Worker’s Compensation: Understanding the Different Types of Burns and How filing a Claim Can Help You

Many workplaces can harbor dangerous areas where workers could easily get burned. If you are an employee who has suffered a burn-related injury, you should seek first aid assistance or emergency medical assistance.There are different types of workplace burn-related injuries an employee can suffer. These are, but are not limited to the following:

• Thermal heat burns
  • These typically occur from an open flame or some other form of direct heat source.
  • Other examples include a stove, hot liquids, steam, or industrial machinery.
• Electrical burns
  • These types of burns could occur from electrical wiring, electrical currents, arcs, or sparks.
• Chemical burns
  • These burns could occur from caustic or otherwise corrosive materials.
  • This can include, but is not limited to cleansers and solvents.

If you or someone you know has suffered a workplace injury, it is important that you seek medical treatment immediately. It is also important to understand that you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, which could include the time you took off of work to heal.

Thermal Burn Victims

Open flame victims can experience their entire bodies catching fire. Depending on the environment of the workplace, many workers’ clothing could catch fire. Here, some of the best ways to help is to by taking immediate action. This could mean making the victim “stop, drop, and roll” or attempt to extinguish the flames by smothering them with a large fabric.

Thermal flame victims will immediately experience pain and swelling. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if possible, jewelry should be removed off the victim. In the event that the jewelry is too hot to remove, allow emergency medical staff to do it. 

Electrical Burn Victims

Often, electrical burns on a victim will not appear immediately. This is because most of the damage will occur underneath the skin. A jolt from an electrical burn can cause a victim to be thrown off of his or her feet. This jolt could cause additional injuries since many victims fall from high altitudes. Electrical burns could be some of the most dangerous as they could cause a heart rhythm disturbance. In the worst cases, it can also lead to cardiac arrest. Electrical burn victims will almost always need emergency medical assistance.

Chemical Burn Victims

Chemical Burns could cause some of the worst injuries on a victim’s skin. Those who experience chemical burns will usually have skin melt off. Chemical burns commonly occur in the following areas:

• The eyes
• Hands
• Feet
• Face

Be sure that an emergency medical team has been contacted in order to prevent severe infections which typically appear to victims with open wounds.

Obtain Legal Support

If you or someone you know has been the victim or a workplace burn injury, you should know that you may be able to seek restitution for the injuries sustained. Seek the help of a qualified attorney who can guide you through the process.

The attorneys at Heiting and Irwin have extensive experience in the field of burn-related injuries. They are dedicated to helping victims seek compensation for the injuries they sustained due to the negligence of another party. Time is of the essence; seek the advice and support of a qualified team.