February 5 to 11 is Burn Awareness Week, so mark the occasion by training your workers on how to prevent getting burned on the job.
Two common types of burns in the workplace are electrical and chemical. Customize the training information in this tip to the burn hazards that are present in your workplace.
Regarding electrical safety, explain to your employees that "unqualified workers" are employees such as machine operators, operators of powered industrial trucks, construction workers, and others who are not qualified to perform electrical work, but who need to know important information about the hazards of electricity and how to prevent serious injury. Electrical burns are one of the biggest hazards and can happen in a fraction of a second. Give your workers these facts about electrical burns.
- Burns are a common shock-related injury.
- Electricity generates heat in the body.
- Thermal burns can occur from hot surfaces and fires.
Electricity in the body generates heat because the body produces resistance. The heating of body tissues results in electrical burns. Second-degree and third-degree burns can occur on the skin, or they may be internal, so that the person may not look seriously injured.
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In other words, while electrical burns may look minor from the outside, they might be severe on the inside because of the damage they have caused to internal organs and tissues. Instruct your workers to seek medical assistance if they suffer electrical burns.
Thermal burns can also occur from contacting surfaces that are extremely hot because of electricity, or when clothing or equipment catches fire. Tell your employees what specific substances or processes in your workplace can cause thermal burns. Here are some examples:
- Welding, cutting, and brazing operations have the potential for thermal burns.
- Steam operations have many opportunities for thermal burns. Boiler rooms have many hot tanks and pipes and steam pipes throughout the plant that could cause burns when touched. Any release of steam is an obvious hazard.
- Molten metal can reach thousands of degrees Fahrenheit and therefore requires many safety precautions because it can splash and cause severe burns.
- Ovens used in industrial facilities for baking or drying can reach 400 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and have many hot surfaces, including the outside surfaces of the oven.
Ensure that employees know the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear when they face the risk of electrical burns.
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Regarding chemical burns, inform your workers about the corrosive chemicals used in your workplace that can cause chemical burns if mishandled. For example, acids are used in many industries for a number of purposes such as metal etching and cleaning. Most acids will burn the surface of the skin and, depending on the concentration, may cause only mild discoloration of the skin or even severe third-degree burns. Some acids, however, will be absorbed into the skin and attack the bones or other tissue below the skin. Train employees to consult the material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for specific information about the acids in your workplace.
Caustics are also used in many workplaces for water treatment, metal cleaning, or as part of chemical processes. Like acids, these will also burn the skin; the severity of the burn depends on the concentration.
In addition, cleaning chemicals, especially those purchased for home use, are often corrosive and will burn the skin. Many bathroom and kitchen cleaners are caustic. Some tire and wheel cleaners are 60 percent to 70 percent acid. Urge your workers to read the labels to find out what PPE to use, including gloves.
Why It Matters
- Every year, approximately 450,000 burns require medical attention in the United States.
- About 45,000 people are hospitalized for burn treatment annually.
- Approximately 3,500 people die from fires and burns annually.