§ Mr. CongdonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment what plans his Department has to examine skin disease in the context of health and safety at work. [35969]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordSince 1993, the Health and Safety Executive—HSE—has been funding a surveillance scheme for occupational skin disease—EPI-DERM—to determine the major causes of work related skin disorders and to identify the occupations most at risk. The initial findings confirm that occupational dermatitis is still the most widespread form of work related skin disease.
The HSE is therefore to focus on reducing the incidence of occupational dermatitis as part of its "Good Health is Good Business Campaign". This phase of the campaign, which will be launched in the spring next year, aims to raise awareness of the causes of work-related dermatitis and the steps employers need to take to prevent it.
The HSE is also acting to reduce the harm that can be caused by exposure to ultra-violet light at work. It has published guidance for outdoor workers alerting them to the dangers of over-exposure to the sun and advising them of the precautions that they should take to protect their skin.