Types of Burn Injuries in Construction Site Accidents
The legal team at Younker Hyde Macfarlane fights for injury victims throughout the Salt Lake City area. We can focus on all kinds of accidents and injuries, including serious construction accidents affecting workers and bystanders. Our aim is to ensure negligent parties are held accountable for their actions.
Burns can be extremely serious, and they are somewhat common at construction site and industrial worksites. Let's take a moment to consider burn injuries and why we take them seriously.
The Different Degrees of Burns
There are three common classifications for burn injuries depending on their severity. They are as follows:
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First-Degree Burns – First-degree burns are the least serious kinds of burn injuries, with the burn only affecting the epidermis (the topmost layer of skin) and typically causing redness.
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Second-Degree Burns – Second-degree burns are also known as partial thickness burns. These kinds of injuries affect the epidermis and the underlying dermis layer of skin, causing swelling and blistering of the skin in addition to redness.
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Third-Degree Burns – Third-degree burns are also known as full thickness burns. These kinds of burn injuries affect the deeper tissues of the body (e.g., muscles, nerves, bone) and can cause the skin and other tissues to turn black or white because of the serious damage done.
Potential Causes of Burn Injuries
There are a number of different causes of burn injuries, many of which are present at construction sites and industrial workplaces. This includes the following:
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Flames/Fire – When working with welding equipment or anything that involves open flame, the chances for a burn injury are quite high.
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Scalding Liquids – When working with any kinds of heated liquids, the risk of seriously scalding and burning yourself is always there.
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Steam – Direct contact with steam as it escapes a pipe can lead to very serious burns comparable to those caused by scalding liquids.
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Electricity – In addition to causing serious shocks and electrocution, major electrical accidents can also lead to serious burns.
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Solid Objects That Are Hot – Whether it's a heated pipe or a heated metal object, the dangers or burns are always high.
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Chemicals – If you work with acid, lye, or other kinds of caustic solutions, there is a high risk of serious injuries and burns.
Since there are multiple causes of burns at a construction site, workers should exercise extreme caution while doing their job, and they should similarly help ensure that potential causes of burns are nowhere near bystanders or pedestrian walkways.
Problems Related to Burn Injuries
Burn injuries results in serious pain, and third-degree burns, particularly extensive ones, can lead to issues with wellness, physical mobility, as well as physical disfigurement. When a burn gets down to the nerves and muscles, it;s possible for people to lose their ability to control their limbs. Disfigurement is also a major issue, and while skin grafts and reconstructive surgery have come a long way, completely undoing the damage of a severe burn isn't always possible.
This is why it's important to work with an attorney following a serious accident of any kind. Our lawyers will fight diligently for you and help seek just compensation for the injuries you've experienced.
Contact the Lawyers of Younker Hyde Macfarlane
To learn more about your legal rights following a serious burn injury at a construction site, be sure to contact our team of accident and injury attorneys today. The lawyers of Younker Hyde Macfarlane will work with you and your loved ones to receive just compensation for your injuries.
