What are my employer's responsibilities?

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to health (COSHH) Regulations, your employer has a duty to protect their employees from exposure. This means employers must:

• Assess the risks associated with the use of chemicals, solvents and other agents.
• Take all necessary steps to prevent exposure to risks. This means following a hierarchy of control measures:
• completely remove the hazard. If that is not possible:
• substitute safer alternatives; and
• provide personal protective equipment (such as gloves and facemasks) and ensure their proper use.

Your employer, or their occupational health service if there is one, should regularly examine employees' hands, arms and other exposed areas on a regular basis so that any problems can be picked up early.

'Occupational dermatitis' is a prescribed industrial disease. Employers are required to report many cases of occupational dermatitis under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. You may be entitled to claim Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit. You can download information on these benefits at www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/industrial.asp