Early secondary prevention of occupational skin disease in Germany: the dermatologist’s procedure in perspective

The dermatologist’s procedure was introduced in 1972 as a “procedure of early detection of occupational skin disease” by industrial, agricultural and public-sector employers’ liability insurance funds of Germany’s statutory occupational accident insurance. To date, it represents the most relevant tool for secondary prevention in industrial dermatology in Germany. According to the intention of this procedure, insured parties who are likely to have an occupational skin disease have to be offered preventive measures and, if necessary, given appropriate treatment to avoid job-loss. In co-operation with the Central Federation of the Industrial Professional Associations, the Task Force on Occupational and Environmental Dermatology of the German Dermatological Society, and the Professional Organisation of German Dermatologists, a study group was constituted in 1999 to improve the traditional dermatologist’s procedure. In October 2002 a controlled intervention study was started in North-western Germany to establish the definitive value of the “optimised” dermatologist’s procedure. Past, present, and future of this specific procedure are discussed.