Our specialist industrial disease team represented a number of mechanics and their Union, who were working for a large public limited company.
It was clear they had been suffering for quite some time from dermatitis on their hands and arms.
How we helped
We were instructed to initially investigate the cause of this condition. As part of that process, we obtained a number of expert reports. Having done so, we concluded that the cause of the condition was most likely to be a combination of the protective rubber gloves provided by our client’s employers as well as the oil and other substances they were using to repair vehicles.
After initial investigation, we intimated a number of claims on our client’s employers. Initially, the employers denied any responsibility for the injuries sustained. We therefore required to raise a number of court actions. After further negotiations and providing them with a number of expert reports, the employers finally agreed to settle the actions. That settlement included not only compensation for our client’s injuries but also for their loss of earnings.
Outcome
We also engaged with the employers and their insurers to request and agree with them that a number of changes would be made to the systems and processes employed in the area where our clients worked. In effecting these changes, we were not only able to protect our clients from further injury but also any other employees working in that area in the future.
