Burns, scalds and electric shocks insult millions of people in the UK every year. Although most of these injuries occur at home, a high percentage affects workers and assistants at public establishments such as schools, restaurants, hairdressers and beauty clinics. Surveys indicate that 20% of serious workplace injuries are caused by burns, scalds and electrical shock, and 5% of deaths. Children are particularly susceptible to burn injuries due to both their lack of awareness and the delicacy of their skin. Children can even sue their parents if they get burned while at home through no fault of their own. The compensation in these cases would be borne by the family’s home insurance.
Burn injuries can occur in almost any work environment. Electrical burns are common on construction sites, where workers may be laying power cables or replacing old electrical wiring. Thermal burns are a common hazard in metal factories where steam and heat are always present, and in restaurant kitchens where employees regularly handle hot foods and scalding liquids. However, an office worker can be equally susceptible to electrical and thermal burns, from a faulty kettle or a spilled hot drink. Chemical burns affect workers in a variety of industries. Any chemical solution that contains excessive amounts of acid or alkali will cause a burn on direct contact with the skin. Factory workers, janitors, and laboratory scientists are statistically more likely to suffer a chemical burn in the course of their work.
The chemicals also pose a risk to the general public in establishments like hair salons, where procedures like coloring and perming involve applying toxic bleach-based products to the skin and scalp. Misuse of hot tongs in curling treatments also presents a potential burn threat. Laser treatments, such as skin resurfacing and hair removal, can also cause burns if the laser is directed at an area of skin for a few seconds too long. Any visitor to a public place serving hot drinks can be burned by an accidental spill, whether from a member of staff or another customer. Under the Occupants Responsibility Act of 1957, all establishments open to the general public have a duty to provide safe facilities and reduce the risk of injury to visitors to the extent reasonably possible. Compensation claims for burn injuries are typically based on a perceived breach of this duty of care.
Burns can cause horrendous damage to the skin, requiring skin grafts and cosmetic surgery to correct, or lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement. When this occurs, the victim is likely to suffer subsequent and potentially long-term emotional damage. Infections are also common after burns, as the outer surface of the skin will no longer offer protection against invading bacteria. Any third-degree burn, in which the skin is completely sloughed off the burned area, is likely to cause damage to the body’s soft tissues and blood vessels. Very severe burns may require amputation of a limb or result in life-threatening damage to the nervous system or internal organs of the body.
Most burns involve severe pain and psychological trauma, all of which will be taken into account by a court assessing compensation. Our team of attorneys has many years of experience with burn injury compensation claims, having represented both workers and members of the public burned through no fault of their own.