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Burned on the Job in New York? What Burn Rating Scales Really Mean

In New York, burns are overwhelmingly the most common work-related skin injury. Most people are familiar with burns caused by heat, such as those caused by a worksite fire or hot tar. However, disfiguring burns may also be sustained due to an on-the-job electrical accident, friction, corrosive chemicals, or radiation. Depending on the severity of your worksite burn injury, you may experience intense pain, devastating scarring, skin grafts, amputation, or even death.

How is the severity of an on-the-job burn injury determined?

If you have ever been burned on a New York worksite, you may have heard your burn injury described as a "first degree" or "second degree" burn. What does that really mean, though? The "degree," in this case, refers to a common system for classifying burn injuries by the depth of skin damage.

The skin is composed of three layers:

The epidermis is the outer layer of skin, which is the part you see.
The dermis is just below the epidermis and contains blood vessels, oil glands, and nerves.
The subcutaneous layer is the layer of fat and tissue beneath the dermis.

First Degree Burns:
A first degree burn is generally painful, but only affects the epidermis. The skin is red, and may be swollen. A first degree burn is superficial, and generally not life-threatening. It will usually heal on its own.

Second Degree Burns:
A second degree burn penetrates beyond the epidermis and into the dermis. The skin appears reddened, or red and white, and blisters are present. A second degree burn may be serious, depending on how deeply the dermis is affected. Second degree burns may require skin grafting.

Third Degree Burns:
A third degree burn penetrates the epidermis, the entire dermis, and may also involve the subcutaneous layer. The skin will appear stiff and white or white-brown. A third degree burn is very serious and may require excision or amputation.

Fourth Degree Burns:
A fourth degree burn penetrates beyond the subcutaneous layer and may involve the underlying muscle, tendons, and bone. The skin appears black. A fourth degree burn may be life-threatening, and almost always requires excision or amputation.

Even with proper treatment, burns may worsen over the first 72 hours, increasing in the degree of severity. An example of this would be a sun burn that begins as a first degree burn (red and swollen), but by the next day has blistered and become a second degree burn.

A burn injury can be terrifying, and may result in permanent scarring or the loss of a limb. If you have suffered a work-related burn injury on a New York worksite, you may be wondering if you are due compensation for the cost of your medical care and your time off work. Contact the New York workers' compensation attorneys of Markhoff & Mittman, P.C. today at (914) 946-1452 or toll-free at (866) 205-2415 to discuss your case. We are also currently offering any of our informative legal books completely FREE of charge.