DERMATITIS. HEALTH AND SAFETY INTRODUCTION TO DEVRO.

DERMATITISDERMATITIS

HEALTH AND SAFETY

INTRODUCTION TO DEVRO

HEALTH AND SAFETY

DERMATITIS OUTBREAK 2008

Safety Committee March 2008

Occupational Health involvement

Safety Dept changes May 2008 and June 2008

2 RIDDOR Reportable cases

11 suspected cases

HSE visit 1st July 2008

Following awareness sessions a further 26 employees came forward

HEALTH AND SAFETY

ACTIONS IN 2008

Get to the Root of the Problem

Obtain Specialist Advice

Management support

Education and Awareness

Policies and Procedures

Risk Assessments

Suitable and Sufficient Controls

New OH provider

HEALTH AND SAFETY

GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

Obtain and analyse MSDS

Audit of all OH records

Creation of chemical spreadsheet

Interview all affected person and carried out fault tree analysis

Skin questionnaires and photos taken when on shift

Change management

Assess COSHH assessments

HEALTH AND SAFETY

SPECIALIST ADVICE

Our in house OH nurse

Occupational Health Physician

Consultant Dermatologists at Ross Hall and

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

HSE

Occupational Hygiene

Patch Testing

Workplace Visits and clinic

MSDS Analysis

HEALTH AND SAFETY

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

Dermatitis training sessions in 2008 throughout organisation

Skin care awareness sessions in 2008

Introduction of Dermatitis on all inductions

Regular communications

Dermatitis on noticeboards

Increased focus of safety committee on occupational ill health issues

Look for...DRYNESS, ITCHING,

REDNESS...which candevelop into

flaking, scalingcracks, swelling

and blisters

HEALTH AND SAFETY

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Review of all Risk Assessments

COSHH Assessments

Mandatory skin protection policies

Specific risk assessments on affected persons

HEALTH AND SAFETY

CONTROLS

Areas where gloves are mandatory

Health surveillance

Skin tracker

Additional hand wash stations

Provision of barrier creams, moisturiser and cotton liners

Removal of alcohol washes

Engineering Controls

Redeployment

HEALTH AND SAFETY

PERSONAL ACCOUNT – LES PETERS

Les Peters was a production operator in our Moodiesburn plant. He has been in this role since June 1990. In early 2008, Les developed a minor skin complaint and was unaware of the consequences of not reporting to his manager. By May 2008 his hands deteriorated.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

PERSONAL ACCOUNT – LES PETERS

Les was seen by our OH and then referred to the OH doctor and a Specialist. He had to wear gloves and liners but his condition deteriorated further and began affecting his feet.

This resulted in Les being unable to work and impacted his personal life massively and affected his wife and children including a ruined holiday as he was embarrassed by his hands and feet and in a great deal of pain.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

PERSONAL ACCOUNT – LES PETERS

Les underwent patch testing and photo therapy and was redeployed into stores. His condition began to improve.

He then successfully undertook a H&S role within Maintenance and within 6 months his condition was gone.

He is a wonderful asset to Devro and has recently passed his NEBOSH certificate with distinction and is starting his diploma in January.

He actively educates his fellow workers in the importance of looking after their skin.

Les admits that he wishes his condition had been addressed sooner as it may have been nipped in the bud without all his pain and suffering.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

DERMATITIS IN 2010

In 2010 we have:

A new Occupation Physician led OH Provider

A skin awareness campaign in May throughout both plants

Intranet and notice board communications

Dermatitis training for all Middle Management in October and November

Responsible Persons training for three additional persons

Increased awareness training for our Maintenance Dept who are deemed most at risk

Additional Moisturiser stations throughout the factories

HEALTH AND SAFETY

CURRENT POSITION

We have not had another work related dermatitis since 2008 but are still actively monitoring a number of susceptible individuals.

Due to increased awareness a number of employees come forward regularly with skin concerns to our OH.

With advice and precautions this ensures we are proactive in dealing with the situation.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

CONCLUSION

Dermatitis remains our greatest occupational ill health risk and our biggest Dermatitis remains our greatest occupational ill health risk and our biggest challenge. challenge.

We must never become complacent and always be vigilant.We must never become complacent and always be vigilant.