Occupational Eczema
At the end of September, National Eczema Week highlighted what the current top priorities for eczema research are. With occupational eczema on the rise, this is important news for many people. There is currently an ongoing review into the safety of different ways of using topical steroids which aims to asses both their efficiency and benefits. The Cochrane Network Meta-Analysis that is in process on the systemic treatments for treatments for eczema hopes to yield results, but the condition is a painful one that so many will want treatment answers for.
What are the different kinds of work-related dermatitis?
Occupational dermatitis is an overall term that describes all skin problems, including occupational eczema and psoriasis, that have been caused or aggravated by work. These include:
- Irritant Contact Dermatitis
This is caused when the skin comes into contact with a substance that can damage the cells that combine to make up the surface of your hands. This condition can be temporary, and it can clear up once exposure to the substance has ceased.
- Allergic Contact Dermatitis
If someone has become sensitised to a substance, then this can lead to a permeant allergic reaction. Any subsequent, albeit limited, contact can cause a flare-up. People with atopic eczema are more susceptible to irritant contact dermatitis than allergic contact dermatitis
Which kind of dermatitis you develop depends on the intensity of your exposure to a substance and your susceptibility to the condition. While some people can develop dermatitis immediately, it can take other people years to notice that the symptoms havedeveloped.
In most cases, however, it will develop within a reasonably short period after the exposure.
How can you employer prevent you suffering from eczema?
All employers are responsible for protecting the health and safety of their employees at work. They are required to adhere and remain up to date with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) in order to improve the general exposure to and management of occupational hazards.
The duties your employer has under COSHH include:
- Training their employees about the risks and provide adequate safety information
- Preventing exposure and when that is not possible, controlling the exposure to the substances
- Maintaining health and safety measures and keeping everything in good working order. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as gloves and overalls, should be tested and examined regularly
- Conducting a Health Surveillance at a minimum of 12-month intervals or even more regularly
- Assessing your exposure to hazardous substances at regular intervals or if any changes occur
The ways in which eczema can have an impact on your everyday life – especially if it is on your hands – cannot be minimised or underestimated. It is a very painful condition, and it is even more difficult to deal with if you feel that it could have been avoided in the first place. If you are suffering from the symptoms of eczema, the first thing to do is to pay a visit to your doctor. Once you have done that, getting the right kind of legal support may lead to you being able to get occupational dermatitis compensation for your employer’s negligence.
