Cutaneous hazards

G. Cutaneous hazards Chemicals which affect the dermal layer of the body Signs and Symptoms Defatting of the skin rashes irritation ... 

Class and Definition Cutaneous hazards- affect the dermal layer (skin) of the body... 

The model has been developed to Include the effect of competitive surface loss processes on the kinetics of skin absorption (15). The refinement Is of relevance because surface removal Is a common occurrence (through desquamation and abrasion) and because many cutaneous hazards encountered In the workplace and environment are volatile and hence subject to some degree of evaporation before penetration. 

NIOSH Dermatology Program Announcement Occupational Cutaneous Hazards and Diseases", U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1980. 

Cutaneous Hazards Substances that cause skin injuries, such as defatting, rashes, or irritations. Examples of cutaneous hazards include ketones and chlorinated compounds. 

The first part of this chapter will concentrate in some detail on the manufacturing processes involved in the production of semiconductors and printed circuit boards (PCBs). It is hoped that this will be of scientific interest to the reader, but more importantly that it will give an outline of the diverse chemicals and materials used. The information contained in this section comes from a variety of sources [4-6]. The second part of the chapter will concern the range of dermatoses and cutaneous hazards encountered in the industry. 

It is perhaps during these stages of semiconductor fabrication that there exists the greatest potential for exposure to cutaneous hazards because the numbers of chemicals involved are vast. With the wafer prepared, the process of building the chip s circuitry begins. Making the transistors and their interconnections entails several different basic steps that are repeated many times. The most complex chips made today consist of 20 or more layers and may require several hundred different processing steps to build them up one by one. 

Cutaneous Hazards and Skin Disorders in the Electronics Industry... 

Numerous cutaneous hazards that can be found in the electronics industry (Koh 1997) are summarised in Table 1. Despite the multitude of these types of hazards, workers in other manufacturing industries appear to have a higher relative risk for the development of occupational dermatitis. This is thought to be due to the degree of automation in the industry (Adams 1990). However, even with automated processes, opportunities for contact with cutaneous hazards still exist (Fregert 1980). 

Despite the lower risk of occupational skin disease, the sheer vast size of the electronics workforce will contribute to large numbers of workers with occupational dermatoses. Health care personnel responsible for the health of these workers should be aware of the cutaneous hazards present and be alert to the risk of... 

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