I’ve developed a serious mould allergy at work
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bigrednose
Posts: 22 Forumite
Hello Everyone,
I have been tested by my GP after complaining of feeling unwell, my symptoms were varied: blocked nose, headaches, sneezing, tiredness and palpitations. He asked me whether I had moved house recently, I had not. I remembered that a year ago there was a serious flood in the cellar at work and nothing had been done about it. The water was still there turning black and smelly.
My office is directly above the cellar. The smell was awful. We stored our files and cleaning stuff down there and I would have to go down there often. As well as that the walls upstairs above the cellar started to show signs of damp as the paint on these newly painted walls were flaking off and almost bubbling.
In my office there was a leak from the room upstairs and very little was done about that for weeks. My health has worsened in that I was referred to an ENT specialist who has diagnosed that I have now developed a mould allergy, and will have for the rest of my life!
I have never had an allergy in my life! I can eat anything, wear anything, never had an issue before! I will now be on steroids to clear my blocked nasal and ear passages. My question: who is responsible? What do I do? Please any suggestions you offer will be gratefully appreciated.
Many thanks
I have been tested by my GP after complaining of feeling unwell, my symptoms were varied: blocked nose, headaches, sneezing, tiredness and palpitations. He asked me whether I had moved house recently, I had not. I remembered that a year ago there was a serious flood in the cellar at work and nothing had been done about it. The water was still there turning black and smelly.
My office is directly above the cellar. The smell was awful. We stored our files and cleaning stuff down there and I would have to go down there often. As well as that the walls upstairs above the cellar started to show signs of damp as the paint on these newly painted walls were flaking off and almost bubbling.
In my office there was a leak from the room upstairs and very little was done about that for weeks. My health has worsened in that I was referred to an ENT specialist who has diagnosed that I have now developed a mould allergy, and will have for the rest of my life!
I have never had an allergy in my life! I can eat anything, wear anything, never had an issue before! I will now be on steroids to clear my blocked nasal and ear passages. My question: who is responsible? What do I do? Please any suggestions you offer will be gratefully appreciated.
Many thanks
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Comments
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What tests did the consultant do?
Take the steroids.
Notify your employer that they have a damp issue and ask that they deal with it.0 -
I don't see that anyone is "responsible" for you developing an allergy. People do - exposure to something isn't what makes you allergic, or we'd all be allergic to everything! What you need to do is inform your employer - and they may need some medical confirmation / occupational health input - so that any necessary adjustments can be made.
The issue of the remaining floodwater is somewhat different - that appears to be a hazard, and the employer should be dealing with that matter. There are companies that can resolve this. Or, if the building is leased, it will be the landlords responsibility to resolve it.
If your employer doesn't have their own occupational health, there is now a government scheme that either your GP or employer can refer you to - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fit-for-work-guidance0 -
I would think you need to speak to someone like the public health authorities or Health & Safety Executive, and your employer if you haven't already.
"If any of your employees catch an infection as a result of their work, these must be reported to HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.
Note: This guide uses the term ‘infectious micro-organisms’ but you should note that health and safety law uses the term ‘biological agents’. By infectious micro-organisms/biological agents we mean the bacteria, viruses, fungi and internal parasites (such as tapeworms) that create a hazard to human health. Most harm you by infection but they can also cause allergies or be toxic."
HSE0 -
BorisThomson wrote: »What tests did the consultant do?
Take the steroids.
Notify your employer that they have a damp issue and ask that they deal with it.
Thanks, yes I have no choice but to take the steroids. My employers have known for over a year that the situation was unacceptable but were slow to do anything. If they were a bit more proactive them I might not have developed the allergy.
Thanks for your suggestion.0 -
Thanks some good advice there. I will look into that for sure.I would think you need to speak to someone like the public health authorities or Health & Safety Executive, and your employer if you haven't already.
"If any of your employees catch an infection as a result of their work, these must be reported to HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.
Note: This guide uses the term ‘infectious micro-organisms’ but you should note that health and safety law uses the term ‘biological agents’. By infectious micro-organisms/biological agents we mean the bacteria, viruses, fungi and internal parasites (such as tapeworms) that create a hazard to human health. Most harm you by infection but they can also cause allergies or be toxic."
HSE0 -
I don't see that anyone is "responsible" for you developing an allergy. People do - exposure to something isn't what makes you allergic, or we'd all be allergic to everything! What you need to do is inform your employer - and they may need some medical confirmation / occupational health input - so that any necessary adjustments can be made.
The issue of the remaining floodwater is somewhat different - that appears to be a hazard, and the employer should be dealing with that matter. There are companies that can resolve this. Or, if the building is leased, it will be the landlords responsibility to resolve it.
If your employer doesn't have their own occupational health, there is now a government scheme that either your GP or employer can refer you to - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fit-for-work-guidance
I’m not a doctor I have only shared what the specialist told me. I have never been allergic to anything. I cannot work in that environment anymore until the damp has been eradicated. I don’t know when that will be. It seems easier to find a new job in a damp free environment. I appreciate the link, I’ll have a look st that. Thanks0 -
In your position - I'd be making my priority to find a new job (that won't make you ill). My other thought is to find out whether there is a time limit for you to make a claim against your employer for making you ill.
What evidence have you kept of the cause of this illness? eg photos of the cellar and the upstairs wall/records of medical work you've been doing on getting the illness diagnosed and cured, etc.
There always used to be an "accident at work" book employers needed to keep - in which employees fill in details of any injury at work. I reckon that must still be a legal requirement. You need to find that book and put an entry for this in there (and take a photocopy of it).
It's astonishing (yeh...right...:cool:) just how often employers manage to "lose" any records of anything like this. So always always keep your own records - safely at home of course.
I would think you're going to have to play this very cautiously - until you've safely got another job. So - make sure you take those photos etc without anyone knowing and make that Accident Book entry just before you leave etc.0 -
Is there a recognised trade union in the workplace, involve H&S rep if there is one, if not refer to occupational health.
HASWA Sec 2(1) Employer must protect the HS&W at work of all their employees
2(2) Provide & maintain plant & systems of work that are safe & without risk to health
2(2)c Provide safe place of work, safe access/egress, safe working environment
MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGS 1999
Reg 3 Risk assessment (significant risks to be recorded)
Reg 5 Health surveillance
Reg 8 Procedures to be developed for particular dangers which may arise
THE WORKPLACE (HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE) REGS 1992
Reg 5 Maintenance of the workplaceDon’t be a can’t, be a can.0 -
Find a new job and then try and find a no-win-no-fee solicitor who will take the case. It might be hard. An allergy based illness would be harder than they are used to, since effectively it's your body that is causing the problem as a reaction to something in the environment.
You should also check if any of your insurance products or professional or trade union memberships come with free legal advice.
To be honest whatever sort of leak you've had, once the leak is fixed getting rid of the damp is pretty simple. Just get a decent dehumidifier in. Removing the damp from the air will stop the mould from growing on exposed surfaces and will gradually dry everything out. If I worked in that type of environment I would be demanding a dehumidifier be installed immediately.Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.0 -
I don't see that anyone is "responsible" for you developing an allergy. ]
But employers are responsible for providing a safe working environment, which they are failing to do by not dealing with the problem.Debt 1/1/17 - Credit Cards £17,280.23; overdrafts £3,777.24
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