What to Do After Sustaining a Burn Injury at Work?

Many workers suffer thermal, chemical, electrical, and radiation burns while doing their jobs. Burns require immediate medical attention – usually at an emergency room in Chattanooga or other Tennessee locations. As soon as possible, workers who suffer burns should report their injuries and the circumstances around the burn accident to their employer.

What types of burns can employees suffer at work?

Safety Services Direct recognizes five types of burn injuries:

• Thermal burns. Common causes include hot surfaces, steam, open flames, and boiling liquids such as coffee.
• Electrical burns. These burn injuries occur when a worker comes into contact with electrical systems that fail to have proper grounding, has live wires, or has defective equipment.
• Chemical burns. These burns can occur if a worker has an exposure due to acids, alkalis, or hazardous chemicals.
• Radiation burns. Workers can suffer these burns due to exposure to UV rays, X-rays, or nuclear materials.
• Friction/contact burns. These contact burns can occur when a worker’s skin rubs against a rough surface, such as carpet or pavement; or with hot surfaces, such as vehicle parts or machines.

Generally, there are three classes of burns:

• First-degree burns. The burns are to the top layer of the skin. These burns usually heal within a few days.
• Second-degree burns. These burns affect the top and second layers of skin, causing swelling, pain, and blisters. Medical attention may be necessary.
• Third-degree burns. These burns affect all skin layers and can damage a worker’s tissues, organs, and bones.

What types of accidents cause burn injuries?

Burn injuries in the construction and manufacturing sectors may be due to flammable products, cements, solvents, detergents, gas leaks, and poor electrical systems. Restaurant workers regularly risk burns due to working with hot stoves and ovens, hot liquids, and other food service products and hot foods. Caregivers may suffer burns from appliances. Electricians regularly risk electrical burns due to electrical overloads, faulty wiring, overhead electrical lines, power tools, and other electrical products.

Welders and construction workers risk radiation burns due to their work with UV welding torches. Healthcare workers regularly risk radiation burns due to X-rays. Every worker is at risk of burns when there is a fire starting with firefighters.

What are the treatments for burn injuries in Chattanooga?

According to Safety Services Direct, the treatments vary depending on the type of burn:

• Thermal burns. The first step is to remove the source of the heat. The affected area should be treated with cool water, covered, and cleaned with a non-fluffy dressing or cloth. Medical attention is necessary if the burn is on the worker’s hands, face, feet, or genitals, or if the worker has severe blisters, swelling, or pain. Any jewelry or clothing near the burn site should be removed. Severe burns, such as from fires, require immediate emergency medical care for skin, respiratory, and other health disorders.
• Electrical contact burns. The first step is to turn off the source of the electrical contact. Someone, on behalf of the worker, should request immediate medical attention. Helpers should not touch the burn or try to remove any clothing at the site of the burn. Someone should examine the victim’s airway and breathing, and perform CPR if necessary. Safety Services Direct recommends a few additional steps until medical professionals arrive.
• Chemical burns. A helper should remove the source of the chemical exposure and flush the affected area with cool water for at least 20 minutes. Helpers should also “remove contaminated clothing carefully and cover the burn with a sterile, non-fluffy dressing, and provide first aid for shock if necessary.” The type of chemical should be identified. Employees should have “COSHH trainingso that they can learn how best to handle hazardous substances and chemicals.”

There are different treatments for radiation burns.

Serious burn injuries may require skin grafts and plastic surgery. Many victims of burns that are visible require psychological counseling.

What types of care do workplace burn injury victims need?

Our Chattanooga workers’ compensation lawyers have been helping injured workers obtain the benefits they deserve since 1945. Generally, you do not have to prove that your employer was negligent or in violation of any safety laws. If you suffer burns while performing your job as an employee, you should be eligible for worker’s compensation benefits.

Temporary disability compensation

In Tennessee, employees are entitled to temporary disability benefits starting on the eighth day the burns occur. If your burns prevent you from working for 14 days or more, you’ll also receive temporary disability payments for the first seven days. Your temporary disability pay is two-thirds of your wages, up to certain maximums. You should receive temporary disability compensation for your burns for as long as medical care helps treat your burns.

Permanent disability compensation

If your burns permanently prevent you from working and/or cause severe disfigurement, you may be eligible for permanent disability compensation after you have reached the point where medical care is not improving your health. Our workers’ compensation lawyers will work to show that you qualify for permanent disability compensation if your burns don’t heal.

Medical expenses

The insurance carrier for your employer (or your employer) should pay for your emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling, medical expenses, and other reasonably necessary medical care.

Death benefits

If a loved one dies while doing their job (and your loved one is an employee), then the spouse and dependents can receive compensation for the funeral and burial costs and disability benefits due to the fatal burns.

How do workers’ compensation lawyers help employees who suffer burn injuries on the job?

We understand how frightened and upset you are. Severe burns are life-changing. They may be deadly. At Wagner Workers Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers, we can work to obtain the compensation you need to restore your health and obtain the temporary and permanent disability benefits you deserve. We’ve helped many injured and ill employees obtain the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve. Call us or use our contact form today to schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to help you recover. We proudly serve clients in and around Chattanooga, Cleveland, and North Georgia.