Skin condition compensation claims
You could be entitled to between £1,000 and £52,000 in skin condition compensation if your condition has been caused by your employment. Most occupational skin disorders affect employees who are exposed to chemicals, enzymes, dust, and other irritants while at work. Every employee has a right to be safeguarded from these types of exposure, either through good risk assessments, personal protective equipment or other measures.
If you have developed a skin condition such as dermatitis or eczema as a result of your working conditions, contact Thompsons Solicitors today. We are the leading personal injury firm in Scotland and have all the skills, authority and experience to bring your case to the best possible conclusion. Call 0800 0891 331 for information and advice.
Jodie Robertson
Jodie Robertson
"The recoverability of compensation with all cases though, will come down to proving that the negligent party, whether that be an individual, an employer or a company, owed a duty of care, breached that duty and that the breach caused the injury."
Occupational dermatitis
Dermatitis is a skin inflammation caused by an adverse reaction to a chemical, enzyme or other irritant. Occupational dermatitis is most prevalent in the following occupations:
- Photographic processors
- Fabric dyers
- Painters and paint manufacturers
- Dentists and dental nurses
- Cleaners and housekeepers
- Catering and kitchen staff
- Glass and ceramic workers
- Construction workers
Whether the cause of the dermatitis is dye, oil or plants or even working with water on a daily basis, an employee will be able to claim compensation if they can prove that the working conditions have been the cause of the condition. More substantial settlements are likely when the condition is found to have caused a financial loss or affected the ability to earn a living.
Allergic contact dermatitis, occupational eczema and chemical burns are also claimable.
How much skin condition compensation can you claim?
Awards of between £1,000 and £11,200 could be made depending on the severity of your symptoms and your recovery from them. Awards for severe symptoms can be as high as £52,000. Some recent examples are given below.
Jones v Mankoo 2013 In this case the injured party suffered hair loss caused by alopecia which was brought on by the stress of a road traffic accident. Four days after the road traffic accident her hair began to fall out, she was diagnosed with alopecia and the stress of the accident was said to have triggered the alopecia. There was an area of around 5cm of thinning hair on her scalp. Her hair loss continued for a year. As a result she suffered loss of confidence and had to wear a wig. The amount awarded for pain and suffering caused by the alopecia was £2,800.
Daniel Moffat v Advocate General for Scotland 2006 The condition was a chronic superficial dermatitis skin condition affecting the upper part of the claimant's legs, his back, trunk and armpits. The effects of the condition would not diminish or disappear. The claimant was distressed about his appearance. Pain and suffering was awarded at £8,000.
Rigby v MFI UK Ltd 2006 In this case the injured party suffered an injury to his hands when solvent he was using during the course of his employment seeped through his gloves. The solvent came into contact with the skin of his hands. Within thirty minutes he suffered a burning sensation and redness on his hands. For three weeks his hands where painful, sore and blistered. The most serious consequences of the dermatitis he suffered began to ease within three weeks. The prognosis was that the dermatitis would resolve completely within three months. The amount awarded for pain and suffering by the court was £1,500.
Puttock v Kodak Ltd 2000 In this case the injured party suffered dermatitis on both hands as a result of using a powerful cleaning agent during the course of her employment. She has to use the powerful cleaning agent three times a day for three weeks. She wore rubber gloves but didn't use them properly or store them properly due to a lack of training. The insides of the gloves became contaminated. She suffered red papulovesicular scaly eczema and her symptoms were irritated by household cleaners. Her symptoms were likely to be permanent. The amount awarded for pain and suffering by the court was £12,724.76 RPI.
Jones v Pandis 1993 This was a case where the injured party had suffered soft tissue injuries to her neck and was affected by psoriasis which was provoked by stress. Her psoriasis initially affected only her palms but her condition began to worsen and spread over her feet and she began to experience lesions across her skin. The palms of her hands were the most affected and she was only able to move her hands with difficulty. The skin condition prevented her leading a normal happy social and family life. She was unable to go swimming, dance or take part in keep fit. She had problems in coping with household duties. The court would continue to expect her to suffer exacerbations for many years and she was awarded £52,816.22 RPI for pain and suffering.
Evidence and time limits
Collect all medical records, photograph the condition and employment history to back up your claim. The time limit to claim is three years from date of diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if the negligent act of your employer, such as lack of PPE, led to your industrial dermatitis.
Simple claims are resolved in a matter of months. More complicated claims may extend to a year or two.
Scotland's leading personal injury firm
These cases are given only as a guide. The compensation you receive for pain and suffering depends on your injuries, the effect it has on you and the speed of recovery. Thompsons is the leading personal injury firm in Scotland and has the skills, authority and experience to bring your case to the best possible conclusion. Call our freephone number today 0800 0891 331 for a detailed assessment of your case and invaluable information and advice.
