If you suffer from a serious burn injury during your employment, the priority should be immediate first aid and medical treatment. Then you should think about whether you have a potential personal injury claim against your employer.
What can cause burn injuries in the workplace?
Workplace accidents involving severe burn injuries are a serious concern for various industries such as construction, chemical processing and manufacturing. Burns can result from a range of hazards including fire, chemicals, electricity, cold, friction and radiation. Burn injuries can have major consequences on how they affect employees and workplaces.
Burn injuries can not only lead to many serious consequences to your physical health but they also have knock on psychological, economical and legal consequences.
Machinery that operates at high speeds with temperatures and unsafe working practices such as mishandling of chemicals and exposed electrical equipment are all examples of common causes of serious burn injuries in the workplace.
What duty do my employers have to reduce the risk of injury?
To avoid such risk in the workplace and to comply with their duty of care, it is important for employers to:
- Carry out regular risk assessments and implement effective and comprehensive safety planning tailored to the working environment.
- Provide training and education of employees so that employees understand how to handle machinery and chemicals properly, protect themselves in the workplace and know what to do in the event of an emergency.
- Supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) tailored to the specific hazard and training on how to wear and use such equipment should be given.
- Regularly and properly maintain equipment in the workplace.
- Ensure first aid kits are readily available, and employees should be given training in basic care.
- Follow industry-specific safety standards and their practices should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that the workplace is complying with changes in regulations and best practices.
If it can be proven that your employer did not follow the above steps to avoid your risk of suffering from a serious burn injury in the workplace, you may have a claim. Here are some steps you should take when making a personal injury claim for a serious burn injury in the workplace:
- Ensure the incident has been reported to your employer or health and safety executive so it can be recorded in the workplace accident logbook.
- Take pictures of your initial injuries and take the details of any witnesses to your incident. This will be important when ingathering evidence to substantiate your claim.
If I think I have a claim, what should I do?
If you have sustained a burn injury at work that is not your fault, and you may think you have a claim, it is important to contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible.
To discuss your case with a member of our team contact us on 0800 988 8082 or complete our online enquiry form and we will get back to you right away.
