Even when there is only a slight suspicion that a skin disease is work-related, a special report (Hautarztbericht) is filled out by a dermatologist or an occupational physician. This legal procedure (known as the Hautarztverfahren) is unique compared to those for other occupational diseases, and offers the possibility of early secondary prevention and treatment of work-related skin diseases. It is important to gain early knowledge of a possible causal relationship between the occupation and the individual skin disease, and to introduce individual preventive measures to avoid the manifestation of occupational dermatosis as defined in the German occupational disease list BK 5101 (severe or repeatedly relapsing dermatoses which have clearly necessitated the cessation of all occupational activities which were or could be responsible for causing the disease or its relapse or aggravation). However, this goal can only be achieved by effective and close co-operation between dermatologists and occupational physicians. The co-called “Hautarztverfahren“ will be introduced and strategies to increase its efficacy given.
