HAIRDRESSERS across Bolton are to be targeted by health and safety inspectors in a bid to combat work-related skin disease.

Inspectors from Bolton Council will be visiting hundreds of businesses to raise awareness of occupational dermatitis during the next few months.

Hairdressers and barbers have the highest incidences of skin disease. Inspectors hope to raise awareness of worker health and safety, with particular emphasis on contact dermatitis.

They will be visiting premises to determine how local businesses are managing risks, offering advice, support and guidance on good practice control measures to proprietors.

Where improvements are necessary, owners will be asked to report back on actions taken.

Barrie Whitehead at Bolton Council's health and safety unit said: "There is nothing for anyone to fear, we are not trying to catch anyone out. This is simply an awareness-raising campaign."

"We have about 300 businesses on our database, but some of those do not seem to be in business any more, so this exercise will also be useful in giving us up-to-date figures about how many businesses are still trading in Bolton."

Janine Vose, manageress of Hair Studio 336, said that she welcomed the move, but added that many businesses would already be aware of the risks.

"I think it is a good idea, but in reality, many businesses already take simple steps such as issuing gloves to staff, particularly new staff, who are most at risk.

This initiative is part of the Health and Safety Executive's Disease Reduction Programme which aims to reduce the number of dermatitis incidents in the UK by 10 per cent by 2008. Skin disease is estimated to account for 26 per cent of cases in a survey by the HSE.

Councillor Ismail Ibrahim, Bolton Council's executive member for culture and community services, said: "We hope that local hairdressing salons will work with our officers so that we can help them and their staff members avoid the discomfort caused by dermatitis which is so often unnecessary.

"We also hope this targeted campaign will also reduce the number of sick days in this sector."