Brian - no ideas relating to Zam specifically, but as a highly
allergic person with a highly allergic dd, I can speak generally to
allergies. It DOES sound like the rash is probably the Zam, if that
is the only change in what the person is working with. Also sounds
like what is called “contact dermatitis” - which simply means it
happens because the skin has physically come in contact with the
irritating substance. In this case you have 3 choices: one, quit
using the Zam; two, quit using the employee; three - and the most
viable one probably - have the employee wear a covering that prevents
the Zam from contacting the skin. Depending on the level of allergy,
simply removing the immediate physical contact will take care of the
problem.
That said, it DOES happen that an allergy progresses in severity and
in sensitivity. In this case it would be possible for it to become
inadvisable for the employee to be even where Zam was used, as in
severe cases breathing air containing microscopic particles of the
allergic substance can bring on an allergic reaction, an asthma
attack, anaphylactic shock, and even death - quite literally! There
are people who have died simply by breathing air that contained the
allergic substance - this is, in fact, why most airlines no longer
serve peanuts. Peanuts are one of the substances (they are actually
legumes, not nuts) that DO infiltrate the air and can, and have,
killed people who simply breathed air in an enclosed area where
someone had eaten peanuts.
I mention all this just to say you should be aware that it CAN
happen, and if you continue to use Zam and the employee, you should
become aware of signs of asthama, anaphylactic shock, and what to do
just in case it should occur. It probably won’t, but if you know
what to do when does you wind up with a live allergic employee
instead of a dead one! MUCH preferable to all concerned! My dd and
I carry an Epipen with us wherever we go, just in case. We have not
ever needed to use it, although she has had an ambulance ride due to
allergies (fire ant bites), but I feel that "better safe than sorry"
is DEFINITELY the way to go!!!
Good luck to both you and your employee!
Beth in SC who is glad the fall allergy season is about over
