Beauty trade recession overtime could end careers early

Hardworking hairdressers and beauticians working overtime or holding down more than one job could be raising their short-term earning power but potentially putting themselves permanently out of work long-term.

Nicola Winslett, personal injury partner with SAS Daniels LLP solicitors, with offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton and Bramhall, says that people working in the hair and beauty trade are potentially being over-exposed to substances that may cause mild irritation now, but could prematurely end their careers later.

“There are life-changing consequences for people working in businesses or industries in which their hands come into contact with chemicals,” said Nicola Winslett.

“Hairdressers are a good example. There will always be a demand for hairdressers, but more late-night opening to catch lucrative extra custom in the downturn, or hairdressers who do casual work outside their normal workplace, mean a grave danger of taking their skin irritation tolerance over the threshold.

“It may not be life-threatening, but it could certainly be job-threatening.

“But while it may start as an irritation, it might well develop to virtual disability, and from the point they know the problem was work-related they have only three years to make a claim.

“There are other jobs and careers where short-term increased exposure to chemicals through overtime, or because fewer staff have to do the work of redundant colleagues, can cause life-long problems.

“People don’t think this sort of thing is something they can claim for since its something that tends to creep up gradually rather than be a distinct accident.

“But skin disease can often be work-environment induced and tends to continue long after the exposure has ceased.

“It can be excruciatingly painful because skin has a lot of nerve endings in it, and it can also cause significant embarrassment.

“It can also cause the end of a career because, once sensitised to a particular compound or chemical, the individual will remain so for the rest of their lives. That obviously has a significant financial impact on the individual’s family life and they may need retraining which may also affect them socially.

“The obvious solution is to offer gloves, but sensitised skin often doesn’t react well to gloves, especially if they’re worn for long periods of time, because they don’t allow the skin to breathe.”

SAS Daniels LLP is Cheshire’s biggest law firm, with offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton and Bramhall.

For more information contact Nicola Winslett