Occupational disease
Occupational skin disease due to prolonged exposure to cold and wet environments
Apr
Workers exposed to prolonged wet and cold conditions not only suffer negative impacts on health but also face numerous skin risks, particularly occupational skin diseases caused by extended exposure to wet and cold environments.
Symptoms such as dry skin, itching, fungal infections, seborrheic dermatitis, and oily dermatitis not only affect health but also reduce workers’ productivity.
1. What is occupational skin disease caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold environments?
Occupational skin disease from frequent exposure to wet or cold conditions may be accompanied by other agents such as chemicals, bacteria, fungi, etc., causing disease during work.
2. Occupations at risk of occupational skin disease due to prolonged exposure to wet and cold environments
Common occupations and sources of exposure:
- Aquaculture workers.
- Seafood and food processing workers.
- Rubber latex processing workers.
- Underground miners.
- Dredging workers.
- Other jobs with prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions.
3. Mechanism and causes of occupational skin disease
The mechanism and causes of occupational skin disease due to prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions involve environmental effects on the skin, creating favorable conditions for bacteria, fungi, and viruses to thrive, leading to various skin disorders.
Prolonged contact with wet and cold environments causes the skin to lose its natural protective oils, making it prone to dryness, itching, and inflammation. Bacteria and fungi can multiply quickly in wet conditions, promoting skin diseases such as seborrheic dermatitis, oily dermatitis, and fungal infections.
Other factors may increase the risk of occupational skin disease, including age, gender, genetic background, health status, and daily skin care habits.
4. Symptoms and harms of occupational skin disease due to prolonged exposure to wet and cold environments
Contact dermatitis: Skin presents with heterogeneous lesions, specifically:
- Thin, shiny skin on extremities, prominent creases on palms and soles, thickened grayish skin or darkened skin, dryness, redness, scaling, cracks, papules, vesicles, pustules, etc.
- Red inflammation, ulcers around finger and toe webs.
- Lesions are located on areas directly exposed to cold and wet conditions: extremities, fingers, palms, dorsum of hands, forearms, arms, toes, soles, dorsum of feet, shins, thighs, rarely nose tip, earlobes.
Periungual dermatitis:
- Nails: swelling, redness, scaling around fingernails/toenails, sometimes pus. Nails grayish, with white spots, pits, transverse or longitudinal ridges. Thick, rough nails, slow growth, nail recession, nail loss.
- Other symptoms: pain or itching in affected areas, extremities may feel hot, tingling, needle-prick sensations, numbness in fingers, forearms, shins.
Frostbite:
- Lesion location: areas directly exposed to cold and wet conditions, such as hands, feet, rarely earlobes and cheeks.
- Skin color changes: white, gray, bluish-gray, or mottled.
- Blisters appear within 12–36 hours.
- Damage may progress to epidermal necrosis, severe cases ulcerating to fascia and muscle layer.
- Mild to moderate (grade 1, 2): surface firm, deeper layer soft; Severe frostbite (grade 3): both layers firm.
- Affected area numb, cold, loss of sensation.
Raynaud’s syndrome progresses in 3 stages:
- Stage 1: “White, cold” due to arteriolar constriction reducing blood flow to fingertips, making them pale and cold.
- Stage 2: “Blue-purple” due to venous congestion (edematous tissue from ischemia), clinically presenting blue-purple fingertips and pain.
- Stage 3: “Red, hot” due to opening of precapillary sphincters, rapid and increased blood flow makes fingertips hot and red.
5. Protective equipment needed to prevent occupational skin disease
Protective equipment is crucial to protect the skin of workers in prolonged wet and cold environments. Essential protective gear includes:
- Waterproof clothing to shield skin from wet conditions.
- Insulated clothing to keep the body warm and protect the skin from cold.
- Waterproof gloves to protect hands from direct contact with water and chemicals.
- Helmet.
- Safety goggles.
- Face mask.
- Safety boots or protective footwear.
Proper use and hygiene of protective equipment is necessary to ensure effectiveness and maintain health safety.
6. How workers with occupational skin disease due to prolonged wet and cold exposure are compensated
In Vietnam, workers with occupational skin diseases due to prolonged cold and wet exposure may be compensated under labor law and social insurance regulations:
- According to the Social Insurance Law, workers with occupational diseases, including those from cold and wet exposure, are entitled to benefits covering wages, treatment costs, and related healthcare support.
- If the disease is caused by unsafe working conditions, workers may also request employers to improve working conditions and provide economic compensation.
To receive compensation, workers must meet insurance contribution requirements and provide evidence linking the disease to workplace exposure.
Explore the Occupational Skin Disease Risk Assessment Tool for Prolonged Wet and Cold Exposure, offering detailed evaluation and safety recommendations for workers and managers.
7. Treatment of occupational skin disease
Treatment depends on severity and impact on health, including:
- Ceasing exposure to harmful environments to allow skin recovery.
- Using moisturizing creams to protect the skin.
- Topical ointments to reduce itching, pain, and promote recovery under medical supervision.
- Severe cases may require oral medication prescribed by a doctor.
Daily skin care and a healthy lifestyle support faster recovery and prevent recurrence.
8. Prevention of occupational skin disease due to prolonged wet and cold exposure
Preventive measures include:
- Use personal protective equipment (gloves, boots, protective clothing) properly.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions by adjusting work environment and drying/wearing dry clothes.
- Proper skin care, including showering after work and using suitable creams.
- Maintain a dry, ventilated, well-lit workspace.
- Stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Consult a doctor promptly if experiencing inflammation, itching, redness, or dryness.
9. Employer responsibilities in preventing occupational skin disease
Employers must:
- Provide appropriate PPE to prevent exposure to wet and cold conditions.
- Create a safe, healthy, well-lit, ventilated, and hygienic workplace.
- Inform workers on proper PPE use and prevention measures.
- Conduct regular checks of contamination levels and employee health for early prevention/treatment.
- Offer insurance and support for affected employees.
- Perform workplace environmental monitoring and report results to improve working conditions.
10. National Workplace Environmental Monitoring Center
Nam Viet Workplace Environmental Monitoring Center is a professional unit providing monitoring and measurement of workplace environments across all provinces in Vietnam. With experienced monitoring specialists and modern equipment, the center ensures accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE
The center also assists clients with planning, handling, and tracking workplace environmental issues, focusing on customer satisfaction and providing optimal solutions.
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11. Workplace Environmental Monitoring Pricing
Nam Viet provides a pricing list for workplace environmental monitoring services for professional and cost-effective monitoring.
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