OCTOBER 2019 | 35
Installer Support
Installer Support is
sponsored by Kayflow
BATTLING
OCCUPATIONAL
SKIN DISORDERS
THIS WINTER
As the winter months are
drawing nearer, days get shorter
and temperatures drop, and for
those who work outdoors, summer
can start to feel like a distant mem-
ory. As many installers will know,
working with common workplace
contaminants such as dirt, oil and
grease can seriously affect the
skin – and in winter, this can be
compounded.
Many on the job resort to dispos-
able gloves to protect the hands,
but these come with their own
problems. The cold and wet weath-
er we experience during the winter
months only increases the risks to
skin and hands.
There are many important tools
for the job, but most installers
know that the hands are crucial –
so looking after them is key. Good
skin care is a vital part of health
and safety, and proper handwash-
ing is one of the best ways to
prevent occupational skin disorders
(OSDs).
OSDs affect a huge number
of people who work with their
hands and more awareness needs
to be raised around the issue in
the trades. In fact, around 40% of
workers will be affected at some
point in their career. Dry, cracked
and sore skin may be a common
sight for installers, but it isn’t some-
thing to suffer through – it can lead
to seriously unpleasant, long-term
skin disorders such as eczema or
dermatitis.
One of the reasons OSDs are
particularly prevalent among
installers is the frequent contact
with contaminants. Contact with
‘
OSDs affect
a huge number
of people who
work with their
hands and more
awareness needs
to be raised
’
the hands either via surfaces or
tools can soon take its toll, and
if the hands are damp or wet for
prolonged periods of time, without
use of proper skin care products,
you run the risk of developing an
OSD.
OSDs are particularly prevalent
during the winter months – at this
time of year, cold weather can be
especially harsh on the hands. A
porous organ, the skin loses water
vapour constantly via evaporation
into the surrounding environment.
When the air is cooler and the hu-
midity drops, moisture in the skin
tends to evaporate more quickly,
leaving it drier – even more so if it
is windy, and you are exposed to
the elements on the job! Coupled
with the use of car or van heaters
during the winter months, your
hands can be left in poor con-
dition. Although necessary for
keeping you warm on the move,
heaters can actually end up accel-
erating the skin’s moisture loss.
Whilst handwashing is key for
healthy skin, most workers are
also tempted to warm up with hot
water when it gets chillier. This
can also dehydrate skin, as the
heat can strip it of protective oils
– potentially exacerbating a skin
disorder.
Good skin care in winter is
therefore essential. When protect-
ing skin on the hands, the skin
care experts at Swarfega recom-
mend a three-step approach; pro-
tection, cleansing and restoring:
• Before work, apply a good
protection cream – helps
make the skin easier to clean
and helps to strengthen the
upper layer of the skin, this
also means that a gentler hand
cleaner can be used after a
shift. This in turn, is kinder on
the skin in cold weather.
• Before grabbing the near-
est hand cleaner to the sink,
consider what kind of soiling
you’re tackling. You may be us-
ing a cleaner that is too weak
or strong – both of which
can land your skin in poor
condition. Aim for the mildest
cleaner that will still do the
job, as this will help avoid loss
of the skin’s natural oils.
• Clean hands regularly through-
out the day and apply a
restoring moisturiser at the
end of a shift – perhaps the
most important step in winter.
A restoration cream effectively
hydrates stressed skin and re-
plenishes any lost moisture.
A combined approach with all
three steps is the best way to pro-
tect the skin against harsh winter
weather, particularly for those who
work outdoors or on the move.
To find out more about Swarfega’s
skincare products, contact
Swarfega at [email protected]