Recently,tinea pedis has been reported to be a type of occupational dermatoses because of its high prevalence in specific working conditions.Although there is no doubt that the environment surrounding work places, the usual habits of workers etc are intimately related to this skin conditions, there is some controversy as to whether or not this condition is a real occupational illness and what is the exact cause of the high prevalence of this illness is. In this study, the prevalence of tinea pedis in workers from the shipbuilding industry was investigated andthe risk factors of this disease were evaluated. This study also aimed to verify whether or not tinea pedis is one of the occupational diseases.

The results of interviews, questionnaires and clinical findings from 1,419 workers who visited the occupational health center for an annual routine check for their health state were analyzed.

Among the 1,419 workers, 778 workers (54.8%)had tinea pedis. By simple logistic regression analysis,the prevalence of tinea pedis was found to be affected by some variables, including the job category, the types of work,the kinds of footwear, whether or not they were using communal baths in the work places, and a family history of tinea pedis.In contrast, by multiple logistic regression analysis,only utilization of the communal baths in the work places and a family history of tinea pedis turned out to be statistically significant risk factors.

In this study, the major factors contributing to the high prevalence of tinea pedis are the use of communal baths in the workplace and a positive family history. However, the wearing of safety shoes was not statistically significant. Therefore, tinea pedis could not be confirmed to be an occupational disease. On the basis of these results, a solution to the environmental hygiene of communal baths and the personal hygiene of individuals needs to be improved in order to prevent tinea pedis.