Dermatitis
What is dermatitis?
Dermatitis is a skin condition caused by contact with something that irritates the skin, or causes an allergic reaction. It usually, but not always, occurs where the irritant touches the skin.
There are two main types of dermatitis:
Contact Irritant Dermatitis
This can occur quickly after contact with a strong irritant, or over a longer period of time from repeated contact with weaker irritants. Irritants can be chemical, biological, mechanical or physical. Repeated and prolonged contact with water (e.g. more than 20 hand washes, or having wet hands for more than 2 hours per shift) can also cause irritant dermatitis.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
This can occur when the sufferer develops an allergy to a particular substance. It may occur immediately, or as a result of exposure over a number of years. Once someone is 'sensitised', it is likely to be permanent and any skin contact with that substance will cause allergic contact dermatitis.
Symptoms
Dermatitis skin symptoms can include some or all of the following:
- Redness
- Scaling/flaking
- Blistering
- Weeping
- Cracking
- Swelling
- Itching
- Rashes
Causes
Examples of substances (known as causative agents) which may cause dermatitis include:
- Wet work
- Flour
- Soaps, shampoos and detergents
- Solvents
- Latex
- Rubber
- Oils and grease
- Dusts
- Acids and alkalis
- Some hair dyes and bleaches
- UV cured printing inks
- Glues/adhesives
- Some foods (e.g. shellfish, flour)
- Wet cement
- Paints
High risk work places
Dermatitis can occur in most workplaces, although cases occur more in certain high-risk jobs. These include the following:
- Catering
- Hairdressing
- Health services
- Dentistry
- Printing
- Motor vehicle repair
- Construction
There are many substances which can cause dermatitis. Please call us if you wish to discuss whether you may have been exposed to a substance at work which has caused a skin condition to develop.
Employers Duty of Care
Employers owe employees a duty of care in the course of their employment.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) regulations apply to such claims. Our panel of industrial disease solicitors are experts in the interpretation and application of these regulations, with over 20 years experience in dealing with such claims.
Claims for compensation can be highly complex and often several people may claim who all work on one particular job or process.
Examples of some successful claims include:
- Scalp problems caused by negligence at the hair salon.
- Skin problems caused by exposure to isocynates (paint sprayers and other workers)
- Skin problems caused by exposure to cement, epoxy resins, brick dust, oils, resins or glues
- Skin problems caused by exposure to food stuffs, including flour, chemicals and acidic agents.
- Skin problems caused by exposure to soap, cleaning agents or detergents.
If some, or all, of the above apply then you may be eligible to make a claim for dermatitis compensation. Call now on 0845 644 5135, or complete the claim form for a free consultation.
Dermatitis Compensation
Dermatitis involving both hands, with cracking and soreness, affecting employment and domestic capability, lasting some years or indefinitely: £9,000 - £12,600
Dermatitis involving both hands, for a significant period of time, however settling with treatment and/or use of gloves for specific tasks: £5,700 - £7,500
Itching, irritation, or rashes to one or both hands, but resolving within a few months of treatment: £1,125 - £2,600
