Burns and Scarring

Burns and scars leave the individual suffering from them with a traumatic experience, which does not only impact upon physical health but also mental health. Many people suffer from such injuries, all cases are often different and different people react in different ways to such injuries. Serious burns or scars can be very painful, can cause infection and also do dangerous damage to the skin. Burns or scars which have occurred at work due to the fault of the employer may leave the potential for a compensation claim. By law it is the responsibility of the employer to provide all employees with a safe working environment which protects the workers from potential injuries.
Many different types of burns and scars occur for a variety of reasons, over 175,000 people a year visit A & E departments with such injuries. The most common burn related work injuries come from workplace fires, poorly wired or insulated electronics, hot machinery, extreme cold, radiation, inhaling smoke or toxic fumes and thermal burns caused by hot liquids and objects. These are just some of the main causes of burns and scars at work, there are many other causes for such injuries.
There are three major types of burn, these include superficial burns, partial thickness burns and full thickness burns. A superficial burn is a burn which only injuries the surface of the skin, often painful and turn red, although the burn is unlikely to blister. An example of this kind of burn is the typical sun burn which is caught whilst sunbathing.
A partial thickness burn is where the burn goes deeper than the skin level; it slightly burns the dermis below the skin. Here the skin is likely to turn light pink and blister.
A full thickness burn occurs when the full level of skin is has been injured, this is classed as high risk injury. Although this burn may be less painful, the nerves in the skin have often been destroyed and is therefore little feeling remaining in the skin.
Internal burns are also commonly known to be caught at work; such burns are common with the lungs and airways. Such burns provide certain symptoms; clearly such burns cannot be visibly seen. These symptoms include, a sore throat, wheezing, burned nose hairs, soot in the mouth or nose and a recognisable change in the way a voice sounds.
Scars are often also very serious and are caused for a number of reasons and I a number of places. Similar to burns, compensation claims can also be made against employers when they have failed to fulfil their duty of care.
Anybody wishing to make a compensation claim will require medical evidence of the injury caused and also an explanation as to how the injury has caused. To make a successful claim against an employer, the employer must be proved to be in the wrong. People wishing to claim are recommended to seek legal advice from a solicitor or specialist claims firm.