OPAM Workshop: Basic Course in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Part I-F - Occupational Dermatology

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Naomi Wriston, with a background in family and occupational medicine, discusses occupational dermatoses—skin diseases related to workplace exposures. She highlights the skin as the body's largest, highly exposed organ vulnerable to workplace injury. Occupational skin diseases are the most common non-traumatic occupational illnesses, often underreported, especially in manufacturing and agriculture sectors, leading to lost workdays and significant economic costs.<br /><br />Dr. Wriston reviews lesion types (primary vs. secondary), emphasizing precise terminology such as differentiating vesicles (≤1 cm) from bullae (>1 cm), crucial for legal accuracy and workplace claims. She covers common occupational skin conditions including irritant contact dermatitis (80-90% of cases), allergic contact dermatitis, acne types related to occupational exposure, chloracne from halogenated chemicals, pigmentation changes, and occupationally induced cancers like squamous cell carcinoma from polyaromatic hydrocarbons.<br /><br />She underscores the importance of accurate diagnosis per causation criteria to determine work-relatedness and management: irritant dermatitis can often be managed with PPE, but allergic dermatitis often requires job removal due to sensitization risks. Diagnosis involves history, workplace evaluation, patch testing (for allergies), and collaboration among employees, employers, and physicians.<br /><br />Treatment includes identifying causes, topical and systemic therapies, and preventive strategies focusing on engineering controls, good hygiene, administrative measures, and PPE. Dr. Wriston stresses that PPE alone cannot protect sensitized workers and that repeated allergen exposure can worsen reactions, highlighting the necessity of correct diagnosis and prevention to protect workers and employers effectively.

Keywords

occupational medical surveillance

risk-based approach

workplace hazards

enrollment criteria

industrial processes

occupational medicine specialist

industrial hygiene

OSHA legislation

occupational dermatoses

skin diseases

workplace exposure

contact dermatitis

occupational skin cancer

patch testing

personal protective equipment

workplace prevention