IS IT POSSIBLE TO CALCULATE A PERMANENT PARTIAL IMPAIRMENT RATING FOR CONTACT DERMATITIS?
A. The requirement for a permanent partial impairment is that there is a permanent loss of physical function. If the skin heals, then there would be no permanent loss of function of the skin. However, if the skin does not heal, or does not function properly as can be the case with burns, then there could be a PPI. The treating physician should be asked: “has the employee reached his maximum medical improvement and if so, has he suffered any permanent loss of function? If the answers are “yes” and “no”, then the employer has met its obligation under the Act to determine whether or not there has been a permanent loss of physical function. If the answers are “yes” and “yes”, then the permanent partial impairment rating should be requested of the physician.
