Occupational skin carcinomas and precancerous lesions
Department of Occupational, Social and Preventive Medicine
Since the first of January 2015, ‘squamous cell carcinoma or multiple actinic keratoses of the skin caused by natural UV radiation’ have been listed as occupational disease number 5103 (BK 5103) in the Occupational Diseases Regulation (BKV). After noise-induced hearing loss, BK 5103 is the most frequently recognised occupational disease. Until 2019, the appendix to the Occupational Health Care Regulation (ArbMedVV) did not list any activities that could trigger BK 5103. It was urgently necessary to close this gap in prevention. A new preventive measure for activities involving intense exposure to natural UV radiation (one hour or more) was therefore chosen to be added to the appendix to the ArbMedVV. This will be done with the aim to bring the protection of employees into line with the latest developments in occupational medicine and occupational disease law.
Under the leadership of Prof. Völter-Mahlknecht and the expert committee she heads, the ArbMedVV (Occupational Health Care Regulation) was amended in 2019 on the basis of scientific findings as follows: Provision was made for preventive care for outdoor activities involving intensive exposure to natural UV radiation for one hour or more per day on a regular basis. The regulation strengthens preventative measures for occupational groups exposed to intense natural UV radiation, which includes approximately 2.8 million outdoor workers. This amendment to the ArbMedVV was described as a ‘significant change to the ArbMedVV’.
On 24 September 2019, Occupational Health Regulation (AMR) 13.3 ‘Outdoor activities with intense exposure to natural UV radiation for one hour or more per day on a regular basis’ was finalised by Prof. Völter-Mahlknecht and the expert committee she heads, taking into account the available scientific findings, and published in the GMBI (see also Ärzteblatt).
Publications
Bauer, Krohn, Breitbart, Greinert, John, Völter-Mahlknecht, Skudlik
Berufsbedingte Erkrankung an Plattenepithelkarzinom der Haut oder/und aktinischer Keratose
S3-Leitlinie 2022
Völter-Mahlknecht, S., Krummenauer, F., Mannherz, M., Zwahr, G., Koch, B., Drexler, H. & Letzel, S.
Heterogenität der MdE-Beurteilung bei der Berufskrankheit BK-Nr. 5102 BKV: Mögliche Ursachen und Optimierungsvorschläge
Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin 2004; 8:450-456.
Völter-Mahlknecht, S., Krummenauer, F., Mannherz, M., Zwahr, G., Koch, B., Drexler, H. & Letzel, S.
Die Minderung der Erwerbsfähigkeit auf dem allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt (MdE) bei Hautkrebs – Eine deskriptive Analyse
Occupational and Environmental Dermatology 2004; 52:67-72.
Voelter-Mahlknecht S, Scheriau R, Zwahr G, Koch B, Escobar Pinzon LC, Drexler H, Letzel S.
Skin Tumors among Employees of a Tar Refinery: The Current Data and their Implications
Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2007; 80(6):485 - 495.
Völter-Mahlknecht S, Sacher N, Wegner I, Schulze-Rath R, Escobar Pinzón LC, Diepgen TL, Blettner M, Letzel S.
Pilotstudie zum Hautkrebs-Screening bei Beschäftigten der Deutschen Lufthansa AG unter arbeits- und sozialmedizinischen Aspekten
Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin 2006; 41(11):510-517.
Völter-Mahlknecht S, Zwahr G, Löffler KI, Koch B, Letzel S.
MdE bei Hautkrebs: Qualitätssicherung der MdE-Bewertung am Beispiel der BK-Nr. 5102 BKV
Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin 2007; 42(2):50-55.
Völter-Mahlknecht S, Köllner A, Stary A, Rogosky E, Dienstbach D, Sacher, Zwahr G, Koch B, Letzel S
Empfehlungen zur MdE-Einschätzung bei berufsbedingten Hauttumoren
Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin 2008; 43(4):250 – 254.