OCCUPATIONAL ECZEMA COMPENSATION CLAIMS

Occupational eczema and other dermatoses affect tens thousands of people every year and often results from negligent behaviour by an employer. About four million working days are lost in the UK each year because of skin diseaes and the total cost is many millions of pounds of lost prodution. Exposure to noxious substances and chemical irritants including solvents and cutting fluids is the second most common cause of skin disease which not only affects performance at work, but also adversely affects quality of home life. Over 60,000 people suffer from skin disease with over 3000 new cases diagnosed annually. It is estimated that occupational skin diseases are responsible for 40% of all occupational illness.

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Occupations at particular risk of occupational eczema include production workers involved in the manufacture of metal and metal items, labourers in the gas and oil industries, hairdressers, barbers, printers, doctors, health workers, building labourers, agricultural workers, laundry workers and cleaners. Anyone who has a skin eruption whilst exposed to chemicals or substances at work which subsequently settles down when they are not at work and recurs when at work again should be extremely suspicious about an occupational eczema particularly if it occurs in areas exposed to chemicals and other workers carrying out the same job also suffer from a similar condition.

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There is specific legislation relating to occupational eczema designed to protect employees from the effects of exposure to dangerous chemicals, gases and vapours which includes both The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992. These acts require employers to make a risk assessment of all potentially hazardous processes and to take reasonable precautions to protect employees from any hazard exposed by the risk assessment. The employer must have an adequate system of health surveillance in place. All employees who are likely to come into contact with irritant substances must be kept fully informed about the hazards associated with that particular chemical and all manufacturers data and safety sheets must be available for consideration by the employee. The employers must also provide accessible safety equipment and protective clothing and training in its proper use.

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In addition to occupational eczema there are other less common forms of naturally occurring skin diseases some of which may be caused as a result of negligence by an employer thereby giving rise to a potential compensation claim :-

• contact urticaria which includes hives or nettle rash causes a minor short lived problem and can occur after contact with some substances including rubber latex in protective gloves.
• hair root irritation, oilacne and chloracne following contact with chemical substances including mineral oils particularly cutting oils used on lathes
• ulceration the most common of which is cement burns from wet cement which can be severe
• skin cancers from excessive exposure to UV radiation or from exposure to carcinogenic substances including mineral oils that have not been solvent refined or severely hydro-treated and many other carcinogenic chemicals
• photodermatitis occurs where the skin develops a hypersensitivity to UV radiation

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If you have been injured contact us today about the possibility of bringing a compensation claim. We will provide you with free legal advice about the claims process as well as an assessment of your potential claim. We take cases on a risk free no win no fee basis. Win or lose there is no charge. Our solicitors specialise in personal injury compensation claims. Simply phone our helpline to speak with an experienced personal injury solicitor.