Judge Rejects Oil Dermatitis Case
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BECAUSE of oil dermatitis, a man had to give up his work as a bus driver after 20 years' experience, Mr. Elwyn Jones, Q.C., said at Chester Assizes on Monday. Mr. Jones was appearing for Mr. Harry Roberts, of Berth-y-Glyd, Old Colwyn, who was the plaintiff in an action before Mr. Justice Glyn-Jones. for damages against Crosville Motor Services, Ltd.
Mr. Jcfnes said that Roberts had to fill up the, buses with oil fuel from a leaking pipe and his hands were in direct contact with the oil. As a result, he contracted oil dermatitis which affected his nervous system, impaired his eyesight and on occasion caused him to lose his finger and toenails, and his hair to drop out.
He was not warned of the danger, there were no facilities for cleansing or protecting the hands and there was no adequate supervision.
Roberts contended that the negligence of Crosville was the cause of the dermatitis. The defence denied the allegation and alleged contributory negligence on the part of Roberts in that he failed to observe the oily condition of the pipe, or to cleanse his hands.
On Tuesday, Dr. Dorothy Lancaster, dermatologist, of Bangor, said Roberts' condition was caused by contact with oil fuel.
Dr. F. G. Hughes, dermatologist to Liverpool Regional Hospital Board, called for the defence, said he did not consider that oil dermatitis could be contracted by getting oil on the hands just five times.
The judge found that the skin infection was not caused by exposure to oil fuel. Giving judgment for the defendants with costs, he added that he did not consider that Roberts' employers failed to take any precaution that they should have done.