Skin cancer induced by natural UV‐radiation as an occupational disease – Requirements for its notification and recognition

Abstract

Summary In Germany over 2.5 million employees have an increased risk of skin cancer due to their occupational exposure to natural UV‐irradiation. The medical consultation board “Occupational diseases” of the Ministry of Labor and Social affairs has investigated the association between occupational UV‐irradiation and skin cancer risk and recommends to add the following new occupational disease into the appendix1 of the German ordinance on occupational diseases: “Squamous cell carcinoma and multiple actinic keratosis due to natural UV‐irradiation”. In this article we report in the view of the German Society of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology (ABD) and the German Statutory accident insurance (DGUV), whose criteria have to be fulfilled for the notification and recognition of an occupational skin cancer due to natural UV‐irradiation.

New Strategies in the Prevention of Actinic Keratosis: A Critical Review

“…In Germany, the medical consultation board of ‘occupational diseases' of the Ministry of Labor and Social affairs has investigated the association between occupational UV irradiation and skin cancer risk. Recently, the following new occupational disease was added to appendix 1 of the German ordinance on occupational diseases (Berufskrankheitenverordnung, BKV): ‘squamous cell carcinoma and multiple actinic keratosis due to natural UV irradiation' [6]. Published epidemiological studies show that cumulative occupational exposure is a substantial and robust risk factor for the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) [7].…”

“…Outdoor workers, as in agriculture, forestry, seafaring, construction, and road maintenance, have a greater occupational exposure to UV. An additional occupational UV exposition of 40% is assumed to double the risk of skin cancer and is thus legally relevant for the pathogenesis of an occupational disease [6]. …”

Neue Strategien in der Prävention der aktinischen Keratose: Eine kritische Literaturanalyse

“…In Deutschland hat der Ärztliche Sachverstän-digenbeirat «Berufskrankheiten» des Bundesministeriums für Arbeit und Soziales den Zusammenhang zwischen berufsbedingter UV-Exposition und Hautkrebsrisiko untersucht. Kürzlich wurde das folgende Krankheitsbild als Berufskrankheit in Anhang 1 der Berufskrankheitenverordnung (BKV) aufgenommen: «Plattenepithelkarzinome oder multiple aktinische Keratosen der Haut durch natürliche UVStrahlung» [6]. Veröffentlichte epidemiologische Studien zeigen, dass kumulative Exposition am Arbeitsplatz einen erheblichen und robusten Risikofaktor für die Entwicklung von Plattenepithelkarzinomen (PEK) der Haut darstellt [7].…”

“…in der Landwirtschaft, Forstwirtschaft oder Seefahrt, auf dem Bau oder im Straßenbau, ist bei der Arbeit einem erhöhten Maß an UV-Strahlung ausgesetzt. Eine berufsbedingte Zunahme der UV-Exposition um 40% geht Schätzungen zufolge mit einer Verdoppelung des Hautkrebsrisikos einher und ist somit rechtlich relevant für die Pathogenese einer Berufskrankheit [6]. Angesichts der demographischen Entwicklung ist zu erwarten, dass die Inzidenz der AK weiter steigen wird.…”

Occupational skin cancer caused by natural UV light – essential causation by occupational versus nonoccupational exposure

“…On January 1, 2015, the new OD was added to the OD list of the Occupational Disease Regulation (BKV) as number 5103 [2,3]. The German Federal Government subsequently expects 9,000 OD reports per year as well as a corresponding number of recognition proceedings [2], which will confront medical (dermatological) experts with a number of new issues.…”