You may think you do not need to worry about burns at your Minnesota job. Workplace injuries can include burns, though, and it is important for you to know what you can do to prevent these wounds.
Burn injuries can differ in their severity. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says that the worst kind of burn you can get is a fourth degree burn. This means that your tendons, muscles and sometimes even your bones may have been harmed because every layer of your skin was damaged. If you incur a third degree burn, the top two layers of your skin sustain damage. After incurring this kind of burn, your skin might look charred on the burn site. Additionally, the tissue beneath the dermis may also be damaged.
You can incur a burn at work in a variety of ways. You may receive an electrical burn if you are standing in water while performing your job or if you are working near live wires. These burns occur because electrical currents do not travel easily through your body’s tissue. If you regularly work with hot liquids, you may incur a thermal burn. Hot objects and open flames can also cause this type of injury. Chemicals such as acids can cause a burn if they touch your eyes or skin. Additionally, you may sometimes sustain a burn if you perform most of your work outdoors.
Many of the burns you receive in your workplace can be prevented if you make sure to wear protective gear. Additionally, it is important for your workplace to use signs that point out areas where someone might encounter a hazardous material.
This information is general in nature and should not be used in place of legal advice.
