Prevention of Dermatitis in Epoxy Exposed Workers

Summary

The risk of sensitization and contact dermatitis among workers exposed to epoxy resin systems (ERS) is high despite extensive preventive efforts, probably because skin exposure is often left unrecognized.

The main objective of this project is to prevent epoxy-related dermatitis and sensitization, caused by working with ERS, by fluorescence visualization of exposure. In cooperation with global manufacturers of wind turbines, 250 lamination workers will be allocated to either an intervention or a control Group. The risk of dermatitis and sensitization will be compared. Skin exposure will be made visible by a fluorescent tracer added to the ERS. UVA-light will illuminate the skin of head, neck, arms and hands and the fluorescent areas will be recorded and quantified by a computer vision system. The intervention group will be shown the fluorescent areas on their skin, while the control group will not have this information. The intervention takes place daily for a period of 1 month, 4 times during the 2 year follow up period.

All participants are patch tested, screened for dermatitis and atopy at start and end of follow up or at end of employment. The investigators also assess potential determinants for ERS exposure including working tasks and procedures. Information on dermatitis diagnoses from hospital contacts, medical prescriptions and education will be obtained from registers.

Conditions

• Contact Dermatitis
• Sensitization Dermatitis

Interventions

DEVICE

Fluorescence visualization (feedback)

UVA-light will illuminate the skin of head, neck, arms and hands and the fluorescent areas will be recorded and quantified by a computer vision system each time the participant leaves a production area. The intervention group will be shown the fluorescent areas on their skin, the control group will not have this opportunity

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Arbejdsmiljøforskningsfonden

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Vestas Wind Power

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Skane University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Herning Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Aalborg University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Aarhus University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Henrik A. Kolstad, professor · Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital

• Alexandra G Christiansen, cand. med · Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-12-01

Primary Completion

2020-12-30

Completion

2022-12-30

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations