Dermal Irritation and Metalworking

Dermal Irritation can occur in the metalworking industry, especially in the winter months and with frequent hand washing.

Find out why this occurs and how to protect yourself and your employees.

Dermal Irritation is irritation of the skin caused by contact with chemicals such as Metal Working Fluids (MWF) or other industrial chemicals or physical abrasion.

• (80%) Irritant Contact Dermatitis
• (20%) Allergic Contact Dermatitis
• (90%) of Dermal Irritation can be prevented
• The term Dermatitis refers to Dermal Irritation that has been examined and diagnosed by a medical professional
• This condition is characterized by dryness, redness, itching, scaling, rash, swelling, cracking, and/or oozing

Dermal Irritation is caused by the protective oils in the skin being removed or the epidermis experiencing mechanical trauma.

Dermal Irritation can be intensified by the following:

• Seasonal changes in weather

  • As the temperatures drop, so does the moisture in the air. It is common to develop dry or cracked skin in the colder months such as late fall, winter and early spring.

• Habits and lifestyle inside and outside of the workplace

  • COVID – 19 Changed how we work and live. Many new protocols have been put into place to keep the workplace safe and efficient. Greater emphasis is being placed on hand washing and cleanliness including the use of hand sanitizer and washing the hands thoroughly with soap and water which can dry your skin

• Chemical exposures

  • High Concentration of MWF - Always monitor and control the concentration of your MWF. If it is higher than recommended, it will de-fat the skin more quickly.

• Physical abrasions

  • Use of harsh abrasive or waterless hand cleanser or excessive hand washing
  • Inadequate filtration - metal fines and heavy metals
  • Prolonged use of soiled clothing or PPE
  • Lack of or insufficient PPE
• Allergies
• Individual predispositions

The Health and Safety of each employee is very important to your company and FUCHS Lubricants Co. Statistics show that more that 90% of all Dermal Irritation related to the MWF industry can be prevented. This results in healthier, happier employees, less down time, greater efficiency, and increased production.

Encourage operators to gain awareness of:

• Product hazards
• Proper operating conditions (pH, Concentration, Visual, etc.)
• Proper usage and concentration
• How and when to monitor the concentration
• Use of PPE
• Encourage Prompt Reporting of any Issues

How can you keep your employees safe?

• Training on fluid handling
• Ensuring they have the proper PPE

Fluid maintenance and monitoring

• Have routine or periodic analysis performed to ensure the health of the coolant. Testing may include:
  • pH (8.7-9.5)
  • Concentration
  • Dirt Load (<30 ppm)
  • Elemental Analysis

Housekeeping and engineering controls

• Ensure cleanliness of PPE, Equipment, Tools and Workplace
• Consider installing mist control equipment, machine splash shields, or machine enclosures

• Contact EH&S or Medical Staff
  • Bring any Dermal Irritation issues to the attention of your plant EH&S or medical staff as soon as possible
  • The root cause of the irritation should be immediately identified and removed from the operator’s routine.
  • FUCHS sales and technical staff are prepared to support our customers in determining the root cause
• Keep affected area well-cleaned
• Use pH neutral and non-scented moisturizers. (oil-containing tend to work best and longest)
• Minimize exposure whenever possible
• Never use barrier creams on existing irritation.

Please contact FUCHS Lubricants Co. if you or your employees are experiencing dermal irritation. We can provide you additional troubleshooting material to help resolve your Dermal Irritation concerns.

Allison Dreznes :  Allison.Dreznes@FUCHS.com

Andy Ellinghausen: Andy.Ellinghausen@FUCHS.com

We will happily assist you in any way we can!