Some of the most essential jobs put employees at inherent risks of serious injuries. Whether you are a welder, plant worker, or firefighter, you are in regular danger of suffering a burn injury due to electrical contact, flame, or other heat sources.
The Cherry Hill burn attorneys at Matarazzo & Lubcher understand the challenges of dealing with a burn and would like to assist you in handling your no-fault workers’ compensation claim.
Types of Burns
There are four main types of burns, including:
Thermal Burns
A thermal burn can be caused by heat sources that raise the temperature of the skin, causing tissue death. Common sources of a thermal burn include fire, hot metals, steam, and boiling liquids. Firefighters, welders, and offshore drillers are just a few of the professions at risk of thermal burns.
Radiation Burns
Lengthy exposure to ultraviolet light or radiation can cause radiation burns. Using proper skin protection is important but cannot completely prevent radiation burns. Gardeners and landscapers are at the highest risk of radiation burns.
Electrical Burns
A burn can happen from a lower or high-voltage current. An electrical burn can be caused by a live wire or lightning. Skin damage will depend on the strength of the current, the type of current, the pathway taken through the body, and the duration of contact between the current and body tissue. Electricians, engineers, and appliance technicians are at a heightened risk of electrician burns.
Chemical Burns
Strong acids, solvents, and detergents put an individual at a greater chance of sustaining a chemical burn. Plant workers, dry cleaners, and mechanics are just a few professions at risk of chemical burns.
Burn Severity
Burns are categorized by what skin layers they damage. From least to most severe, burn classifications are:
First-Degree Burns
The least severe, a first-degree burn damages only the outer layer of skin, known as the epidermis. The burn may be painful and dry, but long-term damage is unlikely. Generally, first-degree burns do not require medical intervention.
Second-Degree Burns
A second-degree burn damages the epidermis and a portion of the dermis, or the middle layer of skin. The skin may appear red and swollen, and blisters may form. Medical intervention is usually recommended.
Third-Degree Burns
Coined as a “full thickness” burn, a third-degree burn harms the epidermis and dermis, damaging the skin’s nerve endings. The skin may appear white or charred. Immediate medical intervention is often necessary.
Assessing Burn Injuries
Notwithstanding the burn degree, the severity of a burn is also measured based on what percentage of a person’s body has sustained a burn. When a burn affects 20-25% of a person’s total body surface area (TBSA), the individual will require medical treatment in the form of IV fluids.
Adults with burns affecting 40% TBSA and children with burns affecting 60% TBSA are at a higher risk of dying. An individual with a burn affecting 70% TBSA has a 50% chance of fatality.
Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits
New Jersey workers’ compensation does offer surviving family members up to $3,500 in burial and funeral costs. In addition to funeral costs, workers’ compensation will pay weekly benefits to spouses and dependents. Benefits also entail payment of any of the deceased’s medical expenses.
Like regular benefits, dependents will receive 70% of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage (AWW), subject to a maximum rate based on the year of the individual’s death.
Did Your Loved One Sustain a Burn Injury on the Job? Our Burn Injury Attorneys are Here to Help
If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury, our attorneys are here to assist you in making a workers’ compensation claim. We are dedicated to fighting for workers’ rights and will not stop until you receive the benefits you deserve. Contact the Law Offices of Matarazzo & Lubcher today online or by phone to schedule your free consultation.