Beschreibung

• Founded in 1987, the EADV is a non-profit association whose mission is to advance excellence in clinical care, research, education and training in the field of dermatology and venereology and to act as the advocate and educator of patients, particularly those with cutaneous or venereal diseases. In 2008, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work published the European Risk Observatory report on Occupational skin diseases (OSD) and dermal exposure in the EU (EU-25). It clearly revealed, “skin diseases are the second most common work related health problem in Europe”. They “are one of the most important emerging risks related to the exposure to chemical, physical and biological risk factors”. OSD account for 90 per cent of all work related health problems in the age group of 15-25 years. It is estimated that within the European Union the costs of OSD-related medical treatment, sick leave and loss of productivity exceed € 5 billion annually. Most of these costs fall on small and medium sized enterprises (SME). For affected individuals, the chronic course of OSD may result in detrimental socioeconomic and psychological consequences, including job loss and long-term unemployment. For SMEs, there is increasing pressure, in times of recession, to improve their competitiveness by reducing costs. Established scientific data demonstrate the outstanding effectiveness of OSD prevention in some countries. Dermatologists by their specific knowledge and competence – in cooperation with other disciplines – can save patients’ health and jobs, and thus reduce costs for taxpayers and insurance systems. The main objective of the EADV-europrevention campaign healthy skin@work, launched in November 2009, is putting science into practice by disseminating experience, exchanging good practices and making the recent achievements in dermatological prevention available to every EU-citizen. The campaign entails a co-ordinated scientific effort at different levels for the benefit of the individual and society as a whole. It furthermore seeks to raise public and political awareness to the problem of OSD and the possibilities of their prevention. Occupational skin diseases (OSD) account for more than 25 per cent of occupational illnesses and are often underreported, because their association with the working environment is frequently not recognized. Individuals affected by OSD originate from all ages, both sexes and a large variety of occupations. High-risk industries for OSD include healthcare, hairdressing/beauticians, metalwork, construction, manufacturing, food production, agriculture, printing, and janitorial services. The most affected body sites are the hands; the single most relevant occupational risk factor is wet work, followed by occupational exposure to multiple irritants and allergens. Contact dermatitis accounts for almost 90 per cent of skin disorders acquired at the workplace. According to its pathophysiology, it can be divided into irritant contact dermatitis that involves a non-immunologic response to a skin irritant such as water, acids, alkalis and others. In contrast, allergic contact dermatitis is caused by a skin inflammation driven by an immunologic cell mediated reaction to an antigenic substance (e.g. epoxy resin, potassium dichromate, hair dyes). Both result in skin inflammation with clinically characteristic signs of redness, swelling, blistering, flaking, cracking and itching. Further common OSD include urticaria (hives) but also skin cancer, such as squamous and basal cell carcinoma by occupational UV-exposure. Besides detrimental economic losses due to sick leave, job changes or long-term unemployment, social stigmata associated with OSD additionally affects quality of life. Because hands are visible and essential for communication, contact and expression, OSD may result in grossly diminished sense of personal well-being and self-esteem, leading to depressive mood and withdrawal from social interaction. Making a bed or putting on a shirt is a painful procedure with sore, oozing and fissured hands, which bleed easily.

Projektlaufzeit

• 23.09.2013 - 31.12.2018