Incidence of occupational skin diseases in occupational groups

Background and Objective. Occupational skin diseases (OSD) rank at the top of occupational diseases in Germany. We studied the cases with initial medi cal report of an OSD reported to our Register of OSD in North Bavaria (BKH- N). Patients/Methods. From 1990-99 5.285 cases were closed and recorded. Since the number of employees in the different occupations was known,a population -based study was performed to investigate incidences and demographic charac teristics in occupations classified into 24 groups. Results. In the occupational groups in 3.097 cases a work-related skin dise ase was stated. The estimated overall incidence was 6.7 cases per 10,000 wo rkers per year. The highest incidence was in hairdressers (97.4), bakers (3 3.2), and florists (23.9), while the largest number of cases was in hairdre ssers (856), health services (481),and metal-surface workers (260).The medi an age of all cases was 25 years. In 1.611 cases (52%) a delayed-type sensi tisation with occupational relevance was perceived. Conclusions. The descriptive data of the BKH-N highlight occupational group s being at risk for OSD. The results assist in working out prevention measu res aiming on lowering the incidence of OSD.