Heavy duty hand cleaners help combat occupational dermatitis
In industrial environments, employees’ hands can take a beating. They are commonly exposed to soils and chemicals on the job that otherwise, the skin isn’t used to being exposed to. This is especially common for employees in manufacturing, construction, printing, painting and automotive industries. It is important to prepare and protect employees from exposure with industrial hand care products that keep the skin clean and healthy.
On the job skin health
Repeated handling of solvents, chemicals, irritants or allergens can cause a skin disease known as occupational dermatitis. Also referred to as contact dermatitis, symptoms include inflammation, redness, itching, flaking, burning, soreness and cracking of the skin, most often the hands.
Employee downtime and quality of life
With an estimated annual cost exceeding $1 billion, occupational dermatitis is one of the most prevalent industrial skin diseases1 in the United States. Additionally, it is among the top five diseases in terms of lost productivity according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Not only is an employee’s work impacted by this skin disease but their quality of life is affected too. We depend on our hands for so much – the symptoms of contact dermatitis can be frustrating and debilitating. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body becoming more and more difficult to treat.
Reduce the risk
Using commercial hand cleaners, scrubs or soaps, in addition to hand creams, helps reduce the risk of occupational dermatitis. Employees should use protective gloves when needed and wash their hands regularly, including before and after wearing gloves. Special hand creams, applied before and after work, help maintain proper skin condition.
Consider a three-step industrial hand care process
Preparing, cleaning and restoring hard working hands can reduce the frequency of occupational dermatitis. Employers have a responsibility to their employees to ensure these hand care products are available.
For healthier hands, employees should start the day with a before work cream that will repel soil from the skin, making hand washing easier. Throughout the day, wash hands with a specially formulated heavy duty hand soap or cleaner. Then at the end of the workday, soothe and moisturize dry hands with an after work hand cream.
Tough hand cleaners for tough environments
For over 100 years, Kutol has manufactured commercial hand soap and hand sanitizer products that clean hands, reduce the spread of germs and promote skin health. Some of the very first soaps we manufactured were formulated for heavy duty soils meaning we’ve got over a century of experience. Our Kutol® Pro heavy duty hand cleaners outperform the competition by removing the toughest industrial soils in just one application. When you choose Kutol, you are choosing the experts in industrial skin care.
1 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention