'Wet work’ is where any part of your body is:
- in water or other liquids for longer than 2 hours a shift
- in waterproof or other occlusive personal protective cothing for longer than 2 hours a shift
- handling wet things for longer than 2 hours a shift
- hands are washed more than 20 times a shift
- workers often do not realise the number of times that they wash their hands each day.

Guidelines aim to encourage employers and their employess to become more aware of wet work and what wet work can do to a person's skin. Wet work may lead to dermatitis which can often be avoided with some forward planning in the workplace.