| Burn Surveillance FAQ |
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| What is a work-related burn? |
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A burn injury is damage to different layers of the skin. These injuries can be caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, or radiation. A work-related burn injury is one that occurs "on-the-job."
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| What are the different types of burns? |
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Degree
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Affected Layer of Skin
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Symptoms
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Healing
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Life Threatening
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First-degree
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Epidermal
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Redness, swelling, white patches at site of injury
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10 days with little scarring
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No
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Second-degree – superficial
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Epidermal and upper portion of Dermal layer
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Red, moist, may blister, skin may peel; minimal nerve damage
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If not infected, heals in 10 days; minimal nerve damage
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No
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Second-degree – deep
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Epidermal and Dermal
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Like second-degree superficial but whiter appearance and less pain due to nerve damage
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If not infected heals in 10 days; more nerve damage
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No
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Third-degree
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Epidermal, dermal and subcutaneous tissue
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Hard, leather-like scabs, purple fluid and no sensation or pain at burn site
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Usually involves surgery to aid healing and prevent infection; can destroy blood vessels and nerves
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Yes, if burn is over a large area
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Fourth-,
fifth-, and sixth-degrees
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Epidermal, dermal, subcutaneous and tissues under subcutaneous layer (e.g., muscle, bone)
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Surgery is required and long term therapy; depending on degree, skin, muscle, or bone is permanently damaged or lost
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Yes
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| Why is work-related burn injury surveillance important? |
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Burn injuries can be very serious causing scarring and nerve damage and in some cases death. Tracking the number of and preventing occupational burn injuries is a priority in Oregon because the number of work-related burn injuries in the state has remained relatively constant since 2000. In addition, these injuries result in thousands of dollars in health care costs and lost days at work. Work-related burn injuries are preventable.
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| Who is at greatest risk for work-related burns? |
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From 2001-2006, there were 1,570 work-related burn injuries reported to Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. The accommodation and food services industry, which includes hotels, motels, resorts, and restaurants, accounted for 475 work-related burns or 30.3 percent of burn injury claims. Manufacturing, which includes food production, and metal and wood manufacturing, ranked second with 22.6 percent of the claims. Cooks were most likely to have on-the-job burns (17 percent of all claims), and freight, stock and material handlers followed with 8 percent of all claims.
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| What are the most common sources of work-related burns? |
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The most common sources of work-related burns in Oregon between 2001 and 2006 were:
- Hot steam, vapor and liquid (20 percent of all reported burns);
- Chemicals and chemical products (18 percent);
- Hot oil and fat (13 percent); and
- Fire, flame and smoke (10 percent).
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| How do I prevent work-related burns? |
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Many of the burn injuries that happen at work can be prevented. Employers can help prevent and reduce the number of work-related burn injuries by:
- Establishing workplace safety programs,
- Conducting a hazards assessment, and
- Eliminating/reducing hazards and exposure to sources of burns.
Contact the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OR-OSHA) at www.orosha.org/forms/consufrm.html for a confidential and free consultation.
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| Where can I read more about work-related burns? |
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For a comprehensive list of burn resources, click here.
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