Dokumentierte Risiken beim Einsatz von Desinfektionsmitteln

Documented risks when using disinfectants Objectives: Description of the occurrence of diseases through the use of disinfectants based on the data of the occupational disease routine database (BK-DOK) of the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the health and welfare services (BGW) for the period from 2010 to 2019. Methods: An evaluation was carried out of the available data from the BK-DOK of the BGW on various diseases caused by chemical substances (BK 13xx), obstructive respiratory diseases (BK 4301/02) and skin diseases (BK 5101), which are possibly related to disinfection activities. The data covers the period from 2010 to 2019. The analysis drew a distinction between the 15 sectors of the BGW, the type of decision and the triggers for an occupational disease. Only decided cases were considered. Results: In the 10-year period, 81,960 cases of the selected occupational diseases were decided. Of these decisions, 92.2 % concerned BK 5101, 6.6 % BK 4301/02 and 1.2 % BK 13xx. Disinfectants were not documented as job-related reasons for the development of systemic diseases and only marginally for obstructive respiratory diseases. Disinfectants and wet work were documented as decisive influencing factors on the development of skin diseases. Conclusions: Skin diseases in particular occurred when handling disinfectants. This is attributed, on the one hand, to influences from the disinfectants themselves and, on the other hand, to the wet work caused by them. This was not only a problem in the health care sectors but affected every sector of the BGW. Increased prevention work and diligent risk assessment for disinfection and wet work are decisive factors in the reduction of occupational disease cases. Keywords: documentation of occupational diseases – disinfectants – wet work – skin diseases