Suffering a thermal burn at work can be a life-altering experience. Thermal burns, which result from direct contact with hot surfaces, flames, or even steam, are among the more common workplace injuries, especially in industries like manufacturing, food service, and construction. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 13% of workplace injuries nationwide involve burns, underscoring the importance of workers' compensation benefits to support injured employees as they recover. In Vermont, employees who suffer thermal burns are typically entitled to workers' compensation benefits, covering medical expenses, lost wages, and necessary rehabilitation.

Understanding Vermont’s workers' compensation laws is essential for burn victims seeking support, as these benefits are designed to alleviate the financial strain following a workplace accident. Thermal burn injuries can lead to long-term complications, from scarring to nerve damage, affecting an individual’s ability to work and their overall quality of life. In Vermont, workers who experience significant burn injuries often require extended medical care, rehabilitation, and sometimes even counseling. Accessing full workers' compensation benefits not only aids in physical recovery but also helps cover the costs associated with potential long-term impacts. By understanding their rights under Vermont law, workers injured by thermal burns can take steps toward financial stability and access resources to help them rebuild after a difficult experience.

What Are Thermal Burns?

A thermal burn is a type of injury that occurs when the skin or underlying tissues are damaged due to exposure to high temperatures. These burns can vary in severity, ranging from mild, superficial damage to deep tissue injuries that can affect muscles, bones, and internal organs. Thermal burns are one of the most common forms of burn injuries and can result from contact with hot objects, flames, steam, or scalding liquids.

How Do Thermal Burns Occur?

Thermal burns occur when heat transfers to the skin and underlying tissues, overwhelming the body’s natural ability to dissipate the heat. This heat transfer damages cells, leading to cell death and triggering an inflammatory response. Depending on the intensity and duration of the heat exposure, thermal burns can affect multiple layers of tissue:

1. Epidermis (Outer Layer of Skin): Mild burns may only damage the outer layer, leading to redness and minor pain.
2. Dermis (Middle Layer): Moderate burns penetrate the dermis, causing blistering, swelling, and severe pain.
3. Subcutaneous Tissue and Beyond: Severe burns can reach the fat, muscle, and even bone layers, potentially causing permanent damage or complications.

Classification of Thermal Burns

Thermal burns are categorized into degrees based on their depth and severity:

1. First-Degree Burns: Affect only the epidermis, causing redness, minor swelling, and pain. These burns typically heal without medical intervention within a few days.
2. Second-Degree Burns: Extend into the dermis, leading to blistering, significant swelling, and severe pain. Healing can take weeks, and medical care is often required to prevent infection.
3. Third-Degree Burns: Penetrate through the dermis into the subcutaneous tissues, causing the skin to appear white, charred, or leathery. These burns often destroy nerve endings, resulting in reduced pain sensation, and require extensive medical treatment, including skin grafts.
4. Fourth-Degree Burns: The most severe, these burns extend beyond the skin into muscles, tendons, and bones. They often result in permanent damage, loss of function, and require surgical intervention.

Symptoms and Complications

Thermal burns can cause a range of symptoms, depending on the severity:

• Pain and tenderness
• Redness or discoloration of the skin
• Swelling and inflammation
• Blisters or peeling skin
• Charred or leathery skin in severe cases

Complications from thermal burns may include:

• Infection: Burned skin is highly susceptible to bacterial infections.
• Dehydration: Extensive burns can lead to fluid loss, causing dehydration and shock.
• Scarring: Deep burns often result in permanent scarring or disfigurement.
• Nerve Damage: Severe burns may impair sensation in affected areas.
• Heat-Related Illnesses: Burns can sometimes lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke in outdoor workers.

Thermal burns can leave lasting physical and emotional impacts, especially if they result in scarring or functional limitations. Prompt medical care and rehabilitation are essential to minimize long-term effects and ensure proper recovery.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Thermal Burns?

Thermal burns are among the most common types of workplace injuries, resulting from direct exposure to high temperatures. Here are some of the primary causes:

1. Open Flames: Contact with open flames is a leading cause of thermal burns, especially in industries like construction, welding, and firefighting. Accidental exposure to fire can lead to severe burns requiring extensive medical treatment.
2. Hot Surfaces: Touching hot surfaces, such as machinery, cooking equipment, or industrial appliances, can result in burns. This is common in manufacturing, food service, and industrial settings where employees work near heated equipment.
3. Steam Exposure: Steam burns are prevalent in kitchens, food service, and manufacturing environments where workers handle boiling water or steam-emitting machines. Steam can cause deep tissue damage due to its high temperature and the way it can penetrate the skin.
4. Hot Liquids (Scalds): Scalds from hot liquids are particularly common in kitchens, food processing, and janitorial work. Burns can occur when employees spill or come into contact with hot water, oil, or other liquids at high temperatures.
5. Explosions: Explosions from malfunctioning equipment, gas leaks, or chemical reactions can produce intense heat, leading to serious thermal burns. This risk is often seen in construction, chemical plants, and laboratories.
6. Molten Metal or Glass: In industries like metalworking, glassblowing, and foundries, employees handle molten materials that can cause severe burns upon contact. Protective equipment is critical to prevent these injuries, but accidents can still occur.
7. Friction: Though not as severe, friction can create thermal burns when skin rubs against a surface at high speeds, such as conveyor belts or machinery. These burns are common in industrial and manufacturing environments.
8. Sun Exposure: Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to thermal burns, particularly for outdoor workers like landscapers, construction workers, and agricultural employees. Severe sunburns can cause tissue damage and even lead to heat-related illnesses.
9. Heating Elements and Tools: Contact with heating elements, soldering irons, and other hot tools is a frequent cause of burns in maintenance, electrical work, and repair industries. Direct contact with these tools can lead to significant burns.

Thermal burns can vary in severity from mild to life-threatening, and workplace safety practices, including protective equipment and training, are essential to minimize these risks.

What Does Vermont Workers’ Compensation Cover for Thermal Burns?

Vermont’s workers’ compensation system is designed to protect employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses, ensuring they receive the financial and medical support needed to recover. Operated as a no-fault system, workers are entitled to benefits regardless of who caused the injury, as long as it occurred within the scope of their employment. Administered by the Vermont Department of Labor, the program covers medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation services, and, in severe cases, permanent disability benefits. Employers are required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance, providing a safety net for employees while shielding businesses from potential lawsuits. This system aims to balance the rights of both employers and employees, facilitating recovery and reducing financial burdens for injured workers.

Vermont workers' compensation provides several benefits for employees who suffer thermal burns at work. Here’s what is typically covered:

• Medical Expenses: Covers all necessary medical treatments related to the thermal burn, including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and follow-up care. This can also extend to specialized burn care and treatment for any infections.
• Rehabilitation Services: Includes physical and occupational therapy to aid recovery and help employees regain their mobility, strength, and functionality. Rehabilitation services are often covered to assist burn victims in returning to work or daily activities.
• Lost Wages (Temporary Disability Benefits): Offers partial wage replacement if the burn injury prevents the employee from working temporarily. Typically, this compensation is a percentage of the worker’s average weekly wage, helping cover living expenses during recovery.
• Permanent Disability Benefits: If the burn injury leads to long-term or permanent impairment, Vermont workers' compensation may provide benefits for partial or total disability, depending on the severity of the injury and its impact on the employee’s ability to work.
• Vocational Rehabilitation: If the burn injury prevents an employee from returning to their previous role, workers' comp may cover vocational training or education to help the worker transition to a new job or career.
• Disfigurement Benefits: Vermont workers' compensation includes specific benefits for severe, visible disfigurement, such as scars, that affect appearance. This compensation acknowledges the physical and emotional impact of such disfigurement.
• Mileage and Transportation Costs: Covers transportation costs related to medical appointments and treatments, including reimbursement for mileage if the injured worker has to travel frequently for their care.
• Death Benefits: If the burn injuries lead to a fatality, Vermont workers' compensation provides death benefits to the family or dependents, which may include funeral expenses and financial support for dependents.

If you have suffered a burn injury while at work in Vermont, it is highly recommended to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney will be able to assist you in filing a claim and ensuring that you receive the full amount of benefits that you are entitled to.

How Do I File a Workers’ Comp Claim for a Burn Injury in Vermont?

Filing a workers' compensation claim for a burn injury in Vermont involves several essential steps to ensure you receive the benefits you’re entitled to. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention: First, prioritize your health and seek medical treatment as soon as possible after the burn injury occurs. Not only is this critical for your recovery, but prompt treatment also provides documentation of your injury, which will be important for your claim.
2. Report the Injury to Your Employer: Vermont requires employees to inform their employer of any work-related injury within 72 hours. Notify your supervisor or HR department about the burn injury, even if it seems minor, as this officially starts the workers' comp process. Document the report in writing if possible, and keep a copy for your records.
3. Complete the Necessary Forms: Your employer should provide you with the initial forms needed to file a workers' comp claim, including Form 5 (Employee's Notice of Injury and Claim for Compensation). Complete this form as accurately as possible, detailing the circumstances of the burn injury.
4. Submit the Claim to the Vermont Department of Labor: Your employer is responsible for submitting the completed claim form to the Vermont Department of Labor (DOL) and their workers' compensation insurance provider. Ensure your employer files this within the required time frame and keeps you updated on the submission.
5. Follow All Medical Advice and Keep Records: Attend all medical appointments, follow your treatment plan, and keep copies of all medical records, bills, and related documents. These records support your claim and ensure you receive appropriate compensation for your medical expenses.
6. Work with Your Employer’s Insurance Adjuster: The workers' compensation insurance adjuster may contact you for additional information about your injury and treatment. Cooperate fully, and be clear about the impact of your burn injury on your ability to work.
7. Consider Legal Assistance if Needed: If your claim is denied or you encounter complications, it may be helpful to consult a workers' compensation attorney who understands Vermont laws. They can assist in appealing denied claims and navigating the legal aspects of workers’ comp.
8. Track Your Benefits: Vermont workers' compensation may cover medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation, and other benefits. Keep track of what you receive and follow up with your employer or the Department of Labor if there are discrepancies.

Following these steps can streamline the process and help ensure you receive the support you need while recovering from a burn injury.

Vermont Workers: Injured by Burns? Brandon J. Broderick Offers Compassionate, Knowledgeable Workers’ Compensation Representation in VT

If you’ve suffered a painful burn injury at work, the journey ahead can feel overwhelming and very stressful. Burns are not only physically painful but can lead to emotional and financial burdens as well. At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we understand how challenging this time is, and we want you to know you don’t have to face it alone. Our compassionate team is here to guide you through every step of the workers' compensation process in Vermont, helping ensure you receive the support and compensation you deserve while you focus on healing.

Contact us today for a free legal consultation.