| New TRGS 401 "Hazards due to skin contact"
The Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances TRGS 401 "Hazard through skin contact – Investigation, Assessment, Measures" has introduced an updated definition of damp work after six years of revision. In this blog post, we would like to give you an insight into the new findings and their significance for occupational safety.
Health risk hand eczema
Occupational hand eczema is widespread and poses a serious health risk. Every year, over 20,000 cases of hand eczema are reported in Germany. Occupations in which damp work plays a role are particularly affected, such as hairdressers, employees in the food and metal processing industries, cleaners, construction workers and health professionals.
The new definition of damp work in TRGS 401 is based on current scientific findings and specifies that there is a hazard from damp work if the following conditions are met:
- a) Employees regularly have skin contact with water or aqueous liquids of more than two hours per working day due to their work. This includes, for example, contact with water-mixed cooling lubricants, disinfectants or cleaning agents.
- b) The hand washing frequency is at least 15 times per working day. Studies have shown that frequent hand washing at a frequency of 20 times per working day increases the risk of irritant contact eczema. Therefore, a hand washing frequency of 15 times was classified as a hazard in TRGS 401.
Particularly stressful for the skin is the alternation between skin contact with water or aqueous liquids and wearing liquid-proof gloves. For this reason, TRGS 401 introduces a preventive measure if either a change takes place more than ten times per working day or if hand washing is combined with the wearing of liquid-proof gloves more than five times per day.
A key aspect of the new definition is the recognition that contact with water is a greater burden on the skin than occlusion caused by liquid-tight gloves. In addition, it has been found that the regeneration of the skin barrier is slower if the skin is already pre-damaged by detergents.
Hand washing and hand disinfection
The combination of hand washing and hand disinfection can lead to irritating contact eczema. Therefore, TRGS 401 recommends only hand disinfection in the event of potential microbial contamination and non-visible soiling, as this is gentler on the skin than hand washing.
Overall, the revision of TRGS 401 is based on current scientific findings and places a stronger focus on protecting the skin from the dangers of wet work. With the more precise definitions and new findings, employers can better identify the hazards of damp work and take appropriate protective measures.
Protecting the skin from work-related diseases is of great importance, especially in occupations with wet work. TRGS 401 provides important guidelines for this and shows how employers can protect the health of their employees.