Tweet
Other than the "Obvious" one....
Health & Safety Best Practices
SKIN PROTECTION - An Athlete’s Guide
October 31, 2006
What do marathon runners and healthcare workers have in common? How about football players and truck drivers? Hint: It has to do with something we observe in November. And it's not Thanksgiving.
Give up? November is National Healthy Skin Month in the United States. To help you bring home the "fluffy" topic of skin care to your workers, this article offers an athlete's approach.
Skin Health & Athletic Performance
Everybody knows that athletes must be in tip top physical health to succeed. But there's more to it than just bones and muscles. Skin health is also an important factor in athletic performance. We've all heard about strains, tears, sprains and fractures. But what about allergic reactions to earplugs or goggles? Or skin problems like acne mechanica or fungal infections from skin-to-skin contact? Yes, these things do happen. And while they don't get as much attention as other forms of injury, these topical problems can be just as damaging to an athlete's career.
What it means is that even the best conditioned athletes need to baby their skin. And what's true of athletes applies equally to your own workers. No matter what industry you're in, you should teach your workers about the need to care for their skin and help them do so by emulating the lessons of the athlete's skin care regimen. Here are three common skin ailments that can harm the athlete and the worker and how to guard against them.
1. Blisters
Blisters can trip-up the most dedicated of marathon runners or slam dunk the most agile of basketball players. They're a problem in the workplace, too. Although not officially considered an occupational injury, some surveys suggest that two-thirds of workers have foot problems. And anything that causes discomfort is bound to make a worker less alert and thus more prone to accident.
Causes:
Heat
Moisture
Shoes that don't fit
Movement that creates friction on the skin
Athlete's Tips:
Lubricate feet, hands and other blister-prone areas with petroleum jelly and lotions
Keep feet, hands, etc. dry and cool with antiperspirants and drying powders
Decrease friction by wearing shoes and gloves that fit, clean moisture-absorbing synthetic socks and socks that fit and aren't wrinkled
2. Acne Mechanica
Skin that is exposed to heat or that experiences constant friction or pressure may develop acne mechanica, a form of acne. Football players may develop acne mechanica from their shoulder pads; truck drivers may develop it on their backs.
Causes:
Acne mechanica may develop on skin covered by:
Helmets
Tight uniforms
Headbands
Belts or straps
Face masks
Athlete's Tips:
Wear moisture-absorbing clothing beneath gear
Shower immediately after removing gear
3. Allergic Contact Dermatitis
A condition officially known as allergic contact dermatitis afflicts athletes and workers in many industries. It's marked by red, itchy blister patches on the skin produced as the result of contact with an allergenic substance. Over time, the substance wears down the skin's protective outer layer, making its way to the natural skin proteins. When the immune system responds, it releases a chemical that causes itching, pain, redness, swelling and blisters. Some swimmers experience contact dermatitis in reaction to the rubber components of earplugs, bathing caps or goggles. It's also fairly common among coal miners, agriculture workers and healthcare workers.
Causes:
Hot workplaces
Dry air
Friction on the skin
Substances such as acids, alkalis, mineral oils, solvents, bleaches, glues, pollen, wood dusts, nickel, some types of vegetables and fruits and even antibiotics
Athlete's Tips:
Avoid contact with the allergen (determined by a patch test)
Apply ice or soak it in cold water
Apply anti-itch lotion or spray
Keep affected area clean, but avoid harsh soaps and detergents and harsh scrubbers, such as pumice, that may dry out the skin
Dry skin completely with clean paper towels or hot air dryers and replenish your skin's oils with a good hand cream
Change into clean clothes at the end of the workout – or work
Conclusion
Smart athletes understand the health risks of their sport and the protections and procedures necessary to guard against it. This includes not just injury to bone and muscle but also skin. Your workers would do well to take a page out of the athlete's book. And you should help them do so.
First you need to educate workers about the importance of skin protection. Then you need to make them aware of the various things they can do to protect themselves such as reading the material safety data sheets for products they handle and by wearing appropriate gloves, aprons, footwear, leggings, face shields and coveralls when working with irritants. Last but not least, you need to teach them to recognize and immediately report any signs of skin irritation.
THE SKINNY ON DERMA
Did you know?
Some dermatologists treat warts with duct tape
Psoriasis — a non-contagious chronic skin disease — can be triggered by stress
Your skin is your body’s largest organ
Now you know.
-------------
Health & Safety Best Practices
HALLOWEEN SAFETY SPECIAL - Grading the Monsters
Today is Halloween. So SafetyXChange thought it would be appropriate to consider some of the most beloved movie monsters and evaluate them from the perspective of safety. What we found was less than pretty:
FRANKENSTEIN
Dr. Frankenstein's lab is a safety nightmare. Sources of electricity aren't properly grounded. There are open test tubes lying around containing lord-knows-what chemicals. People walk around with open torches. Appalling.
Grade: F
DRACULA
Another safety disaster. That coffin he spends half his life in is a confined space. But does he conduct sampling of the air or use proper gauges? No. Not only that. He's all alone. So if he needs help, who's going to hear his cries and rescue him? Then, when he does come out at night, he walks around the streets in dark clothing without a flashlight or reflective vest. His fangs are also sharps and a likely source of infection.
Grade: F
WOLFMAN
He also has fangs issues. Moreover, his long hair can get entangled in the moving parts of machinery. But he does at least have a warning device to warn of his approach: His howl.
Grade: D
JASON (From Friday the 13th)
The bad news: He handles chainsaws, machetes and other dangerous tools like they're toys, and doesn't wear protective gloves. The good news: He does employ proper face protection.
Grade: C
*****
Have a safe and happy Halloween, everybody.
Health & Safety Best Practices
SKIN PROTECTION - An Athlete’s Guide
October 31, 2006
What do marathon runners and healthcare workers have in common? How about football players and truck drivers? Hint: It has to do with something we observe in November. And it's not Thanksgiving.
Give up? November is National Healthy Skin Month in the United States. To help you bring home the "fluffy" topic of skin care to your workers, this article offers an athlete's approach.
Skin Health & Athletic Performance
Everybody knows that athletes must be in tip top physical health to succeed. But there's more to it than just bones and muscles. Skin health is also an important factor in athletic performance. We've all heard about strains, tears, sprains and fractures. But what about allergic reactions to earplugs or goggles? Or skin problems like acne mechanica or fungal infections from skin-to-skin contact? Yes, these things do happen. And while they don't get as much attention as other forms of injury, these topical problems can be just as damaging to an athlete's career.
What it means is that even the best conditioned athletes need to baby their skin. And what's true of athletes applies equally to your own workers. No matter what industry you're in, you should teach your workers about the need to care for their skin and help them do so by emulating the lessons of the athlete's skin care regimen. Here are three common skin ailments that can harm the athlete and the worker and how to guard against them.
1. Blisters
Blisters can trip-up the most dedicated of marathon runners or slam dunk the most agile of basketball players. They're a problem in the workplace, too. Although not officially considered an occupational injury, some surveys suggest that two-thirds of workers have foot problems. And anything that causes discomfort is bound to make a worker less alert and thus more prone to accident.
Causes:
Heat
Moisture
Shoes that don't fit
Movement that creates friction on the skin
Athlete's Tips:
Lubricate feet, hands and other blister-prone areas with petroleum jelly and lotions
Keep feet, hands, etc. dry and cool with antiperspirants and drying powders
Decrease friction by wearing shoes and gloves that fit, clean moisture-absorbing synthetic socks and socks that fit and aren't wrinkled
2. Acne Mechanica
Skin that is exposed to heat or that experiences constant friction or pressure may develop acne mechanica, a form of acne. Football players may develop acne mechanica from their shoulder pads; truck drivers may develop it on their backs.
Causes:
Acne mechanica may develop on skin covered by:
Helmets
Tight uniforms
Headbands
Belts or straps
Face masks
Athlete's Tips:
Wear moisture-absorbing clothing beneath gear
Shower immediately after removing gear
3. Allergic Contact Dermatitis
A condition officially known as allergic contact dermatitis afflicts athletes and workers in many industries. It's marked by red, itchy blister patches on the skin produced as the result of contact with an allergenic substance. Over time, the substance wears down the skin's protective outer layer, making its way to the natural skin proteins. When the immune system responds, it releases a chemical that causes itching, pain, redness, swelling and blisters. Some swimmers experience contact dermatitis in reaction to the rubber components of earplugs, bathing caps or goggles. It's also fairly common among coal miners, agriculture workers and healthcare workers.
Causes:
Hot workplaces
Dry air
Friction on the skin
Substances such as acids, alkalis, mineral oils, solvents, bleaches, glues, pollen, wood dusts, nickel, some types of vegetables and fruits and even antibiotics
Athlete's Tips:
Avoid contact with the allergen (determined by a patch test)
Apply ice or soak it in cold water
Apply anti-itch lotion or spray
Keep affected area clean, but avoid harsh soaps and detergents and harsh scrubbers, such as pumice, that may dry out the skin
Dry skin completely with clean paper towels or hot air dryers and replenish your skin's oils with a good hand cream
Change into clean clothes at the end of the workout – or work
Conclusion
Smart athletes understand the health risks of their sport and the protections and procedures necessary to guard against it. This includes not just injury to bone and muscle but also skin. Your workers would do well to take a page out of the athlete's book. And you should help them do so.
First you need to educate workers about the importance of skin protection. Then you need to make them aware of the various things they can do to protect themselves such as reading the material safety data sheets for products they handle and by wearing appropriate gloves, aprons, footwear, leggings, face shields and coveralls when working with irritants. Last but not least, you need to teach them to recognize and immediately report any signs of skin irritation.
THE SKINNY ON DERMA
Did you know?
Some dermatologists treat warts with duct tape
Psoriasis — a non-contagious chronic skin disease — can be triggered by stress
Your skin is your body’s largest organ
Now you know.
-------------
Health & Safety Best Practices
HALLOWEEN SAFETY SPECIAL - Grading the Monsters
Today is Halloween. So SafetyXChange thought it would be appropriate to consider some of the most beloved movie monsters and evaluate them from the perspective of safety. What we found was less than pretty:
FRANKENSTEIN
Dr. Frankenstein's lab is a safety nightmare. Sources of electricity aren't properly grounded. There are open test tubes lying around containing lord-knows-what chemicals. People walk around with open torches. Appalling.
Grade: F
DRACULA
Another safety disaster. That coffin he spends half his life in is a confined space. But does he conduct sampling of the air or use proper gauges? No. Not only that. He's all alone. So if he needs help, who's going to hear his cries and rescue him? Then, when he does come out at night, he walks around the streets in dark clothing without a flashlight or reflective vest. His fangs are also sharps and a likely source of infection.
Grade: F
WOLFMAN
He also has fangs issues. Moreover, his long hair can get entangled in the moving parts of machinery. But he does at least have a warning device to warn of his approach: His howl.
Grade: D
JASON (From Friday the 13th)
The bad news: He handles chainsaws, machetes and other dangerous tools like they're toys, and doesn't wear protective gloves. The good news: He does employ proper face protection.
Grade: C
*****
Have a safe and happy Halloween, everybody.
(Me)
Comment