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Ways to Prevent Burn Injuries in the Workplace

January 30, 2025 | BCSP Staff Guide

Ways to Prevent Burn Injuries in the Workplace

Susceptibility to burn injuries is naturally higher in some industries than others. Construction workers are regularly exposed to hot machine surfaces, electricians to wires and circuits, welders to sparks and flashes, food service workers to grease and steam. That’s just to name a few.

But while the chances for burns may be lesser in other industries, the truth is they can happen to anyone. To protect workers, it is important to identify the hazards that cause burns and effective controls for mitigating them. This guide will primarily examine the different types of burns and how they may be prevented.

 

Types of Burns

It is important to be aware that burn injuries can come from a variety of sources. The most common types of burns in the workplace include:

  • Thermal Burns – caused by exposure to high heat, resulting from contact with open flames, hot surfaces, hot liquids, steam, etc.
  • Chemical Burns – resulting from contact with harsh or corrosive substances such as acids, bleach, industrial cleaners, etc.
  • Electrical Burns – resulting from contact with live or faulty wires, energized equipment, arc flashes, etc.
  • Friction Burns – caused by skin rubbing against rough surfaces at high speeds, resulting from contact with ropes or cables, fast-moving belts, pavement, etc.

 

Degrees of Burns

While burns come in various types, they also come in varying degrees of severity. Burn classifications include:

  • First-Degree Burns – Also known as superficial burns, these affect only the top layer of skin (epidermis), are moderately painful, and heal relatively quickly.
  • Second-Degree Burns – Also known as superficial partial-thickness burns, these affect the two-part layer of skin underneath the epidermis (the papillary dermis and potentially the reticular dermis), may cause blistering, are painful, and typically take 2-3 weeks to heal.
  • Third-Degree Burns – Also known as full-thickness burns, these cause damage to all three layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis) and can extend into tissue. They also cause nerve damage, require surgery, and take months to heal.

 

Preventing Burns

With those dangers in mind, taking the proper measures to prevent workers from suffering burns is of high importance. Prevention begins with identifying burn hazards and then taking steps to mitigate them using the Hierarchy of Controls – Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  • Elimination removes the hazard altogether by finding a different method for accomplishing the work. While this is the most effective control, it is not always the most feasible. Some work processes naturally require high heat, chemicals, or electricity. If they can be removed, do it. If not, move on to substitution controls. 
  • Substitution replaces hazardous substances or processes with safer ones. This could include substituting highly flammable chemicals with less flammable alternatives, highly corrosive acids with safer chemicals, high-voltage equipment with lower voltage options, or high heat-generating equipment with lower heat replacements. It could also include the use of fire-resistant construction materials, alternative fuel sources, or insulated tools, handles, and surfaces. Whatever the hazards in your work setting that could cause burns, take some time to consider other ways in which you might accomplish the work more safely.
  • Engineering Controls - When hazards can’t be removed or substituted, the next step is to isolate workers from them. This could include installing shields or barriers to prevent contact with hot surfaces, utilizing equipment with enclosed heating elements, storing and transporting hot liquids in insulated containers, installing temperature-regulating equipment to prevent overheating, or ensuring proper ventilation systems are in place to remove heat, steam, or fumes.
  • Administrative Controls are designed to change the way people work. One key method to accomplish this, as it relates to burn prevention, is through employee training on safe practices for working with hot equipment, liquids, or chemicals. Administrative controls may also include scheduling practices like worker rotation to limit extended exposure to heat sources or chemicals or the use of signage to warn workers of hot surfaces, flammable materials, etc.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - If a burn hazard cannot be completely mitigated by one of the previously listed control measures, workers must be provided with PPE fitted for them and trained in its proper usage. This is the last line of defense in protecting workers. The type of PPE will vary based on the specific type of hazard, but may include items such as:
  • Flame- or heat-resistant gloves, aprons, or clothing
  • Face shields
  • Insulated footwear
  • Welding helmets, gloves, aprons, and spats
  • Chemical-resistant gloves, aprons, or full-body suits
  • Rubber gloves (for electrical work)
  • Aluminized clothing
  • Arc flash suits

 

Application for Your Workplace

Using the examples listed in the categories above as a reference, consider your own individual workplace. What are the burn hazards that exist? Are there ways to eliminate those hazards? Substitute less hazardous options in their place? Engineer the work so that workers experience less exposure? Change the way employees work to keep them safer? Or provide them with PPE to protect them when the hazard must be present?

By identifying hazards and applying the Hierarchy of Controls to mitigate them, you can better keep yourself and others safe from burn injuries.

Tags: Burn Injuries National Burn Awareness Week Burn Prevention

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