Contact Dermatitis and the Employer

What is Contact Dermatitis?

Put simply, it is an inflammation of the skin, which is triggered by contact with a particular substance.  Diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis can often be supported by patch testing.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Contact Dermatitis?

The symptoms would usually be a localized rash which becomes red, blistered, dry and cracked. These rashes often appear within a few hours or days of exposure to an irritant or allergen.

The rash can take anywhere from several days to weeks to heal. Even after days, contact dermatitis fades only if the skin no longer comes into contact with the allergen or irritant. Chronic contact dermatitis can develop when the removal of the offending agent no longer provides the expected relief.

What Jobs are most commonly at risk from Contact Dermatitis?

Although it is possible for exposure to occur in any working environment, there are some jobs that present a greater risk of contact dermatitis. These industries are as follows:

• Hairdressing and the beauty industry.
• Printing industry.
• Cleaning industry.
• Catering industry.
• Construction industry.
• Metalwork industry.

How should your employer protect you from this risk?

Employers have a duty to ensure that their employees are not put at any foreseeable risk as far as practicable.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 requires employers to assess risks, to provide appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, provide information and training on the safe use of any substance exposed to and in appropriate cases, to provide health surveillance.

If skin problems are identified, employees should be advised to see an appropriate health professional. As the employer, you will need to know what tasks affected employees are fit to do and what controls will protect them.

Can I make a claim for Contact Dermatitis?

If you have any of the above symptoms and believe it may be as a result of substances or chemicals you have been exposed to from work, then you may be able to make a contact dermatitis claim.

Oakwood Solicitors has experts dedicated to industrial disease claims and has a proven record of reaching a successful outcome.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

For a FREE initial consultation, call the Industrial Disease Team on 0113 200 9720,  or contact us online here to discuss how we can help you.