Health & safety bulletin
Barrier creams
24th January 2005
About four million working days are lost in the United Kingdom each year because of skin disease.
Many substances commonly encountered in the workplace are either skin irritants, or else they can decrease or otherwise attack the skin's natural defences. This can then lead to the two most common forms of occupational skin disease encountered - irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.
Paints, thinners, cleaning solvents, glues, detergents, oils (including petrol and diesel) are all skin irritants that can cause dermatitis.
There are a wide variety of skin creams available, though they generally fall into one of two categories: pre-work or after-work.
Pre-work creams
Pre-work creams are often known as 'barrier' creams and are generally formulated to repel oil, grease, paint, solvents etc, or water-based products such as weak acids, alkalis and metalworking fluids. Some creams claim to give protection against both.
Pre-work creams are designed to provide a protective layer between the skin and the substance.
After-work creams
After-work creams are general purpose 'moisturisers' designed to replace the natural skin oils removed by washing and solvent action of substances in contact with the skin.
What level of protection can pre-work creams give?
Pre-work creams are not 'liquid gloves'; there is no such thing. They will not give the same level of protection as properly selected gloves. Never use a cream if a glove will do the job because:
- When washing their hands, most people regularly miss certain areas. Equally the same tends to be true when applying a cream. Areas of the skin may be left unprotected - the equivalent of wearing gloves with holes!
- When selecting gloves it is necessary to take into account how quickly the hazardous substance will penetrate the glove material (known as the 'permeability'). Data is available for gloves but is not yet available for creams.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is subject to wear and tear. With gloves this can easily be checked.
- Creams begin to wear off as soon as work commences but the loss of protection is unlikely to be so apparent.
What steps should be taken to reduce skin diseases?
- Remove the hazard:
- change to a safer substance; or, if not reasonably practicable,
- ensure control measures are in place and maintained, e.g. automated handling systems, automatic dispensers, splash guards
- Ensure employees are adequately trained and instructed so they are aware of hazards and precautions which are required to be taken
- If a risk still exists PPE may be appropriate
- If exposure is significant, health surveillance may be required
- If anyone does develop a skin condition they should consult their doctor so it can be dealt with at an early stage. If it appears that something at work is either causing the condition or making it worse a manager must be contacted
Do skin creams have a role to play?
Pre-work creams should not be relied upon as primary protection for the skin. They can, however, play an important role in an overall skin care programme. They can greatly assist the removal of dirt when washing, making it less likely that a powerful solvent or abrasive cleaner is used. This in itself should reduce damage to skin. In addition, pre-work creams help keep the skin more supple and their use may make people more conscious that there is a skin hazard. This will need to be weighed against the false sense of security that may sometimes be given.
There is general agreement that after-work creams are particularly beneficial. Despite their name they are best used each time after washing.
Always check with the supplier about the suitability of a particular cream for a specific purpose.
Ten steps for maintaining healthy skin
- Eliminate unnecessary exposure
- Always ensure that hands are clean before applying gloves, creams etc
- Make sure that PPE is clean and intact. If gloves are to be used for long periods (as specified by Xmo Strata on all jobs), consider the additional use of absorbent (e.g. cotton or silk) under-gloves which will reduce the effect of sweating
- If pre-work creams are used, take particular care to ensure that fingernails, fingertips and the skin between the fingers are covered. Remove rings, watches, bracelets etc, where possible
- Wash gloves etc before removing to prevent contaminating clean skin
- Wash hands before eating, drinking or going to the toilet
- When washing skin, always use the least aggressive cleaner which will do the job (never be tempted to use thinners or solvents which will damage the natural skin protection)
- After washing, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm running water
- Dry skin carefully and completely. Don't use soiled towels.
- If going back to work, remember to re-apply creams, gloves etc. When work is finished, always use an after-work cream
Please note that if you require barrier cream or advice on its use, please contact your Supervisor.
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