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  • Occupational Dermatitis Claims

Occupational Dermatitis Claims

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Occupational dermatitis is caused by coming into contact with an allergen or irritating substance, such as oils, petrol, diesel, soaps, detergents, greases and other chemicals. Even prolonged contact with water can cause problems. If you’ve developed eczema or dermatitis because of work, our solicitors could help you claim occupational dermatitis compensation.

Severe dryness and itchiness can lead to painful sores, blisters and skin infections, and your employer has a duty of care to protect you from any risks from working with substances that could cause dermatitis.

You should be given protective equipment for working with hazardous materials, and our lawyers can help you make an occupational dermatitis claim if you weren’t given this – or were given the wrong protection.

We have a proven track record in occupational dermatitis claims, and make the entire process as simple as possible for you, offering expert advice in plain English and providing support at every step of the way.

Most of the occupational dermatitis claims we handle are on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that there's nothing for you to pay upfront, and that you won’t have to pay any legal fees if your claim isn’t successful*.

Call us today on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation about making a claim. We’ll advise on whether we think you can claim, and discuss your options. There’s no obligation for you to continue with a claim at this stage, so you’ve got nothing to lose by getting in touch with us.

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Satinder Bains
Satinder Bains Partner Meet the team

Occupational Dermatitis Claims - More Information

How much compensation you receive after being diagnosed with occupational dermatitis or eczema will depend on a few factors related to your work exposure to chemicals, the circumstances, and the support and rehabilitation you need.

The amount of compensation you could claim is based on:

  • Current and future loss of earnings
  • Medical and travel expenses you've had to pay
  • Your care and support needs – both now and in the future
  • Modifications to your home
  • Mobility aids
  • Your pain and suffering

For more information, call us on 0800 056 4110 and we'll be happy to discuss your options in a free initial consultation.

Many of our cases are funded with a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that there’s no financial risk* to you when making a compensation claim.

At the start of your case, we'll discuss funding options with you, advising you which we think is most suitable. If you have legal expenses insurance (LEI) or are covered by a trade union policy, these may be best for you. Legal expenses insurance is included in many household or car insurance policies, so it’s always worth checking whether you’re already covered.

If we think you're best supported by a No Win No Fee* agreement, we'll explain the process clearly. You'll only have to pay anything if your claim is successful – your opponent will pay most of our fees, with the remaining costs coming out of your compensation settlement.

Please visit our No Win No Fee page for more information on how it works.

Usually you need to make a compensation claim within three years of becoming aware that your eczema might be linked to your work. 

If your dermatitis occurred while working outside of the UK, then the time limit can be shorter. In this instance, it's vital that you contact us as soon as possible.

If you have any concerns or questions about the time limit for claiming compensation, call our team today on 0800 056 4110 for free initial advice and to talk through your options.

Early compensation payments, also known as interim payments, are made in advance of any final settlement. They’re only made in an agreement with your opponent, if they admit that they're responsible for your illness.

Interim payments can be used to replace lost earnings, so you can afford to pay essential bills if your illness has meant you’ve been absent from work, as well as covering the cost of specialist medical care or mobility equipment.

We'll work hard to get an early admission of fault, and also to obtain early compensation payments to relieve any immediate financial pressures you’re feeling.

Yes, even if your employer has gone out of business you could still make a claim. The company will have been insured to deal with claims like this, so it will be the insurer’s responsibility for any compensation payments.

For more information, please visit our page on claiming if your employer has ceased trading.

If you wish to make a claim against your current employer, then any compensation would be paid by their insurer. It has been compulsory to have insurance for many years, so it’s highly likely that they will have this in place. There are also legal safeguards in place to protect you from unfair dismissal.

This basically means that your employer must be able to justify their reason for dismissing you in relation to your claim, which is highly unlikely. If you want to discuss this subject in more detail, our workplace illness solicitors will be able to talk you through your rights and what you can expect.

Person relaxing by the sea with no legal problems

"I was never warned of the risks the chemicals posed to my skin or given any protective clothing which makes what happened harder to come to terms with because it could have so easily been prevented."

John, client

Client Story - Royal Naval Engineer Medically Discharged Following Dermatitis Diagnosis

defective work equipment claim

Thomas Sharpe, from Southampton, served in The Royal Navy as an air engineer technician. Early in his service, he experienced symptoms of dermatitis. He was medically discharged around three years later following a diagnosis of irritant contact dermatitis.

After his discharge Thomas instructed military injury experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether his dermatitis was as a result of conditions in The Navy. Irwin Mitchell successfully secured a six-figure sum from the MoD.

Irritant contact dermatitis is often caused by frequent exposure to a particular substance and a number of those affected will be exposed to the irritant at work. Read more about this case here.

dermatitis rash

"I was so excited when I joined The Navy as it had always been a career I’d looked up to. After a few years into my service, my skin became really bad and I didn’t know it was as a result of the materials I was coming into contact with at work until my diagnosis." - Thomas, client

Chelsea Towner

"Dermatitis is a particularly unpleasant condition that can lead to infection in serious cases. It affects people both physically and psychologically, and while we can’t change what Thomas has been through, we’re pleased to have helped secure him a settlement.” - Chelsea Towner, solicitor

Read More Client Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

How Should My Employer Have Protected Me From Occupational Dermatitis?

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers have a duty of care to their employees, and must protect them from health risks in the workplace. Your employer should carry out a risk assessment under the 2002 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations if their employees have to work with substances that could cause issues like eczema and dermatitis.

If there is a risk, they should make sure it’s controlled, and provide you with the necessary information and personal protective equipment (PPE) to work safely. This includes:

  • Gloves
  • Overalls
  • Boots
  • Masks

Just as importantly, the PPE you’re given should be right for the job – for example, fabric gloves aren’t adequate for working with liquids.

If you weren’t provided with PPE, or you weren’t given information on the substances that cause serious skin conditions and how to avoid them, then your employer’s negligence could have put you at risk. If you’re unsure, then contact us today on 0800 056 4110 for a free consultation on your case, and we’ll be able to advise you.

What's The Claims Process For An Occupational Dermatitis Claim?

To begin an occupational dermatitis claim, all you need to do is contact us online, or call us on 0800 056 4110. We’ll discuss your work-related illness, and whether we think you can claim.

There’s no obligation to continue after this first consultation, but if you do choose to make a claim with us, we'll let you know exactly what we're doing at every stage, and what we need from you.

If we think you've got a case, your claim will usually progress through these four stages:

Stage One: Information Gathering

You'll have a medical examination with a dermatology expert to assess your symptoms, their extent, their cause, and that you're definitely suffering from occupational dermatitis or eczema.

There can be a range of different symptoms depending on the substances you’ve been exposed to, but redness, itchiness, dryness, painful sores, blisters and skin infections are common.

Stage Two: Rehabilitation

If you have any care or support needs as a result of your skin conditions, we'll identify exactly what these are and help you access them where necessary.

Dermatitis and eczema are usually treated with medications and skin treatments, but in more serious cases, you could require phototherapy (ultraviolet light treatments). Our experience in dermatitis claims means we can help you understand what treatment would be best in your case.

Stage Three: Compensation

We'll calculate how much compensation you'll get based on a few factors, including:

  • The severity of your condition
  • Medical expenses you’ve had to pay, or will have in the future
  • Your occupation, and the impact your condition will have on your ability to work
  • Your pain and suffering

We'll then put the case to your employer (or former employer). They may accept blame early on, or could contest your claim, which would result in your case being settled in court. Most claims settle out of court – but if you do have to go to court we will be there to support you.

Stage Four: Conclusion

When your case concludes, you'll be awarded compensation if you're successful. Our fees will mostly be paid by your opponent, with a portion of your compensation settlement covering the rest.

If we agreed to handle your claim under a No Win No Fee* arrangement, then you won't have to pay anything if you were unsuccessful.

If you have any questions about the claims process for occupational dermatitis, please contact us today on 0800 056 4110.

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell For An Occupational Dermatitis Claim?

Our solicitors specialise in helping people claim compensation for accidents, injuries and illnesses that have happened at work, including occupational dermatitis. We act on behalf of a number of trade unions, but we can still help you make a claim if you're not a member of one.

If you’ve never made a compensation claim before, then claiming from your employer can seem daunting. We believe no one who has been injured at work due to employer negligence should be put off from claiming the compensation that they are entitled to – even if it’s against a former employer who has since gone out of business.

We have a proven track record in occupational dermatitis claims, helping workers in a wide variety of industries claim compensation. It’s not just dangerous hazardous materials, such as acids and corrosives that can cause damage to the skin. Everyday substances like soaps, detergents, oils, grease and more can cause dermatitis, eczema and a range of other conditions if your employer hasn’t managed the risks you face from them.

We aim to make the claims process as simple and straightforward as we can, offering you expert advice in plain English, while you focus on recovering as much as possible. If your former employer isn’t trading anymore, we could be able to trace their insurer, who will be responsible for your compensation payments.

We want to make sure that you receive the best compensation possible, and receive the medical care that you need. To find out more about how to claim for occupational dermatitis, and how we can help, call us today on 0800 056 4110 for a free initial consultation about your claim.

Read More FAQs

Related Information - Occupational Dermatitis Claims

Industrial Disease Claims If you've become ill as a result of your working conditions, you might be able to make a claim
Industrial Illness Claims Guide Answers to some of your frequently asked questions concerning workplace illness claims
Employment Law We could help if you're facing issues with your current or former employer
Workplace Accidents Claims We're here for you if you've been injured in an accident at work that wasn't your fault

Scottish Flag All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.

 

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