Big Wipes teams up with HVP to offer readers the chance to win a year's supply of its 4x4 industrial-strength wipes!

Industrial-strength wipes need to be powerful enough to clean well, but they must also protect your hands, says Nigel Dibbo, managing director of Big Wipes.


For heating and plumbing engineers, your hands are your livelihood, so cleaning them effectively while still being able to care for them is crucial, as skin disease on the hands can be debilitating and has serious implications when trying to continue with work. After all, your skin is your body’s largest organ and its protective barrier.


If you work in a manual trade and your hands are irritated then the barrier can be broken, harmful substances can accumulate and cause sore and inflamed skin, affecting long-term health. 


There are common signs of skin problems to look for on your hands such as dryness, redness, cracking or swelling of the hands and fingers, as well as blisters, flaking and itching. Workers can develop these symptoms as they come into direct contact with substances commonly used on-site. If you are immersing your hands in liquids, or getting them splashed on a regular basis, then your hands may suffer.


It can also be difficult for tradespeople to avoid contact with dirt and potentially harmful substances. Washing your hands is the most obvious way to get rid of them, but there may not always be access to cleaning facilities on site.


Even when water and soap are readily available, they may not be enough to shift the residue of modern construction and maintenance products.


The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) advises workers to use the ‘avoid, protect and check’ approach when it comes to looking after their hands. You should, therefore, avoid direct contact between unprotected hands and substances, products and wet work where practical. You should also protect the skin, as avoiding contact will not always be possible, and check your hands for the first signs of itchy, dry or red skin.


For some people, gloves might be the answer. For many jobs, however, gloves are simply not suitable and actually cause skin reactive problems, such as urticaria – an almost immediate raised, itchy rash.


Sometimes, the quick removal of irritants may be the only solution. In this case, workers will require a hand-cleaning wipe that is going to get rid of the mess first time, allowing them to get on with the job. Furthermore, these wipes must be preservative-free as some wipes may contain ingredients that can irritate the skin.


Concern has recently been raised about the increase in adverse skin reactions to Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) used in products such as baby wipes. Working closely with the European Society for Contact Dermatitis, the European personal care association, Cosmetics Europe, issued an industry-wide recommendation to discontinue the use of the preservative MIT in personal care products.


Companies such as Big Wipes have anticipated these recommendations and now use preservative-free, mainly water-based formulations for their products. In addition to the four powerful cleaning agents, Big Wipes contain four dermatologically tested skin conditioners: aloe vera, lanolin, vitamin E and glycerine, which can all help to nourish and protect the skin.


The range has been assessed to the latest EU Regulation 1223/2009 for cosmetic products and also offers 99.9% antibacterial protection. All Big Wipes can be used without water and are therefore suitable for on-site use where it may not be available.


The biodegradable formula also helps to ensure the removal of paint and varnishes, adhesives, oil, sealants and general grime from hands, tools and surfaces.


Individuals who are concerned they may have a skin problem should visit their GP for advice and treatment if needed. As the HSE advises, protection is an important step to preventing problems from occurring. Therefore wipes might well be the answer to protecting the most important tools of all – your hands.



How to enter


To be in with a chance of winning a year’s supply Big Wipes 4x4 industrial-strength wipes, print off this entry form, fill in your details and post it back to us for free to this address:


HVP/BigWipes Competition
32 Vauxhall Bridge Road
London SW1V 2SS.


Alternatively, you can enter the competition via email by copying and pasting the entry form and emailing your completed answer to hvpmag@hgluk.com. The closing date for entries is 31 August, 2015.


Q: How many powerful cleaning agents and dermatologically tested skin conditioners do Big Wipes 4x4 contain?   


A: One of each 


B: Two of each


C: Four of each



Answer:



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Terms and conditions: • One winner will receive a year’s supply of 4x4 industrial-strength wipes from Big Wipes • The prize is as stated and no alternative, substitute or upgrade will be given • By entering the competition you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and all instructions set out above • The competition is open to registered UK readers of HVP over 18 years of age, except employees of Big Wipes and the Hemming Group • No purchase necessary • Only one entry per reader • No responsibility is accepted for illegible entries, or for those lost, delayed or damaged in the post • The editor’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into • Prizes subject to availability.