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Safety and Health Topics |
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| Dermal Exposure |
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Skin exposure to chemicals in the workplace is a
significant problem in the US. Both the number of cases and the rate of skin
disease in the US exceeds recordable respiratory illnesses. In 2006, 41,400
recordable skin diseases were reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
at a rate of 4.5 injuries per 10,000 employees, compared to 17,700 respiratory
illnesses with a rate of 1.9 illnesses per 10,000 employees. [See Table 6 in Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2006,
133 KB
PDF, 30 pages.]
Most chemicals are readily absorbed through the skin and can cause
other health effects and/or contribute to the dose absorbed by inhalation of the
chemical from the air. Many studies indicate that absorption of chemicals
through the skin can occur without being noticed by the worker. In many
cases, skin is a more significant route of exposure than the lung. This is
particularly true for non-volatile chemicals which are relatively toxic and
which remain on work surfaces for long periods of time. The number of
occupational illnesses caused by skin absorption of chemicals is not
known. However, it is argued that an estimated 60,000 deaths and 860,000
occupational illnesses per year in the US attributed to occupational exposure,
a relatively small percentage caused by skin exposure would represent a
significant health risk.(1)
The following questions link
to information relevant to dermal exposure in the workplace.
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What OSHA standards
apply?
Standards | Preambles to Final Rules | Directives |
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How
can hazardous dermal exposure be recognized?
Hazard Recognition | Health Effects |
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How can dermal exposure hazards be evaluated?
Monitoring and Evaluation Methods | Other Resources |
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What can be done to control and prevent dermal exposure?
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) |
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What additional information is available?
Related Safety and Health Topics Pages | Other Resources |
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