Workplace Injury Infographic: Preventing and Treating Common Industrial Burn Types

Protecting workers from these threats is naturally of paramount importance to employers. About 450,000 patients receive emergency medical treatment for serious burn injuries each year in the United States, according to the American Burn Association. And costs associated with lost work due to the treatment of burns amount to $5 billion annually. Campaigns to highlight prevention and protection can dramatically lessen the risk, but it’s also important for your workers to understand the steps to take when a burn injury happens.

Your workers should know the difference between a major and minor burn, how to treat minor burns, and how to care for co-workers who have more serious burns until medical help arrives. Minor burns usually affect only the outer layer of skin. More serious burns go deeper and can be a big health hazard because they destroy the body’s natural barrier to infection, raising the risk of serious illness. 

Here are some of the most important things to know about burns in the workplace:
 

First Aid Kit Checklist: Essential Burn Treatment Items

Burn injuries are unique. They usually require specialized treatment, and even small burns can turn into serious injuries if they are not treated properly. 

Employers should be ready to treat burn injuries both large and small by adding the appropriate products to the company’s first-aid kit. And that kit should meet the American National Standards Institute’s 2015 update to its first-aid kit code.

Items in your first-aid kit for treating burns may include:

• Burn treatment gel: Topical cooling gels are made specifically to relieve the pain of minor burns.
• Hand sanitizer: This is important because burns raise the risk of infection. The person treating the burn should first coat his or her hands with a generous amount of sanitizer.
• Medical-grade examination gloves: Applied after hand sanitizer, these gloves should be worn during treatment of the burn and washed with soap and hot water before they’re removed and discarded. 
• Dressing for burns: This is usually a nonstick dressing. Sterile pads soaked in gel can prevent fibers from becoming embedded in the wound. Each dressing should be at least 16 square inches and be used only once before discarding.
• Cold pack: Placed at the site of the injury, a cold or ice pack can provide relief after minor injuries.

Spotlight on Burns

Here’s a collection of the best articles on burn prevention and treatment:

The Essentials for Your Burn Kit

Arm Protection: Why Sleeve Protectors Matter in Workplace Safety

Flammability Limits: How to Reduce Fire Hazard Risks in Your Facility

Top Five Most Common Metalworking Injuries

First Aid: The Training and Supplies Your Company Needs

What have you learned about burn prevention and treatment in your shop? Have you received formal training? Share your thoughts in the comments below.