Compensatability and contact dermatitis in the canning industry.

If reports from the Workmen's Compensation Commissioner are compared with international figures, dermatitis in South African industry appears to be underestimated. Compensation for occupational dermatitis in South Africa relies on the presence of a positive patch test. A prevalence study at a canning factory in the western Cape showed high rates of dermatoses. No association could be shown between dermatitis, intertrigo or chronic paronychia and patch-test positivity. It is argued that patch-test positivity is purely coincidental to the dermatoses and that patch testing has little role to play where the majority of occupational dermatoses are irritant in nature. Reform of the system of compensation for occupational skin disorders is urgently needed and should be integrated in workplace-based preventive and curative programmes.