Occupational Health in Beauty Establishments

Monday 3rd June 2019.

Occupational health is defined as the branch of medicine that deals with the health of people in their workplace or in relation to their job.

Research shows that good health is good for business and better workplaces have better financial results. Every year over 170 million days are lost to sickness absence. The Government’s Black Review of the health of the working age population reported the cost to the economy is estimated to be £100bn each year.

Research shows that the longer people are off sick, the less likely they are to make a successful return to work. After six months’ absence from work, there is only a 50 per cent chance of someone making a successful return. (NHS)

In the beauty industry, there are many areas to consider with regard to occupational health. Occupational dermatitis and Stress are just two areas to think about. 

Occupational Dermatitis

Q – What is occupational dermatitis?

A – an inflammatory condition of the skin caused by external agents used at work. It can cause several reactions in the skin: itching, pain, swelling, redness, blisters, flaking, cracking and bleeding.

Q – how does it happen?

A – occupational dermatitis can be caused in the following ways:

• immersing hands in water frequently
• direct contact with substances
• direct handling of equipment soaked in chemicals
• contact with contaminated surfaces
• splashing when mixing/handling chemicals
• contact with deposits

Stress

Q – What is stress?

A - Firstly, let’s debunk one myth: stress is not necessarily a ‘bad’ thing. Without this brilliant ability to feel stress, humankind wouldn’t have survived. Our cavemen ancestors, for example, used the onset of stress to alert them to a potential danger, such as a sabre-toothed tiger. Stress is primarily a physical response. When stressed, the body thinks it is under attack and switches to ‘fight or flight’ mode, releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine to prepare the body for physical action. This causes a number of reactions, from blood being diverted to muscles to shutting down unnecessary bodily functions such as digestion. (The Stress Management Society)

Stress can be a good thing in certain situations but in reverse it can also be a bad thing with serious long term health affects.

Q – What causes stress?

A – some of the causes are:

• poor communication
• overwork
• underemployment
• job insecurity
• conflict
• organisational culture 

Q – What are the effects of stress?

A – some of the effects are:

• physical and mental health problems:
  • raised blood pressure
  • headaches and backaches
  • ulcers
  • depression and anxiety
  • erratic behavior
    
    
• working practices:
  • poor quality of work
  • poor timekeeping
  • absence from work
  • untidiness

How do you manage the risks from stress and dermatitis? Do you monitor employees for signs of dermatitis? Have you assessed the risk and put suitable control measures in place? 

Contact us today for guidance on how you can reduce stress and manage the risk of occupational dermatitis. Call 0345 6039288 or email info@hygenisys.com.