Hazardous Substances
The most common hazardous substances in the hospitality and tourism industry are chemical cleaning agents. Cleaning agents such as detergents, cleaning fluids, polishes and air fresheners are used daily and can be a risk to your health. You may need to wear gloves when handling some cleaning agents.
Do not put cleaning chemicals into other containers such as milk or cool drink bottles.
You should follow instructions for safe use of all hazardous substances. Your employer should keep an up to-date material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each substance used at the workplace. These could be collected and kept in a ring binder.
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is an inflammation that occurs when a substance comes into contact with skin. The skin is irritated and there is an abnormal (allergic) reaction. The skin may be red, swollen, tender, hot, painful or itchy. If the reaction is severe, the skin may blister or weep and can become cracked or crusty.
Some employees who handle food have a higher risk of contact dermatitis as they wash their hands and clean dishes and equipment often. Cleaning fluids and detergents often contain chemicals that may cause irritations in some employees.
Different people will react differently to each substance, and some employees may have no reaction at all. Some substances will have an immediate and obvious effect on the skin. Other substances could be used regularly for a long time before the skin begins to react. After the first reaction occurs, dermatitis will develop fairly quickly each time there is contact with that substance.
As well as causing pain or discomfort, dermatitis can, in some cases, mean long periods away from work. At times the worker cannot go back and do the same work as they have become sensitised to the substance.
The most common way to reduce the risk of contact dermatitis is to wear protective gloves and barrier creams. Your employer should provide this sort of personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of contact dermatitis and you should use it.
