I’ve developed a serious mould allergy at work

bigrednose

ohreally wrote: »

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 workplace

Some good points; I’ll have a look at them. Thank you.

bigrednose

sangie595 wrote: »

I give up. You are still still failing to see the point of evidencing something. The OP had no evidence that exposure to alleged mould in the work place has resulted in causing the allergy. And your quote just confirms what I have said anyway - it is not about "backdating" the event, but about dealing with the here and now. It is impossible to ascertain that a person has developed an allergy solely as a result of a specific incident our environment. On the other hand, it is possible to deal with the here and now of managing that environment in such a way that it does not make matters worse. There is mould everywhere. That does not mean that the mould that resulted from the flood was responsible or solely responsible for causing the allergy. Of course, if the OP can get their consultant to say that the allergy was caused by the workplace and nothing else, then that is a different matter. No? Didn't think so.

The employer must deal with the here and now, to the extent that is possible. But attributing blame to the employer (and, of course, liability) is not at all likely.

You do have a point, but, I believe that my allergy to mould was triggered by the fact that the water was left to become black and putrid. Once the water was finally pumped out nothing else was done to source the ingress. A pump has been put there but that is to pump out any more water. So in effect the cellar is still damp and will remain so.

As well as that, I’ve worked there for 15+ years and never had any issues before. My medical records will show that I have never had any respiratory issues before. What are your thoughts?

BorisThomson

bigrednose wrote: »

Thank you. Some excellent advice. I don’t think anything was put in the accident book actually. I do have evidence that they were told. I didn’t know the implications. I was treated for the symptoms at that time but things continued to slowly get worse. Now having seen the specialist I know my life will have to change forever.

It might be nothing much to some people but as I’ve been researching this I am stunned by how serious a health issue this is. Thanks again.

You need to get this in perspective. Millions of us have allergies and live perfectly normal lives, and that's with triggers far more common than mould. What changes do you feel you need to make to your life?

Has your consultant run any tests? Had you come into regular contact with mould before this issue?

bigrednose

Hello
I’m waiting for a skin test. I am trying to keep things in perspective. I’ve been advised to not work in environments that are prone to damp. I guess my life will change in terms of I can no longer be free to come and go as I choose.

BorisThomson

bigrednose wrote: »

Hello
I’m waiting for a skin test. I am trying to keep things in perspective. I’ve been advised to not work in environments that are prone to damp. I guess my life will change in terms of I can no longer be free to come and go as I choose.

To come and go where, do you have a tendency to hang around mouldy places? Honestly, you're being ridiculous.

If you've not even had a test yet you have no diagnosis. You've also no evidence that you have not had this allergy forever, because you wouldn't know until something triggers it.

sangie595

bigrednose wrote: »

You do have a point, but, I believe that my allergy to mould was triggered by the fact that the water was left to become black and putrid. Once the water was finally pumped out nothing else was done to source the ingress. A pump has been put there but that is to pump out any more water. So in effect the cellar is still damp and will remain so.

As well as that, I’ve worked there for 15+ years and never had any issues before. My medical records will show that I have never had any respiratory issues before. What are your thoughts?

I do think that I have said this several times. What you believe is irrelevant. What you can prove is quite different. This year I developed hay fever. I have never had it before. I am 60! Perhaps my employer is responsible? They have a garden. A belief is not sufficient to evidence a correlation. And a no win no fee solicitor can say anything they like - they know this will never get to court. If they (not you) are lucky the employer will be advised by their own lawyers to come to an economic settlement without liability. Most of that settlement will almost certainly go to your lawyer!

w06

Just to exemplify what Sangie is saying again. I've rubbish lungs, lots of itu stays long term oxygen etc. In my youth I had several people, including doctors, very forcefully tell me bad lungs + two great big dogs = it must be the dogs they've got to go. In reality I'm not allergic to dogs, they make sure I get up in the morning and keep me sane, it would be a very bad idea to get rid of them (and they're going nowhere!)

correlation doesn't equate to causation, people develop asthma at all stages of life, and mold spores are all around us all the time - notice lots of folk get worse 'hayfever' after a storm, that's mold spores. Taking on the sick role is the worst thing you could do

FBaby

So you haven't had a skin test yet so can only guess that your allergic to mould. I expect the consultant would have said that you 'might' be allergic to mould. So totally jumping the guns really.

You might be surprised at the results of the tests. Many people with allergies assume they suffer from hayfever or mould when the culprit is actually dustmites and these are mainly living in your bed! Allergy to dustmites can develop at any age.

So before accusing your employer at least wait for confirmation so you don't look like a fool if it has nothing to do with mould. Steroids drops work wonders on many sufferers.

bigrednose

I am only telling you what I’ve been told by the specialist. I don’t make it a habit to frequent mouldy environments, as was suggested. You don’t know what I feel like and I would not assume to make judgements about anyone’s health.

I believe the skin test is to confirm his original diagnosis. I’m not a GP or ENT specialist so I listen and allow the expert to guide me. I have no reason not to. Why is it impossible for my employers to have been negligent? I am not the only person feeling ill in that environment. It is just that I have said something about it whereas my colleague has decided not to put their head above the parapet.

There have been some constructive feedback from some people. Thank you very much.

sangie595

bigrednose wrote: »

I am only telling you what I’ve been told by the specialist. I don’t make it a habit to frequent mouldy environments, as was suggested. You don’t know what I feel like and I would not assume to make judgements about anyone’s health.

I believe the skin test is to confirm his original diagnosis. I’m not a GP or ENT specialist so I listen and allow the expert to guide me. I have no reason not to. Why is it impossible for my employers to have been negligent? I am not the only person feeling ill in that environment. It is just that I have said something about it whereas my colleague has decided not to put their head above the parapet.

There have been some constructive feedback from some people. Thank you very much.

Ah, here we go - "I don't like the advice so only the advice I like is constructive".

OK, let's let the expert guide you - when you next see your GP and specialist tell them that you want a letter confirming that you have an allergy to mould which was caused by your employers flooded cellar, and that you'll need them to provide witness statements for the claim you intend to make. See what reaction you get from the experts then!

Nobody has told you that your aren't ill - or that the work environment may not be a factor in provoking the allergy. You have been told repeatedly that there are two different issues. The "here and now" - you have an allergy, and when it is confirmed that it is a mould allergy this needs to be notified to your workplace, and you need to discuss with them what they can reasonably do to support your allergy(because if what you want isn't reasonable or possible, then you are looking for another job). And the actual cause of an allergy, and negligence - well good luck with that because unless your employer rolls over and admits that it is all their fault when not a single expert would be able to say anything other than there may be a causal relationship but nobody would be able to confirm that, and you may just as easily had a pre-existing predisposition or condition which wasn't obvious until this "unfortunate act of God" in flooding the cellar at work.

As for "constructive" - I assume that you have by now fully discussed your possible diagnosis with the employer - you'd have done that almost immediately to give them a chance to get things in motion to support you. So what have they said? You forgot to tell us.