Occupational dermatoses: disease burden and options of prevention from a medical point of view

Introduction
Occupational skin diseases (OSD) are the leading cause of work related health problems, representing up to 25% of all occupational diseases in some countries. OSD account for 90 % of all work related health problems in the age group of 15-25 in Germany. It is estimated that OSD cause financial losses exceeding 5 billion € p.a. in the EU due to medical treatment, sick leave and loss of productivity, particularly in small/medium sized enterprises (SME). For affected individuals, the chronic course of OSD may result in job loss and unemployment.

Methods
Established scientific data demonstrate the outstanding effectiveness of OSD-prevention in some countries. Dermatologists, occupational physicians and health educationalists by their specific knowledge and competence can save patients’ health and jobs, and thus reduce costs for tax-payers and insurance systems. However, as yet, insurance systems in some countries do not enable effective dermatological intervention, workers’ education and effective prevention.

Results
Thus, in 2010, the EADV-europrevention campaign “healthy skin@work” started a co-ordinated scientific effort for the benefit of workers in risk professions. The campaign seeks to raise public and political awareness to OSD and their primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, the spectrum ranging from contact dermatitis to occupational skin cancer, e.g. by work-related UV-exposure. The scientific progress achieved in this field, including workers’ education, should be disseminated to all hazardous work places. Various national campaigns under the umbrella of the EADV are presently being initiated. Also, recently, the first voluntary agreement on common standards of OSD-prevention in Europe has been signed by the social partners in the Nr. One OSD high risk profession of hairdressing (Declaration of Dresden. www.safehair.eu).

Discussion
This recent achievements underline that industries affected by OSD are increasingly getting aware (1.) of the disease burden and (2.) that joint interdisciplinary efforts of prevention can offer a solution.