NEWS RELEASES
Hairdressers warned about WRCD
17th January 2007
AS PART of an ongoing Health and Safety campaign, Horsham District Council is making hairdressers in the District aware of the risks associated with their line of work.
The FIT3 campaigns - 'Fit for work, Fit for life, Fit for tomorrow' are joint local authority and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) initiatives which involve an ongoing programme of health and safety campaigns.
FIT3 campaigns aim to target priorities that will best deliver a reduction in injury and ill health at work – making businesses safer and more profitable.
The FIT3 priorities are: Slips and Trips, Falls From Height, Workplace Transport, Work–Related Contact Dermatitis, Occupational Asthma, Asbestos Management, Stress and Manual Handling.
Hairdressers are being sent letters from Horsham District Council containing details on Work Related Contact Dermatitis (WRCD).
WRCD (sometimes called eczema) can be caused by skin coming into contact with chemicals and frequent contact with water (eg more than two hours a day).
The letters being sent to hairdressers include a section on how to prevent WRCD. The advice given includes:
- Inform and instruct employees on the need to use chemicals safely.
- Read the labels and the safety data sheets for the chemicals and products being used and follow the safety instructions.
- Replace chemicals or products with safer alternatives.
- Avoid carrying out activities which increase the risk of developing WRCD.
- Regularly check the condition of the skin on hands for signs of dermatitis.
Nigel Haverson, Head of Public Health and Licensing at Horsham District Council, said:
“We want people to be aware there are many aspects of safety at work, the obvious ones like slips and trips are regularly addressed, however conditions like WRCD are commonplace and also need to be addressed.
“Our letter and information packs aim to give information to those people who need it and hopefully it will make a difference.
“The packs are going out to 66 hairdressers in the District and will be followed up by ‘phone calls and visits by Council officers to see if businesses are properly informed or if they have any further questions.”
For more information contact publichealth.licensing@horsham.gov.uk, call Horsham District Council on 01403 215428 or go to the HSE website.
Alternatively, Workplace Health Connect can be contacted, which is working in partnership with the HSE offering free, confidential and impartial advice for small businesses (with five to 250 workers). Its telephone advice line is 0845 609 6006.
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CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk