Tell your employer or occupational health department, as occupational dermatitis must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Put it in the accident book. The Health and Safety Executive website has more information on RIDDOR.
You may be entitled to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. You can get information about this benefit from your local Jobcentre Plus or on the Disabled People pages of the Directgov website.
See your GP, and make sure you tell them what kind of work you do and the substances that you work with. A new system of GP medical statements was introduced in April 2010. The new 'fit note' – rather than sick note - can either indicate that a person is 'not fit for work' or that they 'may be fit for work taking account of the following advice'. The GP can recommend a phased return to work, altered hours, amended duties or workplace adaptations. The TUC website has more information on the new fit notes. See also the workSMART page on dealing with doctors.
