What happens in the lab should not stay there. That was the central message from Prof Anja Franken of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Health Sciences, who used her inaugural lecture to argue that occupational health research must move beyond academic journals and into workplaces where it can save lives.

“Research must not remain in journals and laboratories,” Prof Franken said on 19 September 2025. “Like a baton, it must be passed from theory into training, from data into decisions, from experience into education.”

Getting the message out about exposure through the skin

Her work focuses on an overlooked but critical aspect of occupational health: chemical exposure through the skin. While much attention is given to inhalation risks, skin exposure is a major pathway for harmful chemicals to enter the body. In sectors such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing, workers routinely come into contact with hazardous substances.

“The skin is the body’s largest organ and a critical barrier,” she said. “But once chemicals breach it, they can enter the bloodstream and affect internal organs.”

Her research tracks exposure from emission and deposition to skin penetration and absorption, using in vitro techniques to examine how substances such as platinum and rhodium interact with human skin.

This data is not just academic; it informs workplace safety standards, shapes legislative frameworks and supports laws such as South Africa’s Occupational Health and Safety Act and proposed regulations governing hazardous chemical agents.

When research becomes policy and practice, it has impact

In ensuring that her own research informs action, Prof Franken has integrated her findings into the NWU’s teaching programmes, equipping future occupational health professionals with the skills to identify and manage risks before they endanger workers.

“It’s about preparing students to make informed decisions in real-world settings,” she explained.

Her work also extends beyond the university. By collaborating with industry partners and regulatory bodies, Prof Franken has helped shape global safety standards through organisations such as the International Platinum Group Metals Association. These partnerships, she said, are essential for turning research into tangible protections for workers.

“If we want to make a difference, science must leave the lab and meet people where they work,” Prof Franken noted.

Prof Anja Franken