Alexander Harris Solicitors
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Our Expertise
Alexander Harris is a national firm specialising in personal injury claims and in particular industrial disease claims. We are recognised as one of the UK's leading law firms in this specialised area by other lawyers, the medical profession, the insurance industry and many industrial disease related organisations and various support groups.

It is quite possible that you have never had to consult a solicitor before. You may have instructed a solicitor when you moved house or to prepare a will: or even for a minor injury claim. However, dermatitis claims are quite different and necessitate a solicitor with expertise and experience. After all, the defendant is likely to instruct a specialist solicitor to deal with the claim and you need to be on an equal footing from the start.

Our team of expert solicitors have handled many dermatitis claims through to a successful conclusion. This experience enables us to understand and plan for some of the challenges and difficulties which may lay ahead. We understand that many aspects of your life, work, family, relationships and recreation will have changed. Our understanding enables us to present any compensation claim in the fairest and most appropriate way. Choosing the right solicitor can not only help you through this difficult period but in some cases it can mean the difference between winning or losing your case or of many thousands of pounds in compensation.

What is Dermatitis?
Dermatitis is a condition of the skin which can be caused by exposure to certain substances at work. It can be caused by the skin being exposed to an irritant or to an allergen.

Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by considerable exposure to a precipitating chemical over a short period of time or prolonged exposure to small amounts of the same chemical. This can be caused by acids, alkalis, soaps, detergents and solvents. The Health and Safety Executive publish a number of known irritants which are covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, although this list is not exhaustive.

Contact with an irritant normally results in an outbreak or eruption of the skin which leaves the skin inflamed. Signs can be redness, itching, scaling and blistering. If it gets worse the skin can crack and bleed and the dermatitis can spread all over the body. The skin normally settles down if a person is removed from the job causing the problem.

Allergic dermatitis is caused by exposure to a material or substance to which a person has become hypersensitive or allergic. The skin inflammation may vary from mild irritation and redness to open sores depending on the type of the body part effected and the sensitivity of the individual. Common allergens include nickel or other metals, medications, latex, rubber, cosmetics, fragrances and perfumes. Allergic dermatitis may involve a reaction to a substance if a person is exposed to or uses it repeatedly. Although there may be no initial reaction, repeated use can cause dermatitis.

Irritant dermatitis is by far the more prevalent condition in the workforce. Allergic dermatitis would only affect a small minority. The dermatitis can be bad enough to keep you of work and serious enough to force you to change jobs. However, if it is spotted early and adequate precautions are taken, most people will make a full recovery.

Joe's Story
A specialist dermatitis solicitor can make an amazing difference!

Joe worked at a large engineering and manufacturing plant for many years. Part of Joe's work involved handling pieces of metal which were covered in a chemical coolant used in the metal grinding process. The coolant also emitted fumes. Joe thought nothing more about it until he began to notice his hands becoming sore and cracked and he had problems breathing at work. His symptoms always improved at the weekends or when he was away on holiday. A number of other friends at the engineering works appeared to be suffering from similar symptoms.

As a result of bringing claims against the company, Joe and his colleagues received compensation for their injury. More importantly, the company were then forced to take action to improve the working conditions. Proper protective gloves were issued to the workforce so that their hands were no longer exposed to the chemical coolants and the company invested large amounts of money in fitting extraction units to the machinery to remove the toxic fumes from the atmosphere. All of the workforce were also fully trained in
the use of personal protective equipment and handling of harmful chemicals.

This meant that Joe and his colleagues were then able to continue with their jobs which they had enjoyed for many years, in the knowledge that their working environment was a safe place to be.

Types of Claims
We handle all types of industrial disease claims including: -

A Word of Caution - Time Limits

Generally claims for personal injury must be made within three years from the date of the accident. However, in industrial disease cases the exposure may have occurred at some point before symptoms come to light and may only be apparent when you visit your doctor as a result of skin complaints. It may have taken a while for you to associate your skin complaints with activities carried out at work.

The Court has discretion to allow an action to proceed and to disapply the three limitation period if it is satisfied that you were not aware that you were suffering from a significant injury. You will need to show that you have acted promptly upon realising that you had a potential claim and it is therefore vital that you contact a specialist solicitor as soon as possible.

Legal Representation
We will advise you on all aspects surrounding your claim so that you do not need to worry and can rest assured that the claim is in safe hands.

Advice includes:

Our People
We would be happy to meet with you in hospital, at home, or talk on the telephone without charge or obligation to discuss a potential claim.

Gina Heather, Partner and Head of Industrial Disease
Gina Heather is a renowned specialist in employers liability and industrial disease claims. Gina is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). She is also on the Law Society's Personal Injury
Solicitors Panel and is a member of the Medico-Legal Society.

In the last 12 months, the personal injury team have recovered in excess of £50million in compensation for their clients.

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