09/02/2022

Our hands are an indispensable tool and a valuable point of contact with the world, both in everyday life and at work. In any industrial context, the hands make an indispensable functional contribution and are constantly at the forefront. This makes them one of the parts of the body most exposed to external aggression from chemicals, irritants, pathogens and extreme temperatures.

Washing them regularly is essential to maintain their hygiene, but it is just as important to take care of them carefully using specific products to ensure their well-being and health. In industry, it is therefore necessary to implement appropriate rules to prevent risks and dangers to the skin of the hands, creating and disseminating a true culture of health.

Why is important to take care of hands?

The first reason why effective hand washing, hygiene and hand care procedures are essential in any business is that hands are the main vehicle for spreading dirt, contamination and infection. Keeping work environments as healthy as possible should in fact be the primary objective of every company, especially those that operate in particularly delicate sectors such as the food and health sectors or those that handle raw materials of animal origin.

In general, however, proper hand hygiene is the number one protection against pathogens and contaminants: regular washing and sanitising of the skin of the hands prevents the spread of germs, viruses and bacteria and thus creates a safer working environment. To encourage employees to follow thorough cleansing processes, companies should provide their employees with professional soaps and water, as well as products such as hand cleaners or wet wipes, even enriched with alcohol-based sanitising ingredients if necessary.

Meticulous hand care in industry is also a decisive step in protecting workers from the most common skin problems caused by incorrect and aggressive cleansing, as well as frequent contact with sensitising and irritating substances. Many occupational illnesses can be avoided by actively protecting the workforce and minimising the costs of absence and illness. Investing in hand care therefore brings clear organisational and economic benefits.

The main risks and disorders of the hands to be prevented

The hands, as mentioned, are constantly exposed to numerous attacks from weather, bacteria, UV rays and irritants, including chemical detergents that are often too aggressive for the skin, especially if used frequently. Stressed and inadequately treated skin has its hydrolipidic barrier compromised and struggles to maintain efficient regenerative processes, facilitating the formation of irritation, cracking and the penetration of pathogens into the deeper layers of the epidermis.

The skin of the hands can also easily become red and incur uncomfortable itching and burning, often accompanied by dryness and dehydration. Such situations can easily lead to the appearance of wrinkles, cuts and rhagades, causing intense pain and, in severe cases, an inability to perform manual labour.

Products used in the workplace can also lead to contact dermatitis and eczema, which are also characterised by dryness and high levels of inflammation. In addition, when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, wind and adverse weather conditions, it can easily accumulate melanic pigment, leading to the formation of skin spots.

How best to care for your hands?

When planning hand skin care, it is important to fully consider both prevention and protection during working hours, as well as possible treatment immediately afterwards.

For example, hands should be adequately protected with personal protective equipment, such as gloves, to prevent contact with toxic ingredients, caustic substances or infected material. Professional protective creams can also be used, to be applied before starting work and reapplied several times throughout the day.

Every working environment should also be equipped with detergents or hand washing creams that are not only of high quality, but also in line with the type of dirt to be treated (such as grease, oil, paint, silicones, iron oxide, cement, etc.). In fact, in order to safeguard the health of the skin, it is essential to choose the right products to cleanse and nourish it, which are able to remove all traces of dirt without undermining its delicate physiological balance.

Good hand hygiene also involves the use of cleaning products with strong moisturising, protective and emollient properties that can clean your hands while respecting their natural pH and protecting them from possible short- and long-term damage. Keeping the skin on your hands away from dehydration, redness and cracks keeps them healthy and prevents dangerous bacterial growth.

Drying hands well is also part of a good hygiene culture, as pathogens spread more easily in wet environments. It is a good idea to wipe all traces of water from hands, preferably with disposable cloths, to reduce the spread of pathogens. It is also a good idea to apply moisturising lotions or creams with a nourishing texture to the surface of the hands to prevent peeling and irritation, allowing the skin to respond more strongly to future daily challenges.

The supply of environmentally friendly products also enables companies to develop hand washing and sanitising procedures that maximise skin tolerability and also look to the future, protecting not only the health of workers but also that of the environment and reducing the impact of internal processes on the ecosystem.

Nettuno professional products meet all the requirements to be valid allies in your hygiene culture: we are always working to take care of professionals' hands and effectively prevent the risks they may incur, but also to inform and educate, so that hand care becomes a priority in every working context.

Contact our team now to learn more!