Burn Injuries

Burn Injuries And Workers’ Compensation

While the Department of Labor and Industries and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) require certain safety precautions to prevent burns in the workplace, thousands of employees receive burn injuries every year that result in nerve damage, pain, infection, scarring, and sometimes death.

Common Burn Injuries In The Workplace

• Electrical burns are common among construction workers and often result from faulty wiring, unsecured outlets, or defective equipment. These burns can result in nerve damage.
• Contact burns are one of the most common burn injuries, resulting from prolonged contact with a hot object. Often the object may be unlabeled, unclearly labeled, or improperly cordoned off.
• Scalding burns often occur among workers in the restaurant industry from contact with hot water or other liquids. Boiler explosions in manufacturing plants can also be a cause of burn injuries.
• Flame burns are widespread in cooking facilities and among workers injured in car accidents. Statistically, the most severe flame burns occur in manufacturing plants and other industrial accidents where an explosion occurs or a worker comes into contact with flammable materials.
• Chemical burns and toxins often result from manufacturing accidents. While these dangerous substances are tightly regulated by OSHA, employers sometimes disregard safety regulations, putting workers at risk of injury.

Complications From Burn Injuries

Workers with burn injuries are at increased risk of infection, and pain levels may sometimes be high enough to trigger unconsciousness. Victims also commonly suffer from scarring, or hair may fail to grow back in areas where burns have occurred. Wheezing can be a symptom of internal burns in the lungs, while hoarseness may indicate a burned throat. Nausea and vomiting are another set of symptoms to look for: these can be signs of smoke inhalation and exposure to chemicals. Finally, a condition known as Paresthesia can lead to numbness, tingling, or pain around the burned area.

Protect Your Rights

If you have suffered from burn injuries, seek medical attention immediately. An L&I lawyer at Emery | Reddy, PLLC can help you fight for the benefits and medical care you need. Our practice was founded on a commitment to advocating for workers’ rights, and we are proud of our record protecting the injured and disabled. Contact one of our attorneys today for a free consultation on your burn injury or workers’ compensation claim.

An L&I Attorney Will Help You Recover:

• Current and ongoing medical costs.
• Lost wages and lost potential income.
• Damages for pain and suffering.
• Lost quality of life from a permanent injury, disability, or other factors.

We understand that many families depend on the income of an injured worker, and our L&I lawyers are dedicated to winning the benefits and compensation you deserve. Our practice was founded on a commitment to advocating for workers’ rights, and we are proud of our record protecting the injured and disabled. Call Emery | Reddy today for a free case review on your burn injury or workers’ compensation claim. Please remember to have your L&I claim readily available.