’s explore what it is, the risk factors, and how to prevent contact dermatitis, with practical advice to help you maintain a safe work environment, meet health and safety
regulations, and keep your shop running smoothly.

Occupational dermatitis is often overlooked as a health and safety concern. It’s a common rash that most frequently appears on the arms and hands following exposure to an allergen or
irritant, such as metal-forming fluids, hydraulic fluids, lubricants, and cleaners found in any shop.

Symptoms range from slight itching and burning to peeling skin, blisters, and swelling, which can affect how well people can do their jobs, sometimes interfering completely. According to a
study by the National Institute of Health, 20% of metalworkers reported recurring or prolonged dermatitis during the previous year, affecting their work performance and mood. The exact cause of industrial dermatitis is impossible to know, especially in fast-paced environments where employees are exposed to multiple fluids, metals, and environmental conditions daily. Any of those factors could be the culprit. Additionally, each person reacts differently, making it even more challenging to pinpoint causation. The same exposure could cause one person to break out in blisters immediately and another to develop a rash three days later. Another person could not react.

We all know washing our hands cuts down the chance of getting sick. What’s less known? It can decrease your chance of dermatitis by removing irritants that cause it, such as metalworking
fluids, solvents, and cleaners. Using the right soap is the key.

Everyday hand soap won’t do the job, and a heavy-duty soap that leaves your skin scrubbed clean but raw isn’t the answer either. A non-drying soap formulated to remove metal particles
and shop chemicals are essential to preserve the natural oils that protect the skin.

Educating employees on the right way to wash and hydrate their skin may seem basic or like overkill. However, when you provide employees with the tools and knowledge to take good care
of their skin, the risks of industrial dermatitis can be dramatically reduced.

Proper material handling is a necessary part of keeping your shop safe. It will also help youavoid occupational dermatitis caused by accidental exposure. Implementing three practicalstrategies can prevent dermatitis and its related problems:

• Monitoring fluid concentration
• Minimizing contamination
• Minimizing exposure

Here’s how they break down.

Maintaining proper concentration and pH of your metalworking fluids is required for optimal fluid performance, longevity, and tool life. Regularly checking concentration and pH will ensure you stay in range while reducing the likelihood that exposure harms employees’ skin.

While increasing metalworking fluid concentration to improve performance can be tempting, the risks far outweigh the rewards. Concentrations above those recommended by the manufacturer are more likely to damage skin and equipment. (If performance is an issue, changing fluids is a more effective strategy.)

Every Quaker Houghton product page includes Technical Data Sheets (TDS) that specify the correct concentration for the particular metalworking fluid. Keeping your fluids at the appropriate range and the proper pH will minimize the risk of skin irritation.

Metalworking isn’t a clean process. The chips, fines, and oil residue it generates can cut and irritate the skin.

Neglecting your tramp oil turns it into a breeding ground for bacteria growth (hence the smell). While this doesn’t cause dermatitis, it can exacerbate existing skin conditions. Bacteria can also lower the tramp oil pH, which, if exposed to the skin, is more likely to irritate and lead to dermatitis.

When working with metalworking fluid, the first step should always be checking the safety datasheet (SDS). All Quaker Houghton products have comprehensive SDSs with individualprotection measures for that particular fluid.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary in any shop. What you need varies depending on your work and the type of chemicals you’re using. When choosing protective equipment, consider the area it needs to cover, and if the material can withstand exposure to the types of chemicals you’ll be using. The most common type of PPE for metalworking shops:

• Gloves and sleeves
• Face masks and shields, goggles
• Aprons

Remember, having PPE is not enough. Employees need to be trained on how to safely wear and remove protective equipment to minimize accidental exposure. Equipment guards also create a safer work environment. They “wall off” areas of machinery, contain any splashes or spills, and reduce the likelihood of employees coming into contact with chemicals.

Equipment guards also create a safer work environment. They “wall off” areas of machinery, contain any splashes or spills, and reduce the likelihood of employees coming into contact with chemicals.

In the past, dermatitis was thought to be caused by bacteria. Today, we know that occupational dermatitis is typically caused by exposure to chemicals and that bacteria can worsen it. Improper concentrations, bacteria in dirty systems, and improper use of PPE increase the risk of contact dermatitis. Tackling these risk factors will help keep your employees safe and your shop running smoothly.

We all want high-producing, highly productive shops that produce quality products. Contact dermatitis puts the brakes on that. And it’s largely preventable.By implementing these strategies, you’ll promote a safer workplace and reduce the risk of contact dermatitis:

• Keep hands and arms clean and hydrated
• Monitor fluid concentration
• Minimize employees’ exposure to fluids through the use of the proper PPE and equipment guards
• Minimize contaminants in your metalworking fluids

Preventing industrial dermatitis can help you maintain compliance with health and safety regulations, boost productivity, and increase employee satisfaction. Retaining employees, especially in a competitive market, is easier when they know you care about their safety.

Explore Quaker Houghton’s metalworking fluids online to learn more about our products, including recommended uses and concentrations, or contact a Quaker Houghton expert for tailored advice.