Susan Robinson, 59, was left with blistered and bleeding hands after her desperate pleas for protection were ignored by her employer. Susan worked at Speedibake, a factory in Wakefield, West Yorks, that supplied baked goods to supermarkets.

       Within six months her hands became red and itchy as a result of being asked to wash her hands 17 times a day.

       A test by Pontefract Hospital confirmed she had dermatitis ？ a type of eczema caused by chemical exposure.

       Susan persistently asked for fit-for-purpose hand protection and offered multiple suggestions herself, such as barrier creams and thinner gloves.

       But her employers failed to deal with the matter properly or in any consistent way, due to contamination fears.

       Susan said: "My hands were incredibly painful and sore. I had a particularly bad flare-up and that's when I knew I had to take it further."

       In desperation, Susan turned to her union, the BFAWU, and Thompsons Solicitors for support. They helped her gain ￡50,000 compensation.

       Sarah Woolley, from the BFAWU, said: "Sadly, cases like Susan's are not uncommon and profit overrode a worker's health.

       "Speedibake should be ashamed of itself."