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You say that workers are reporting skin issues and are assuming that this is due to hair nets. Has anyone actually carried out a proper investigation to identify the type of dermatitis. This can only be done by a suitably qualified medical specialist, e.g. a dermatologist trained in contact dermatitis. To assume that it is the hair nets that are causing the problem could well hide the true cause. Indeed, having reviewed this issue in my dermatological library and collection of studies I can find no reference to the actual hairnet causing dermatitis. My personal experience would be that this would be most unusual, the only real possibility being that the hairnets had some form of coating from manufacture (I am assuming single use only) that is causing a skin reaction. If investigating this situation I would be looking to see what other cause there might be. So: 1. Check to see what the skin conditions really are. Is there contact between the affected area and any substance that might cause irritation? 2. Check with the manufacturer to see if the material is treated in any way, e.g. by the application/incorporation of an anti-bacterial additive 3. Check for relative humidity in the environment. Low humidity can result in skin irritation as can high or low temperature within the workplace (cholinergic/cold urticaria) 4. If symptoms persist or get worse consider referral to a dermatologist for an appropriate clinical investigation. Chris Chris Packham EnviroDerm Services Unit 10, Building 11, The Mews, Mitcheldean, GL17 0SN Tel: 01386 832 311 Mobile: 07818 035 898 www.enviroderm.co.uk ******************************** Please remove this footer before replying. OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH