Certain industries have a far higher incidence rate of burn injuries than others due to the nature of the work and the materials used. Chefs, waiters and kitchen staff risk being scalded by hot food, boiling water and cooking oils, while they may also burned by contact with hot surfaces and kitchen equipment. Accidents may be caused by inadequate kitchen utensils or faulty electrical appliances causing shocks. The negligence of co-workers may also result in burn injuries, for which an employer can be held responsible under the legal principle of vicarious liability. Employers must make sure that staff are trained in how to work safely, as a large proportion of burn injuries in kitchens result from slip and trip accidents.

Construction workers risk alkali burns from mixing cement and water, and may also suffer electric shocks from contact with power cables and similar. Factory workers may be burned by liquids, metals, steam and chemicals, and in industries such as these the provision of personal protective equipment by employers is especially important, including overalls, face masks, goggles and heavy duty gloves. In many workplaces flammable substances can cause explosions and burns, electricity can cause electric shocks, and contact with chemicals in powder, liquid or gas form can result in severe burns which may not be immediately painful or obvious. It is important to note that workers in almost any profession may be burned, for example, by a defective coffee machine or a radiator missing a safety guard.

To prevent burn injuries among workers, employers must pay particular attention to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002, as well general legislation concerning safe working practices. All work involving the risk of burns must be risk assessed and properly supervised, while workers must be provided with appropriate PPE to carry out their roles safely, and must also be adequately trained in how and when to use it. Failures in any of these areas can lead to accidents and provide the legal basis for a worker to sue an employer for being burned.

Bartletts Solicitors have been protecting and supporting clients for 150 years, and enjoys a reputation nationwide for trusted legal advice. We are specialists in work related burn injury compensation claims, having successfully represented employees who have been burned at work across a range of industries.

Bartletts Solicitors handle accident at work claims on a no win no fee basis, meaning that you will not have to pay any legal fees until you win your claim and receive your compensation, and will not have to pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful. Since a change in the law in April 2013, all law firms now charge a success fee payable upon conclusion of successful work accident claims, calculated as a percentage of the damages awarded. Contact our specialist team today for free and confidential legal advice.

Our firm has been using the law to protect and support our clients since 1860 and is fully regulated, serving clients all over England and Wales. Our firm is Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.