This Global Handwashing Day, the skincare experts at Swarfega are highlighting the importance of effective handwashing when it comes to the prevention of occupational skin disorders (OSDs).

Global Handwashing Day is marked on 15 October by the Global Handwashing Partnership, spreading awareness of the importance of good handwashing and hygiene. With OSDs such a prevalent issue among plumbers and installers, the day is an opportunity to highlight skincare issues.

Affecting a huge number of tradespeople, around 40% of workers will experience an OSD at some point in their working life, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control in the US. Dry, cracked, and sore skin should not be seen as an occupational hazard – it is preventable and treatable and, if not taken care of, could lead to a seriously unpleasant skin disorder.

So why are they so common among plumbers? Frequent contact with contaminants such as dirt and grease, as well as working in damp or wet conditions, can all contribute to poor skin condition. As the weather gets colder too and the humidity drops, moisture in the skin tends to evaporate more quickly, leaving it drier.

Coupled with the use of car or van heaters during the winter months, your hands can be left in seriously poor condition. Although necessary for keeping you warm on the move, heaters can actually end up accelerating the skin’s moisture loss.

Employers should also be invested in good quality skincare – each unreported case of dermatitis costs a business £6,000, according to Contact Dermatitis. For plumbers who often work on the move, a lack of proper skincare products can be a common issue.

At Swarfega, we know a thing or two about keeping working hands in good nick. Regular and effective handwashing is the best way to prevent an OSD – here are some top tips from the experts:

  • Aim for the mildest cleaner that will do the job – this will help prevent the loss of the skin’s essential oils. Many people just reach for the nearest cleaner to hand but, if this is too weak or strong, it can land your skin in poor condition.
  • If you need to shift ingrained dirt and grime, use a hand cleaner with non-abrasive scrubbers. Avoid washing up liquid and sugar at all costs!
  • Good skincare consists of three steps: protection, cleaning, and restoring. Before work, apply a good protection cream – this will make skin easier to clean at the end of the day. Clean hands regularly throughout the day and apply a restoring moisturiser at the end of a shift.

Spreading the word this Global Handwashing Day could help reduce the prevalence of OSDs and improve wellbeing among those in the trade, with just three steps to top notch skincare.