Used engine oil

Worker wearing gloves
Wearing nitrile gloves to reduce hand contamination

Frequent and prolonged contact with used engine oil may cause dermatitis and other skin disorders, including skin cancer.

Avoid unnecessary contact with used engine oil. Adopt safe systems of work, wear protective clothing which should be cleaned or replaced regularly. Don't keep oily rags in pockets as the oil will seep through overalls etc and affect the skin below. Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness.

Use 'after-work' replenishing creams to replace skin oils. 'Barrier' creams can be useful in helping to wash away contamination from the skin but you should not rely on them acting as a full barrier to protect the skin.

Choosing the right gloves to protect skin[48]

Link URLs in this page

  1. Motor vehicle repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/index.htm
  2. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/introduction.htm
  3. Overview - Common MVR topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/index.htm
  4. Benzenehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/benzene.htm
  5. Choosing the correct gloveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/gloves.htm
  6. Cleaning/degreasing substances including valetinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/degreaser.htm
  7. Electric and hybrid vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/electric-hybrid.htm
  8. Falls from heighthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/falls.htm
  9. Fire and explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/fire.htm
  10. Fluoroelastomershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/fluoroelastomers.htm
  11. General COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/general-coshh.htm
  12. Hand-arm vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/vibration.htm
  13. Harmful dusts - Inhalation and Dermatitis riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/dusts.htm
  14. Manual handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/manual.htm
  15. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/noise.htm
  16. Safety in the use of two-post vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/fallofflifts.htm
  17. Slips and tripshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/slips.htm
  18. Storing and handling airbagshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/storing-handling-airbags-seat-belt.htm
  19. Struck by...https://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/struckby.htm
  20. Updated guidance on vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/updated-guidance-on-vehicle-lifts.htm
  21. Used engine oilhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/oil.htm
  22. Workplace transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/transport.htm
  23. Overview - Bodyshopshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/index.htm
  24. 2-pack isocyanate paintshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/isocyanates.htm
  25. Bodyshop mythshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/myths/index.htm
  26. COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/coshh-paintspraying.htm
  27. Measuring paint spray booth clearance timehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/cleartime.htm
  28. Overview - Mechanical repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/index.htm
  29. Asbestoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/asbestos.htm
  30. Hot work on wheelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/hot-work-on-wheels.htm
  31. Tyre removal, replacement and inflationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/tyreremoval.htm
  32. Vehicle exhaust emissions (Diesel)https://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/exhaust.htm
  33. Welding and flamecuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/welding.htm
  34. Wheel and tyre explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/wheel-and-tyres.htm
  35. Working under vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/under-vehicles.htm
  36. Overview - Roadside repair and recoveryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/roadside-repair/index.htm
  37. Automotive glazinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/roadside-repair/glazing.htm
  38. Essential precautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/roadside-repair/essential-precautions.htm
  39. Repair or recovery of buses and coaches fitted with air suspensionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/roadside-repair/buses.htm
  40. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/index.htm
  41. COSHH essentialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/mvr.htm
  42. Overview - Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/statistics/index.htm
  43. Ill health statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/statistics/illhealthstats.htm
  44. Injury statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/statistics/injurystats.htm
  45. Useful external websiteshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/links.htm
  46. Videoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/videos/index.htm
  47. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/contact.htm
  48. Choosing the right gloves to protect skinhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/gloves.htm
  49. Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries - HSG261 https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg261.htm
  50. COSHH essentials sheet SR19 Work with lubricants and waste oil https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/sr19.pdf
  51. Skin micrositehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/skin/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

MVR
Motor Vehicle Repair
COSHH
Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health

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Updated 2024-06-05