Legal regulations of occupational skin protection.

Legal regulations of occupational skin protection are different in different European countries. Some guidelines are compulsory in all countries that belong to the European Union, such as "Control of Substances Hazardous to Health" and "Personal Protective Equipment". The following presentation gives a survey of legal regulations of skin-protection measures in different European countries. The information was obtained by addressing the Labour Inspection Authorities in all European countries and asking them for detailed information. The above-mentioned guidelines are referred to, as well as corresponding regulations in European countries that do not belong to the European Union. National regulations for special substances or worker activities are reported. The survey may help to complete or improve national regulations on occupational skin protection, since this seems to be a necessary condition to reduce occupational skin diseases.