Keeping a wound clean while you are working
A dressing designed for the sofa will not survive a working shift. Plan for the environment.
The dressing that works overnight is rarely the one that survives a shift in a kitchen, workshop or garden.
Match the dressing to the hazard
- Wet work — waterproof backing, and expect to change it at the end of the day regardless.
- Dusty or dirty work — prioritise a good seal all the way round, and reinforce edges with tape.
- Food handling — a covered wound on the hands must also be protected by a glove, and many workplaces require blue detectable dressings for this reason.
Change at the end of the shift
Whatever the dressing, a working day exposes it to more than a resting day. Changing it when you get home is cheap insurance.
Check your workplace rules
Food environments, healthcare and some manufacturing settings have specific requirements about covering wounds. Those rules override general advice.
Consider light duties
A wound that keeps reopening because of what you do all day will not heal. It is worth asking for a temporary change of task rather than losing weeks.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
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FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.