Background: Limited epidemiological data are available in France for occupational contact dermatitis (OCD), a non- infectious inflammatory skin condition arising from direct skin contact with substances used in the workplace.
Objective: To estimate the occurrence of, and number of workdays lost to, OCD in France.
Methods: Descriptive study of all OCD declared by salaried workers and recognised as occupational disease in France over a 4-year period.
Results: 10,582 OCD cases were reported, representing 9.6% of all occupational diseases recognised. The estimated annual incidence of OCD recognised was 15.72/100,000 salaried workers (i.e. 146.87/100,000 employees for all occupational diseases). OCD cases were mainly in the construction and public works industries with 3,057 (36.7%) salaried workers affected. In the services sector, OCD predominantly affected employees aged less than 30 years (41%), particularly hairdressers (69%). OCD accounted for the loss of 395,069 working days.
Conclusion: OCD represents a significant public health problem in France, particularly for construction workers and hairdressers.
Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.