Thermal Contact Burn Workplace Injury Lawyer

While certain workers are more likely to sustain severe burn injuries on the job, thermal contact burns can happen almost anywhere to almost anyone. If you sustained a thermal contact burn injury in Oregon, Portland burn injury lawyer Jodie Anne Phillips Polich can help.

As a former Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board member under Gov. John Kitzhaber, Jodie Anne Phillips Polich has the in-depth experience and insider knowledge to pursue the maximum workers’ comp benefits you deserve for a thermal contact burn at work.

Our firm can handle all the legal work in your case, from documenting your injuries to filing your initial claim to handling claim denials and representing you in any necessary hearings. You don’t owe any upfront fees when you work with us. We get paid only if and when we secure compensation for you.

Contact our office right now to set up a free initial consultation with our Portland workers’ compensation lawyer.

What Are Thermal Contact Burns?

A thermal contact burn occurs when someone touches a hot object or substance, causing damage to their skin and other body parts. For example, a burn from touching a hot stove is a thermal contact burn. Thermal contact burns can also occur when people are exposed to open flames or hot environments. If someone holds their hand too closely over a candle or campfire, for instance, they may suffer a thermal contact burn. Exposure to hot steam or boiling water could also cause a thermal burn. For example, steam from an industrial boiler or spilled boiling water in a restaurant kitchen could cause thermal contact burns.

Symptoms and Treatment of Thermal Contact Burns in the Workplace

As is the case with most burn injuries, there are three levels of thermal contact burns, each with distinct symptoms and effects:

• First-degree burns – First-degree thermal contact burns are the least severe level of burn, though they are still painful. First-degree burns affect the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. Some common symptoms of first-degree thermal contact burns include swelling, pain in the affected area, and reddened skin. These injuries usually don’t cause permanent damage and heal relatively quickly.
• Second-degree burns – Second-degree thermal contact burns are more severe because they damage the epidermis and the layer of skin underneath it, the dermis. These are called partial-thickness burns. Common symptoms of second-degree burns include blisters in the affected areas, significant redness, and intense pain. Unlike many first-degree burns, second-degree burns can cause permanent scars and have a considerable risk of causing an infection. Infections are more likely if blisters from the burn burst, leaving an open sore.
• Third-degree burns – Third-degree thermal contact burns damage all the layers of skin in the affected area, including the layer of fat beneath the dermis and epidermis. Third-degree burns are full-thickness burns. Third-degree burns have a leathery texture and may appear black, brown, or white. Third-degree burns can be excruciating, but some victims experience shock or nerve damage that minimizes the pain. Permanent scars are a common side-effect of third-degree burns, and many people with these injuries need skin grafts or other expensive treatments to heal fully. Normal skin functions such as protection from infection and temperature regulation may be lost.

Treatment options for thermal contact burns depend on the injury’s severity, location, and other factors. Common treatments for thermal contact burns include:

• Running cool (not cold) water over the affected area
• Applying sterile bandages to the affected area
• Over-the-counter or prescription pain medications, depending on the injury’s severity
• Applying aloe lotion or moisturizers to the affected area
• Skin grafts on the burn site
• Antibacterial drugs to prevent or manage burn-related infections

Common Causes of Thermal Contact Burns in Portland Workplaces

A few examples of common causes of workplace-related thermal contact burns include:

• Hot surfaces – Workers can sustain thermal contact burns from touching hot stoves, pipes, tools, machinery, or equipment, for example.
• Open flames – Workers who work with or near open flames can sustain thermal contact burns even if their skin never directly touches the flame.
• Molten materials – Molten metal, glass, or other materials can cause thermal contact burns if workers get too close or the molten substance touches their bodies.
• Steam and hot liquids – Steam, hot oil, boiling water, and other liquids can cause life-threatening burn injuries if they come into contact with exposed skin.
• Fires and explosions – Workplace fires or explosions can cause thermal contact burns.

While thermal contact burns aren’t limited to specific industries, some workers are more likely to sustain these injuries, such as:

Types of Benefits for Victims of Thermal Burns at Work in Portland

Workers’ comp benefits for workers with thermal contact burn injuries include:

• Medical care – Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider should cover all reasonable, medically necessary treatments for your burn injuries. These benefits last until you fully heal or reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), which is the point at which additional treatments won’t meaningfully improve your condition.
• Lost-wage benefits – Depending on how severe your burns are, how they affect your ability to work, and how much work you’re expected to miss, you may qualify for temporary disability benefits. Based on your situation, you might receive temporary partial or temporary total disability benefits. These benefits provide two-thirds of your pre-injury gross average weekly wage up to specific limits under state law. How long these benefits last varies from case to case.
• Vocational assistance – If your injuries leave you unable to do your old job or earn as much as you did before, you might qualify for vocational assistance to help you develop new job skills.

How Our Oregon Workplace Thermal Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help You

After suffering a thermal contact burn injury at work, your job is to rest and heal. Let our Portland workers’ compensation lawyer handle your legal case for you. We can document your injuries and file a workers’ comp claim on your behalf. If your employer or the insurance company denies your claim or tries to underpay your benefits, we can represent you during any hearings or appeals.

Workers’ comp cases are all we do at our firm, and we’re happy to put our extensive experience in these matters to work for you.

Are you ready to talk to an attorney about your case? Call Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., to set up a free consultation with a burn injury lawyer today, or you can reach out to us online.