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Skin Conditions

Accommodation and Compliance: Skin Conditions

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About Skin Conditions

The skin is the body’s largest organ and functions to protect the body from irritants. When encountering an irritant, signals are sent to the brain to isolate and destroy the irritant often causing redness, swelling, fever, and itching. In the case of some skin conditions, such as contact dermatitis, this reaction is caused when coming into contact with an external trigger. Other conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and scleroderma produce similar manifestations in response to an internal immune system trigger.

Limitations associated with skin conditions can include light sensitivity, suppressed immune system, skin irritations, fine and gross motor movement, mobility, temperature sensitivity, pain management, and stress management.

Skin Conditions and the Americans with Disabilities Act

The ADA does not contain a definitive list of medical conditions that constitute disabilities. Instead, the ADA defines a person with a disability as someone who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more "major life activities," (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. For more information about how to determine whether a person has a disability under the ADA, see How to Determine Whether a Person Has a Disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA).

Accommodating Employees with Skin Conditions

For people with skin conditions and related limitations, the degree of limitation will vary among individuals. Be aware that not all people with skin conditions will need accommodations to perform their jobs and many others may only need a few accommodations. The following is only a sample of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation solutions may exist.

Questions to Consider:

  1. What limitations is the employee experiencing?
  2. How do these limitations affect the employee and the employee’s job performance?
  3. What specific job tasks are problematic as a result of these limitations?
  4. What accommodations are available to reduce or eliminate these problems? Are all possible resources being used to determine possible accommodations?
  5. Once accommodations are in place, would it be useful to meet with the employee to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations and to determine whether additional accommodations are needed?
  6. Do supervisory personnel and employees need training?

Key Accommodations

Skin Irritations: Many skin conditions result in irritation to the skin, including rashes, sores, and lesions.

  • Provide alternative personal protective equipment (PPE) or uniform when possible
  • Have PPE or uniform custom-made
  • Exempt from uniform requirement unless job-related and consistent with business necessity
  • Avoid infectious agents and chemicals
  • Limit invasive procedures (activities that could exacerbate skin condition)

Ultraviolet Sensitivity: Individuals with skin conditions that decrease their tolerance to ultraviolet light may need accommodations to limit sun exposure and certain indoor lighting.

  • Provide schedule that avoids direct high-sun exposure
  • Provide protective clothing
  • Provide ultraviolet light filters
  • Provide alternate lighting
  • Provide ultraviolet filters for computer screens

Suppressed Immune System:  Skin may be impacted by weakened immune system or autoimmune disease.

  • Allow frequent breaks to rest, to use medications, or to prepare specialized food
  • Allow use of flexible scheduling and flexible leave
  • Allow work from home
  • Provide sensitivity training to co-workers
  • Reduce or eliminate workplace stress
  • Provide computer input devices and work surfaces that can be washed and sterilized
  • Provide regular cleaning and sanitizing of office equipment, furniture, workstation, restroom, and break room
  • Provide ultraviolet sanitizing wand (only if the individual is not ultraviolet-sensitive)
  • Allow access to a refrigerator

Temperature Sensitivity: Some skin disorders may result in increased sensitivity to temperature.

  • Modify work-site temperature and dress code
  • Use fan/air-conditioner or heater at the workstation
  • Allow work from home during extremely hot or cold weather
  • Maintain the ventilation system and redirect air-conditioning and heating vents
  • Provide an office with separate temperature control

Pain Management:  Skin sensitivity or lesions may result in pain that disrupts an employee’s ability to perform work functions or maintain stamina throughout the work shift.

  • Allow flexible scheduling and flexible leave
  • Allow work from home
  • Allow frequent breaks
  • Reduce or eliminate physical exertion in the workplace
  • Provide access to a refrigerator
  • Allow telephone calls to support person, or attendance at support group meetings during business hours

 

Accommodation Ideas:

Situations and Solutions:

The following situations and solutions are real-life examples of accommodations that were made by JAN customers. Because accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis, these examples may not be effective for every workplace but give you an idea about the types of accommodations that are possible.

JAN Publications & Articles Regarding Skin Conditions

Events Regarding Skin Conditions