Responsibilities
The employer has a 'duty of care' to ensure they provide a safe working environment and to carry out regular safety assessments for their employees.
The prime responsibility for the prevention of occupational dermatitis lies with the employer. The employer has a ‘duty of care’ to ensure they provide a safe working environment and to carry out regular safety assessments for their employees.
Failure to do so can result in:
- Poor staff morale
- Lost production through staff absences
- Bad publicity
- Financial penalties
- Even imprisonment in severe cases
Whatever the obligation of the employer, the employee also has a duty to comply with all preventative actions identified.
The evidence and the scope of workplace legislation relating to the skin clearly shows that the issue needs to be taken very seriously, by adopting a proactive approach.
