Trafford launch for workplace health awareness campaign (From Messenger Newspapers)

The National Eczema Society to launch initiative at the Trafford Centre

2:00pm Thursday 8th September 2011 in News

A CAMPAIGn to raise awareness of the impact of eczema in the workplace is being launched in Trafford by the National Eczema Society.

The society’s annual National Eczema Week (September 11 to 18) will unveil the first ever ‘NES Helpline Live’ event at the Trafford Centre on September 13.

Leading Manchester legal and health experts will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice on eczema in the working environment, covering subjects ranging from treatment and management, through to the rights and duties of employers when dealing with employees who have the skin condition.

Six million people in the UK suffer from eczema, which can be a huge cause of economic loss to employers and employees. It is one of the most common occupational skin diseases and 80 per cent of newly diagnosed work-related skin problems are eczema caused by exposure to irritant substances.

High risk jobs are those likely to involve repeated exposure to chemicals and irritants, and the need for continual hand washing. They include hairdressing, catering, dentistry and nursing professions, as well as construction, printing and metal machining industries.

In some cases, eczema can have a severe impact on a person’s ability to work - research has shown that 20% of hand eczema sufferers experienced prolonged sick leave and more than a fifth (23 per cent) lost their job because of the condition. Four out of ten people with eczema admit their condition causes deep-rooted family tensions because they are unable to work.

Themed ‘6 million reasons to support’, National Eczema Week aims to raise awareness amongst sufferers and employers of the issues surrounding eczema at work.

The ‘NES Helpline Live’ event at the Trafford Centre will be located in the band stand in The Orient on the first floor from 10am to 10pm on September 13. A team of dermatology nurses and solicitors from the Wilmslow firm Roberts Jackson Solicitors, which specialises in health conditions in the workplace, will be available all day.

As part of the National Eczema Week, the National Eczema Society (NES) has developed new literature on contact dermatitis and eczema at work. ‘Working with eczema’ for people with eczema, as well as a guide for employers and occupational health workers entitled ‘Contact dermatitis at work’. Copies will be available free of charge at the Trafford Centre event or from the society’s Helpline 0800 089 1122 or by ordering online at www.eczema.org Said Margaret Cox, chairman of the National Eczema Society: “People often overlook the huge impact eczema has in the workplace. Sadly, this can be extremely detrimental to suffers, with some even being forced to give up work because of their condition.

“If you suffer from eczema, just carrying out your day-to-day job can bring many challenges – from the office temperature, the fabric your uniform is made from and even the negative reaction from work colleagues and the public to a highly visible skin condition.”

Added Margaret: “It’s vital that employers are aware of these challenges faced by their staff, so they can ensure best practice in the workplace for eczema sufferers.”