You’ll often hear about our industry’s focus on customer service, but hospitality managers know that a business can’t function without happy, healthy staff. To help managers address one of the primary health complaints that can affect our industry, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has just released a new guide on Preventing contact dermatitis and urticaria at work. These conditions are as unpleasant as they sound and can make affected individuals’ lives a misery from the conditions’ resulting irritation, pain and inflammation. Often hands are affected and the appearance of dermatitis can make sufferers very self-conscious so there can be mental as well a physical side effects.
According to the HSE, dermatitis and urticaria are “defined as inflammation of the skin resulting from exposure to detergents, toiletries, chemicals and even natural products, for example, foods. Prolonged or frequent contact with water (often termed wet work) can also cause it.”
Hospitality managers who employ kitchen, cleaning or housekeeping staff, should be aware that these employees may be more susceptible to the conditions, however, the new HSE guide can help managers reduce – and even remove – the causes of dermatitis.
Download and read the guide to find out:
- the signs and symptoms of dermatitis and urticaria
- what the law requires from employers
- how to conduct a straightforward risk assessment
- how to prevent urticaria and dermatitis from developing using the ‘APC approach’; and
- where to find further information and support
The HSE provides extensive resources and templates to support all industries in meeting their obligations to keep employees and the public safe. For further information on information specific to the catering and hospitality industry, see HSE.
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