Dermatitis and other skin disorders

Occupation and industry^†

Industrial and occupational analyses of EPIDERM/OPRA cases can give some insight into the types of workplaces and activities that are currently causing occupational dermatitis in the British workforce. Table THORS04 and Table THORS05 show the average number of EPIDERM and OPRA cases reported per year during the period 2006-08, by occupation and industry respectively, together with estimated rates per 100 000 workers. These latter rates are calculated by using a denominator based on the number of workers identified in the Labour Force Survey in the relevant occupational or industrial sector. Thus the denominator is representative of the whole sector whereas the number of cases reported is limited by underreporting (see above). As a consequence the rates identified should be seen as minimal estimates.

EPIDERM data in Table THORS04 shows that the occupations with the highest estimated rates of contact dermatitis reported to dermatologists (EPIDERM) were: "floral arrangers and florists" (175 per 100 000 workers per year),  "hairdressers and barbers" (148 per 100 000) and “textile process operatives” (98 per 100 000). Using information from both schemes, however, would give somewhat higher estimates for some occupations, for example 148 per 100 000 for "chemical and related process operatives", compared with the figure of 54 per 100 000 based on EPIDERM alone. However, this rate - which should not be used as a means of comparing with other occupations* - is still an underestimate of the true rate of new cases of work related dermatitis for this occupation.

EPIDERM data in Table THORS05 shows that the industrial sector with the highest estimated rates of contact dermatitis reported to dermatologists (EPIDERM) was the "other service activities" sector in the "Other Community, Social and Personal Service Activities" industrial grouping (64 per 100 000 workers per year).

* & ^† Because the coverage of British industry by occupational physicians varies by type of industry and occupation the dermatologist (EPIDERM) data alone should be used for making comparative statements between different agents, industries and occupations. Given that there is not thought to be a great deal of overlap in cases reported in the two schemes, data from both chest physicians (EPIDERM) and occupational physicians (OPRA) can be combined to give the most complete available estimate for any particular subgroup.