Occupational skin disease evaluation

The detailed history and examination of the patient s skin is necessary for the diagnosis of occupational skin disease, in most cases followed by patch testing. Further investigations and visits to the workplace may be necessary. Observation of symptoms after returning the patient to the same workplace is important. Evaluation has the following objectives ... 

Pre-employment evaluation of workers serves the purpose of primary prevention against occupational skin disease. Screening prospective workers for an increased risk of developing occupational contact psoriasis, by looking for personal and familial psoriatic background and the physical markers of the disease, may be important in job placement. Workers with predisposition to psoriasis should be discouraged from holding jobs that expose them to risk of skin injury and repetitive trauma. 

To sum up, it is clear how several dermatologic diseases, often characterised by a complex pathogenesis, can influence the job-fitness evaluation, which must take into account occupational factors able to worsen or trigger exacerbations of these diseases. Close co-operation between the dermatologist and the occupational physician is thus very important for the correct diagnosis of all skin diseases occurring in a worker and possibly correlated or worsened by job tasks. 

The employer will provide proper personal protective equipment, skin testing, education, and training provided at no cost to employees. Employees are responsible for the information contained in this plan and are expected to wear proper respiratory protection when directed and trained by the employer. Prevention of TB exposnre will be based on adherence to the recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The employer will ensure that employees use provided guidelines for patient assessment and evaluation of TB. 

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