Soap firm settles for scaly skin
Soap firm settles for scaly skin
Toiletries giant PZ Cussons has paid out £10,000 to a former employee who developed occupational dermatitis. The 35-year-old TGWU member from Nottingham was required to wear latex gloves to protect his hands from workplace chemicals. At the start of 2005 he began to develop skin problems and was subsequently diagnosed with irritant contact dermatitis caused by the gloves. When the PZ Cussons plant in Nottingham was closed down in 2006, the claimant was made redundant. The company refused to settle the case, so court proceedings were issued. A medical expert retained by the union's legal advisers confirmed that the claimant would be more susceptible to irritants in the future and may well suffer outbreaks of dermatitis for at least five years. The final sum included additional compensation to reflect the risk of the claimant finding himself seeking work for a longer period of time. This is because he had to be careful regarding the type of jobs he can undertake. 'The claimant was left with a vulnerability to develop contact dermatitis again should he come into contact with the same gloves in the course of employment,' said TGWU regional industrial organiser, Peter Whipps. 'The simple fact is that chemicals are dangerous if they are not handled properly.' Latex exposure can cause dermatitis and asthma. In some cases, people can suffer potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.
- Hazards work and health and compensation webpages.
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