There are many different types of burns to watch for when working. The type of job you have could indicate what type of burn you could get. In many cases, the proper equipment can protect you from serious burns, but that doesn’t make you invulnerable to burns.
There are six major causes of burns and four levels of intensity. Here’s what you should know:
Causes of burns
A burn while working at a factory can look similar to burns from a restaurant, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they were both caused by fire. There are six commonly known causes of burns:
- Thermal burns: open flames, explosions or hot surfaces
- Radiation burns: x-rays or sunlight
- Chemical burns: acids, paint thinner or cleaning fluids
- Cold burns: zero-degree temperatures or dry ice
- Electrical burns: open wires or conductive surfaces
- Fraction burns: rope burns or vehicle accidents
Just a second from a burn could leave serious injuries.
First-degree burns and second-degree burns
First-degree and second-degree burns are possibly the most known burns. First-degree burns often leave behind a redness when skin interacts with a hot object. Second-degree burns may turn into swelling, blisters and calluses.
These burns may not cause you to lose out on a day’s work, but they can be fairly annoying to deal with while they heal.
Third-degree and fourth-degree burns
First-degree and second-degree burns are minor in comparison to third-degree and fourth-degree burns. These burns can severely impact the skin. Third-degree burns may char the skin, leaving behind numbness on the affected wound. Fourth-degree burns can permanently destroy the body, burning the skin, muscle and bone.
A serious burn can severely impact someone’s work and home life. Leaving them impaired to the point of no recovery.
If you’ve experienced a serious burn that affected how you perform your job then you may need to know your options when looking into workers’ compensation.