Document zd4qDD8Mnr15p59850d877YKm

OwatobM^w. 0MMSwJ3NuCm* WaMITya*ctOkoMraoM February 5. 1988 PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT BRK-23 Legal Section Industrial Commission of Ohio 246 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 Re: OD #27473-22 Elizabeth Goshay GM Moraine Plant Truck & Bus Group Dayton, Ohio 45401 Attn: Judy Spencer Dear Ms. Spencer: On December 11, 1987, a visit was made to the G.M. Moraine Plant, Truck and Bus Group in Dayton, Ohio by Mr. Mark Ashworth, Industrial Hygienist and myself to investigate an Occupational disease claim on the above claimant. Mr. Bill Martin, Worker's Compensation Representative, was the company contact. At the time of this initial meeting, Mr. Martin wanted to include the company's attorney and supervisors involved in the claim. A future meeting was scheduled for January 28, 1988 at the company. On January 28, 1988, Mr. Mark Ashworth and I attended a meeting to discuss the above claim with G.M. company officials. In attendance was Mr. Bill Martin; Mr. Gary Brinsfield, Attorney at Law; and Mr. Jim Rittenhouse, Safety and Health Representative. The claimant alleges that her medically diagnosed condition of "chronic contact dermatitis" is the result of workplace exposures to "oil and metals" while working at the G.M. Truck and Bus Group plant. The claimant's work history was provided by the company and from the claim file, the claimant has a seniority date of July 23, 1973. Approximately February 1985, the onset of dermatitis y%on District Office Corporate PUua Office Buikfing 6500 Poe Ave. Suite 330 Dayton. OH 45414-2553 (513) 898-3206 Legal Section Columbus, Ohio 43215 3 Anyone who works can contract a skin disorder, but not all skin disorders are occupational. Nonetheless, it is commonly assumed by employees that any skin disease incurred is caused by their work. Sometimes the assumption is correct, but often there is no true relation to the work situation. (4) RArcls ndustrial Hygienist References: 1. Donald J. Birmingham, H.D., "Dermatoses," Occupational Diseases - A Guide to Their Recognition, ed. Marcus M. Key (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1977); p. 79. 2. Ibid. 3. Donald J. Birmingham, M.D., "Occupational Dermatoses", Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 3rd ed. George D. Clayton and Florence E. Clayton (New York: John Wllev & Sons. 1978), I, 219. --------------- 4. Birmingham, "Occupational Dermatoses", p. 222. RECORDS CERTIFICATION I, Che undersigned, an employee of Che Bureau of Workers' Compensation, do hereby certify that the microfilm images on this reel of microfilm or microfiche are complete and accurate reproductions of r'.ia original records of the *-> + //*e accumulated during the regular course of business, and that it is the established procedure of this dt; artment to microfilm its records for permanent file and to dispose of the original records after microfilm reproductions have been made. N1W(Camera Operator) b____________ -3c>- I Legal Section Columbus, Ohio 43215 2 difficulties began. The claimant began the job the previous year. The claimant's job duties involved placing a plastic cowl onto a truck and using a pneumatic screw gun to tighten the cowl to the truck. Reaching across the truck to attach hoses to the cowl was also accomplished. Contact with rear hood seals and hoses was a possibility during installation of the cowl. There was a problem with the pneumatic gun at one time leaking lubricating oil, but the gun was repaired. Cotton gloves and arm cloth sleeves are provided to protect workers. The claimant underwent patch tests i" February 1986 which revealed positive results to paraphenylenediamine and nickel sulfate. There is no mention of reaction to o'Is used on the job even though her doctor stated that the dermat 'is was caused by the oil. G.M. has stated that neither paraphenylenediamine or nickel sulfate are used within the Assembly Plant. They may be used in various alloys and other products, but do not appear individually within the plant. Any abnormality of the skin Induced or aggravated by the work environment is termed an "occupational dermatosis". A dermatosis, therefore, can represent one or more alterations in the skin ranging from the mildest erythema and scaling to a complicated eczematous, acne-form, pigmentary, neoplastic, granulomatous, or ulcerative disorder, (l) Occupational diseases of the skin are common for at least two reasons: first, the skin has a large surface area available for contact exposure; and second, the work environment contains innumerable natural and artificial materials capable of exerting chemical, mechanical, physical, biological, or photo-reactive insults to the skin. Causal agents, therefore, are diverse; but chemicals are by far the most frequent offenders. (2) Hands, wrists, and forearms are the characteristic sites affected by chronic eczematous dermatitis. Dry, thickened, scaling skin with cracking and fissuring of the digits and palms and chronic nail dystrophy best describe this chronic dermatitis. A large number of contact agents perpetuate the marked dehydration that accompanies this chronically recurrent dermatosis. Examples are: oils, solvents, cutting fluids, industrial cleansers, and alkalies. (3)