The Occupational Disease & Injury Company Limited

The Nature of the Condition

Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Irritant Contact Dermatitis is the most common form of occupational dermatitis and accounts for 85 to 90% of cases. It is caused by an irritant which, having been on the skin in a sufficient concentration for a sufficient length of time, causes an inflammatory reaction. Those working in an environment such as cleaning, hairdressing, building sites and horticulture are at risk. People with dry skin or those who suffer from eczema, asthma or hay fever are more likely to develop an irritant contact dermatitis.

Allergic Dermatitis

Allergic Dermatitis is caused by sensitisers or allergens that are not usually an irritant. However once they penetrate the surface of the skin they can activate the bodies immune system. This form of occupational dermatitis takes months or years to develop but, once sensitised, the condition remains for life. Substances and causative agents can include cement, acrylic plastics, soaps and detergents, solvents, tar and pitch, pesticides, preservatives, hairdressing preparations and film-processing chemicals. So people most likely to be affected are those employed in:

Hairdressing/beauty care
Catering and food processing
Cleaning
Construction
Engineering
Printing
Chemical
Health care
Agriculture/horticulture
Rubber

Dermatitis usually affects the hands or forearms; the places most likely to touch the substances. However it can develop on the face, neck or chest. If you experience symptoms of itchy skin, dry and cracked skin, skin rash then you may have a claim.

Asbestosis

Asbestos, now illegal to use in buildings, was used extensively in the past. Buildings built before 2000 (e.g. houses, factories, hospitals and schools) may contain asbestos. If you have worked in an environment where you were exposed to asbestos over a number of years (e.g. demolition work, plumbing or lagging), you could be at a high risk of developing asbestosis or a similarly related condition and potentially have a claim.

Occupational Asthma

Occupational asthma can occur following prolonged exposure to substances at work, often specific to that industry (e.g. isocyanates, from the manufacture of paint, polyurethane foam, adhesives or surface coatings). When the bronchi tubes in the lungs are irritated, the airways narrow making it difficult to breath. This may cause wheezing or coughing and the chest become tight. The narrowing can be reversible, with the aid of inhalers.

Industrial Deafness

Industrial deafness is usually caused by the repeated exposure to excessive noise at work. Because hearing deteriorates gradually, the sufferer may not be aware that noise-induced hearing loss has occurred. Symptoms can include distorted or muffled sounds and difficulty in understanding speech, particularly in a crowded room. A simple hearing test can tell you if you suffer from noise-induced hearing loss.

Occupational Dermatitis

Occupational dermatitis affects virtually all industries and businesses. Initial symptoms can be redness, itching, scaling and blistering, but the skin can crack or bleed. Dermatitis can be severe enough to keep you off work and serious enough to force you to have to change your job. When spotted quickly and adequate precautions are taken, most people can make a full recovery. However, some people are affected for life.

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome

This condition is caused by the repeated and frequent use of hand held vibrating tools. Symptoms of white finger (VWF) may start when your hands get cold. To begin with, attacks are usually occasional and cause the fingertips to become white. However, with additional vibrations, the injury becomes worse. Sometimes, a person may only suffer with sensory nerve damage, developing problems of pins and needles or numbness in their fingers.

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