Occupational Dermatitis Claims

Occupational dermatitis can be painful, frustrating and difficult to live with. Symptoms often affect the hands and other exposed areas of the body, making everyday tasks uncomfortable and, in some cases, making it difficult to continue working. Many people develop the condition gradually after repeated contact with chemicals, cleaning products, wet work or other workplace irritants.

If your dermatitis was caused by your work, or an existing skin condition became significantly worse because your employer failed to protect you, you may be able to make an occupational dermatitis claim.

At Tylers Solicitors, we provide straightforward legal advice, helping clients understand whether they have grounds to claim and guiding them through the process on a No Win No Fee basis where appropriate.

Whether you work in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, catering, cleaning, engineering or another industry where your skin is regularly exposed to irritants or allergens, we can assess your circumstances and explain your options.

Call our team on 0800 699 0079.

Can I Make an Occupational Dermatitis Claim?

A diagnosis of dermatitis does not automatically mean you can claim compensation. A successful claim usually depends on showing that your condition was caused or materially worsened by workplace exposure and that your employer failed to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk.

You may have grounds to make an occupational dermatitis claim if:

Your work exposed you to substances known to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.
Your employer failed to carry out suitable COSHH risk assessments or control exposure properly.
Suitable gloves or other PPE were not provided, were unsuitable for the task or were not replaced when necessary.
You were not given appropriate training about handling hazardous substances safely.
You reported symptoms but no reasonable action was taken to reduce your exposure.
Medical evidence supports a link between your condition and your work.

Many occupational dermatitis claims involve symptoms that develop gradually over months or years rather than after a single incident. Because of this, early medical advice and legal guidance can make it easier to gather the evidence needed to support your claim.

As part of our wider industrial disease claims, we regularly help clients whose health has been affected by long-term workplace exposure rather than a single accident.

What Is Occupational Dermatitis?

Occupational dermatitis—also called industrial dermatitis or work-related dermatitis—is a skin condition that develops because of exposure to substances or working conditions encountered during employment. It commonly affects the hands, wrists and forearms because these areas are most likely to come into direct contact with irritants, although the face or other exposed areas of skin can also be affected.

There are two main forms of occupational dermatitis.

Irritant contact dermatitis develops when repeated contact with irritants damages the skin’s protective barrier. Frequent exposure to water, detergents, solvents or cleaning chemicals can gradually lead to redness, dryness and cracking.

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the body’s immune system develops an allergic reaction to a particular substance. Once this sensitivity develops, even small amounts of the allergen may trigger symptoms whenever contact occurs.

Although dermatitis affects the skin, some workplace substances can also affect the respiratory system. Where exposure has caused breathing problems as well as skin symptoms, you may also wish to read about occupational asthma claims.

Common Causes of Dermatitis at Work

Many occupations involve regular exposure to substances that can irritate or sensitise the skin. The level of risk often depends on the type of work carried out, how often exposure occurs and whether suitable protective measures are in place.

Common workplace causes include:

Cleaning products, disinfectants and detergents.
Solvents, oils, fuels and degreasers.
Cement, plaster and construction materials.
Hair dyes, bleaches and beauty products.
Latex or other glove materials.
Frequent handwashing and prolonged wet work.
Industrial chemicals, dusts and powders.
Food preparation involving repeated washing and cleaning.
Unsuitable or poorly fitting protective gloves

Occupational dermatitis is often seen in industries such as healthcare, social care, catering, cleaning, hairdressing, beauty therapy, construction, engineering, manufacturing and food production. Any job involving regular exposure to skin irritants may increase the risk if appropriate controls are not in place.

Symptoms Of Occupational Dermatitis

Symptoms vary from person to person and may develop gradually. Some people notice mild irritation at first, while others experience persistent flare-ups that interfere with work and daily life.

Common symptoms include:

Red or inflamed skin
Persistent itching
Dry or cracked skin
Blisters
Swelling
Burning or stinging sensations
Bleeding where the skin has split
Symptoms that improve during holidays or periods away from work before returning when exposure resumes

These symptoms can make everyday activities such as washing, cooking, driving or using tools increasingly uncomfortable. In some occupations, continuing exposure may make it difficult to remain in the same role if the underlying cause cannot be controlled.

Find Out If You May Have An Occupational Dermatitis Claim

If your symptoms may be linked to workplace exposure, our team can assess the circumstances and explain the next steps.

Employer Duties & Prevention Failures

Employers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect employees from foreseeable risks to their health. Where staff are regularly exposed to chemicals, wet work or other skin irritants, employers should identify those risks and put suitable control measures in place before problems develop.

Depending on the nature of the work, this may include carrying out COSHH risk assessments, reducing exposure to hazardous substances where possible, introducing safer alternatives, providing suitable protective gloves or other PPE, and ensuring staff receive appropriate training.

Where risks cannot be eliminated completely, employers should also consider health surveillance where appropriate, particularly if employees are regularly exposed to substances known to cause occupational dermatitis.

Employers should also respond appropriately if someone begins developing symptoms. Ignoring complaints, failing to review working practices or allowing employees to continue being exposed without making changes could all become relevant when investigating whether a claim may be possible.

Our guide to an employer’s workplace safety responsibilities provides further general information.

What Evidence Helps An Occupational Dermatitis Claim?

Every occupational dermatitis claim depends on its own facts. Medical evidence is essential, but building a strong claim often involves gathering information that shows how your work exposed you to the substances responsible for your condition.

Useful evidence may include:

GP and dermatology records confirming your diagnosis
Occupational health reports
Photographs showing flare-ups over time
COSHH risk assessments
Product labels and safety data sheets
Records showing what PPE was provided
Training records
Emails or messages reporting symptoms to your employer
Accident book entries or workplace health reports where relevant
Witness statements from colleagues
Rotas or evidence of the tasks you regularly carried out
Receipts for creams, dressings, medication or treatment
Evidence of lost earnings if your condition affected your ability to work

Not every claim will include all of this evidence. During your initial consultation, we can explain what information is likely to be most helpful in your particular circumstances.

You may also find our practical guide to your rights after an injury or illness at work useful.

Can I Claim If I Already Had Eczema Or Sensitive Skin?

Yes, it may still be possible.

Having eczema or naturally sensitive skin does not automatically prevent you from making an occupational dermatitis claim. The important question is whether your working conditions materially worsened your existing condition.

For example: Repeated exposure to cleaning chemicals, prolonged wet work or unsuitable gloves may cause existing eczema to flare up more frequently or become significantly more severe than it otherwise would have been.

Medical evidence will usually be needed to help establish whether workplace exposure contributed to the deterioration of your condition and to what extent.

How Much Occupational Dermatitis Compensation Could You Claim?

Every occupational dermatitis claim is valued individually. There is no standard compensation amount because the value depends on the nature of the condition, its severity and the effect it has had on your life.

When assessing compensation, factors may include:

The pain, discomfort and inconvenience caused by the condition
Whether symptoms are ongoing or likely to continue in the future
Visible skin damage or scarring
The cost of treatment, medication and specialist dermatology care
Loss of earnings where time off work has been necessary
The impact on your ability to continue in your current occupation
Future financial losses if your career options have been affected
Care or assistance provided by others where appropriate

Where appropriate, compensation may include both the injury itself and financial losses directly linked to the condition.

For an initial indication only, you can also use our personal injury compensation calculator. A solicitor would still need to assess your individual losses and medical evidence.

Time Limits For Occupational Dermatitis Claims

Most occupational dermatitis claims in England and Wales must usually be started within three years of the date you knew, or could reasonably have known, that your skin condition may have been caused by your work. This is often referred to as the date of knowledge.

Dermatitis frequently develops gradually, so identifying this date is not always straightforward. It may be when you received a diagnosis, when a medical professional first suggested your work could be responsible or when the connection between your symptoms and your employment became reasonably clear.

Some exceptions can apply, so it is sensible to seek legal advice as soon as possible rather than waiting.

Read our guide to time limits for workplace claims for further general information.

How Tylers Solicitors Can Help

Occupational dermatitis claims often involve gradual exposure over many months or years. Establishing what caused the condition and identifying whether an employer failed to take reasonable steps to protect you requires careful investigation and supporting medical evidence.

Our team can:

Assess whether your circumstances may support a claim
Review your employment and exposure history
Obtain appropriate medical evidence where required
Help gather workplace records and supporting documentation
Explain your funding options, including No Win No Fee where appropriate
Handle communication with employers and insurers on your behalf
Keep you updated throughout your claim with clear, practical advice

Our aim is to make the process as straightforward as possible while ensuring your claim is prepared thoroughly and supported by the evidence available.

If you believe your skin condition may be linked to your work, speak to Tylers Solicitors today for clear advice on whether you may be able to make an occupational dermatitis claim.

You can call our team on 0800 699 0079, email us at info@tylerssolicitors.co.uk, or fill in our online contact form.

Start Your Occupational Dermatitis Claim

If you believe your skin condition may be linked to your work, speak to Tylers Solicitors for clear advice on whether you may be able to make a claim.