Weightmans Disease-i
03 September 2010
You are here: Home / Dermatitis
Navigation

Dermatitis




Historical perspective
The first written account of contact dermatitis can be found in the papyri of ancient Egypt, but it was Hippocrates (circa 460-377 B.C.) who first considered environmental influences as possible causes of disease.

A description of the medical condition
The term ‘dermatitis’ simply means an inflammation of the skin. When the condition is due to contact with a substance at work, it is called ‘occupational’ or ‘industrial’ dermatitis.

Medical causation issues
Examination by a Consultant Dermatologist is essential and only guarded reliance should be placed upon a diagnosis made by a GP or Occupational Health Advisor.

Date of knowledge
There is no accepted date of knowledge for dermatitis cases (as there is with say noise induced hearing loss claims) but there are various issues to consider.

Regulations, Statutory provisions and breach of duty
Statutory provisions applicable to dermatitis were first introduced by the Factories Act (1937).

Limitation
Due to the inherent difficulties in attributing symptoms to the occupational setting, arguments of ‘constructive’ knowledge are rarely successful.

Quantum
Apart from dermatitis of the scalp, which has its own chapter, most of the reported cases relate to dermatitis of the hand.

Apportionment and contributions
Dermatitis is considered by the Industrial Disease Working Party to be a short tail disease/condition with the result that for the overwhelming majority of cases, the insurer ‘on risk’ at the time when symptoms first manifested themselves, will be the handling insurer.

Useful information
.
Contact
For more information about disease-i please get in touch with Lorna White.



Login To access disease-i or view your profile please login here.

Level Double-A conformance icon, W3C-WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0   Valid CSS   Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional
Terms of use / Privacy policy / Sitemap
© 2010 Weightmans LLP. Weightmans is a limited liability partnership.

Developed by Connect Internet Solutions Ltd.