Burn At Work Compensation – Can You Make An Injury Claim?

By Ian Morris | Updated September 7th, 2023

117 questions have been answered on this subject, why not ask your own?

You are entitled to claim compensation if you suffer a burn at work in an accident that wasn’t your fault. We work on a no win no fee basis, meaning there’s no financial cost to you if you don’t win your claim.

Can you make a claim for a burn at work?
What burn injuries can you claim for?
Why claim compensation?
How much is a burn claim worth?
How we can help you make a successful claim
Comments – your questions answered

Can you make a claim for a burn at work?

You can make a burn injury claim against your employer if they were negligent in following health and safety rules. Claims succeed if employer negligence can be proved, they failed in their duty of care, and the accident was not your fault. Workers are legally entitled to a safe and secure environment. They must be trained properly and made aware of their obligations to work safely. Employers must ensure the following to avoid staff being burnt at work:

That the working environment is safe, for example that floors are not wet to avoid staff falling over carrying hot liquids.
That staff are adequately qualified to use any tools or machinery that they are asked to use.
That equipment, including hot taps, are fit for purpose with regular servicing and repair.
That faulty equipment is removed from use and only returned to active service once fully repaired.
That any noxious or dangerous chemicals are handled in compliance with the ‘Controls of Substances Hazardous to Health’ (COSSH) guidelines, and that chemicals are stored and controlled accordingly.
That the correct PPE is provided.

Any person is entitled to make a claim for burn injury compensation in these or similar circumstances. Note that a claim usually has to be made within three years of the accident, unless the injured party was under 18.

What burn injuries can you claim for?

See the comments below this article for the different types of accident at work that have resulted in burns. Claims can be made for a range of workplace burn injuries, including:

Scalding by hot liquid
Hot oil burns
Chemical burns
Steam burns
Heat and fire burns
Electrical burns
Radiation burns

In medical terminology, burns are classified depending on deep they penetrate the skin:

First degree burns damage the top layer of skin only (the epidermis). They will be red and blotchy, but not blistered, and pain should soon subside.
Second degree burns also damage the second layer of skin (the dermis). The injury will turn red and blister.
Third degree burns are the most serious and reach the third, final layer of skin (the hypodermis). They take a long time to heal and cause permanent scarring, possibly requiring skin grafts.

Why claim compensation?

Burns can be very serious injuries, with ongoing and often permanent consequences such as scarring and psychological trauma. The injured party can also lose income if left unable to work for a period of time, surviving on sick pay alone. Making a work accident claim can go a long way to helping you through a difficult time and ease some of the problems you’ll experience:

It’s your legal right after an injury at work, and fairly compensates you for injuries that were not your fault.
It can pay for private medical treatment and rehabilitation therapies to speed your recovery.
If you are prevented from working again it can make up for lost income now and in the future.

There is no financial cost to make a claim – you will never be charged if it does not succeed. A successful claim will lead to a compensation settlement being made to you, with the value of the claim including any lost income and incurred costs as well as a settlement for the injuries and medical treatment that you have sustained.

Your solicitor will also look to help you to recover more quickly by obtaining rehabilitation therapy at the expense of the 3rd party (your employer’s insurers). This could also include private specialist treatments to reduce the appearance of a scar, or help with health issues caused by damage to the skin.

How much is a burn claim worth?

All claims are comprised of general and special damages. General damages apply to the injury itself and the suffering you experience. This will usually depend on the severity, or classification (first, second or third degree), of your burn. Special damages cover the financial costs you incur as a result of the injury. This would include medical fees, ongoing care, travel expenses and loss of income.

The total amount varies from case to case, but there are guidelines issued to solicitors by the courts. A first degree facial burn could have a value of up to £6,000, for example. Whereas a more severe, third degree facial burn could be more than ten times as much. The table below shows amounts for facial disfigurement, obviously burns and scarring to other, less visible parts of the body can attract lesser amounts.

Severity of injury	Compensation amount
Very severe scarring, with permanent disfigurement and psychological effects	£22,625 - £81,400
Less severe scarring, where disfigurement is still substantial with a significant psychological reaction	£13,650 - £40,480
Significant scarring which remains visible at conversational distances	£6,925 - £25,160
Less significant scarring which remains visible on close inspection	£3,000 - £11,500
Trivial scarring where the effect is minor	£1,300 - £2,940

How we can help you make a successful claim

Direct2Compensation are experts in managing claims for injuries caused in accidents at work. We know your rights and can help you to understand whether the specifics of your accident mean you can hold your employer liable.

It is important to make sure that the details of your workplace accident have been recorded properly within an employer’s accident book and that medical attention is sought for any burns you sustained. If you haven’t done this already, we can help you to do so.

Levels of compensation vary according to the severity of a burn and its long-term impact on the claimant’s life. Therefore, one of the first steps in making a claim is to get a medical assessment of the injury. We can arrange this for you at no cost.

We work with some of the best accident at work solicitors in the UK. With our easy to understand claims process and ability to handle your claim quickly, simply and transparently, there are many reasons that make us the right choice when it comes to starting your claim for injury compensation.

If you have suffered a burn injury at work and want to know if you can make a claim for compensation, contact us today. You can start your claim online or , and one of our expert team will be in touch to offer help. Alternatively, call us on 01225 430285.

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Questions

Read on for questions and advice about claiming, plus burn injury claim examples...

Hi I work at an injection moulding company (plastic company) .I burn myself while I was busy operating.The hot plastic just pop out of nowhere out of the mould while I was busy operating the machine . I burn my right hand and it left me with 2degree burns I just wanna know if you can help me. Thank u in advance

Our initial view is that you’re likely to have valid grounds to pursue a claim against your employers insurance cover. Our Solicitors can assist you with this on a No Win No Fee basis, ensuring that you are compensated for the painful burn injuries that you sustained and also recover any lost income or other costs you have incurred as a result of this accident at work.

We need to discuss this with you to find out more about the training you have (or have not had) from the employer, the Personal Protective Equipment you have been issued with and the nature of the incident and injury. Please call us on 01225430285 or use our website to start your claim with us.

I accidentally burned myself at work using a hot water geyser – pouring hot water for tea, leaving myself with 2nd degree burn. I work as a Nurse within the NHS. Would I be entitled to compensation?

To be able to make a claim for compensation for a workplace injury, the claimant needs to be able to apportion the cause of their injury to someone else or to employer negligence. In your accident, we need to consider whether the employer could have or should have prevented your injury or whether it was simple misfortune and an unavoidable accident for which you were responsible.

Was there a fault with the hot water tap in question? For example, if boiling water spurts out of it in an uncontrolled way, making it hazardous to use or if the location of the hot water means you have to reach dangerously to access it or some other sort of issue that can be attributed to employer negligence, you would have valid grounds to pursue a claim.

It would be helpful to speak with you about this – please call us on 01225430285 so that we can discuss the specifics around your accident in order to ascertain whether or not you can make a claim against your employer. Clearly, your injury is nasty and sufficiently serious, but it is less clear as to whether there is a valid claim.

Monday service was ending clearing up I’m a kitchen porter and i pick up big pan boiling hot water and slip hot water went over my half of arm on the joint arm I am burnt and the chef blaming me for it

Although you are working in a busy kitchen environment where items will be expected to be hot, it is unreasonable to expect you to carry pots of boiling water any distance. We advise that you ignore the view of the Head Chef and ensure that an accident book entry is made, appropriate medical attention is obtained and then contact us to start a claim for personal injury compensation.

Hi,

I was filling up my hot water bottle at work and the hot water tap they have is very hot, and water comes out very fast, whilst filling it up water had gone on my hand and burnt it – it’s left scaring on my hand, can I claim for this incident?

Is there any warning sign or notice indicating that the water is of such a temperature that it could scald or burn? If not, you may well have grounds to pursue a claim. In any event, we think you should contact us so that we can further investigate this matter for you.

It is important that you ensure that an accident book entry has been made to ensure that there is a record of the incident.

My daughter (who was under 18 at the time of her accident which happened around a year and a half ago) was injured at work. She was working at a farm shop in a horse box converted to be able to make drinks. She was making coffee using a coffee machine and used the boiling water outlet to wet a cloth to clean the milk frother and scalded her hand with the boiling water going through the cloth onto her hand. There was no running cold water in the converted horse box that she was working in at the time.

She told them on the radio that the incident had happened but they did not seem to offer any immediate help. Eventually she was able to go over to the main building to seek first aid. Her palm did not look significantly affected and so we did not seek medical attention at the time. However her hand is still scarred and she has to constantly apply eczema cream. Is this a claim that she could pursue?

It is certainly possible that there is a valid claim to pursue in this matter. We can call certain possible breaches of duty in to question – such as sufficient training and adequate equipment to enable her to work safely and we would very much like to investigate this matter further.

The lack of any medical attention at the time could be an issue, but if she has since seen a Doctor to discuss the ongoing issue, that would be helpful. However, the lack of immediate medical attention shouldn’t prevent further pursuit of the claim. It would be really helpful if there were any photographs taking at the time and if the incident was recorded in an accident book by the employer.

For further help and to allow us to investigate the potential claim, either call us on 01225430285 or provide further details on our website to see if you can make a claim for compensation.

Hi I was at work in the school kitchen where I’ve worked for 15 years as a dinner lady. I left the kitchen to deliver meals elsewhere in school, when I left the kitchen area there were 2 pans of gravy on top of the gas hob, one pan had a large industrial whisk in it. On my return one of my colleagues had taken one of the pans off the hob, also removing the whisk which she had then placed on to a small tray on top of the still lit gas hob. The handle was lying across the lit ring, I then proceeded to pick up the whisk which was extremely hot suffering burns to my thumb and fore finger where I gripped it – is she at fault or am I to blame? Can I claim for this incident?

Although your colleague would not have meant for you to sustain injury, they have been negligent and as such, your employer is responsible for the injury you sustained at work and you can make a claim for personal injury compensation.

In order to ensure that your claim has the best possible chances of success, make sure that an accident book entry (or similarly written record) is made with the employer and that you obtain medical attention if needed, or photograph the injury to provide evidence to support your claim.

If you would like to make a claim, we’ll explain how we can help.

My question is this. If you burn yourself at work, but it is your fault, do they have to pay you?

Whether or not your employer will pay you whilst you are away from work will depend upon the contractual agreement that you have with the employer. UK law does not require employers to pay full salaries to members of staff who are absent from work due to illness or injury. Instead, you will either receive statutory sick pay or if you are not entitled to that, no salary.

I was making a poached egg in the microwave at work for my lunch. I had only had it in approx 30 seconds and when I took it out it exploded and I suffered 2nd degree burns to my face and severe damage to my left eye which I was hospitalised for 1 week for intense treatment. I was off work for 3 months because of the injuries and needed a new prescription as it worsened my sight in my left eye. Since this about 9 months later I have been on holiday and my face has struggled in the sun and becomes patchy and sore my doctor did warn me about the sun as a result of the Injury because of the burns to my face. Not long after the injury I suffered mentally with panic attacks and returning to my place of my work where it happened this has resulted in me now having to change my workplace and get a new job.
Apparently the incident was investigated and reported to RIDDOR. I was given reduced pay for my time off. Will I have a claim for this?

Given the lack of information on the microwave at your workplace, there may be grounds to pursue a claim. We would certainly be happy to further investigate this for you on a No Win No Fee basis.

I scalded my foot and leg at work when lifting mop bucked full of boiling water to the floor. Bucket split underneath and water cascaded down my leg and directly onto my foot which was main injury. Don’t know what pay I will receive yet though I have asked the question. Currently self certifying but will need more time off for burn to heal. Can I make a claim?

There is certainly a right to make a claim for personal injury compensation. If your employer does not pay your usual salary (it is quite likely that you will only receive SSP during any absence from work), our Solicitors can recover the lost income alongside compensation for the pain and discomfort caused by your injury.

At work we have a self help tap for cold and hot water.

As I was cleaning the area, the hot water (which was 98 centigrade) suddenly started flowing. It poured right on to the top of my hand. The water then stopped and started again several times. The top of my hand blistered and popped immediately. I kept my hand under the cold tap for ten minutes with my hand red and inflamed. I have photos of my hand and videos of the tap. I followed all safety advice and reported the injury at work.

I went to a walk in centre and have had to go for new dressings and advice. However I have not been off work due to the injury. This is a second degree burn through no fault of my own. I don’t think that there will be any lasting damage and although very painful, I am unsure as to whether I should take this any further. I have reported the tap 3 days ago and it is still in operation. A member of staff told me that I was the second person that day to scald themselves, but I don’t think that they put it in the accident book.

Although you don’t think that the injury will cause any permanent damage, it is sufficiently severe to warrant a claim for personal injury compensation. The incident was clearly painful and the wound will clearly be visible for a while with scarring and soreness. You certainly have a right to make a claim against your employers insurance as the tap in question appears to be faulty and is clearly hazardous.

Whether or not you opt to make a claim is clearly a decision for you to make, but you should be aware that you have a legal right to make a claim and you can do so without jeopardising your employment rights. You cannot be dismissed for making a claim and any claim would be against your employers mandatory insurance cover and none of your colleagues would even know that you had made a claim for compensation unless you decided to tell them.

I had an accident at work yesterday. 96 degree water splashed on the back of my head from the cooker (machine was faulty) and I was burned (redness not blisters) to the head and the skin behind my left year. This has been recorded in the accident book at work. I didn’t see a doctor yet (no appointment available), but I went to a Pharmacy and got some cream for burns. My head still is burning. Do you think I can claim for this?

Because the machine was faulty, the cause of your burn injury can be attributed to employer negligence. The machine should not have been in use if it was known to be faulty and as such, your right to claim is clear.

Although you have been to a pharmacy, you should still attempt to see a GP or Health Professional about the injury in order to get appropriate treatment and so that you have medical evidence to support your claim.

Please call us on 01225430285 and we’ll be happy to have our No Win No Fee Solicitors advise you and pursue your claim if viable to do so.

Hi Ian,

Thanks for responding. Machine broke down (spraying water ) shift before mine. Engineers were working on it and said that it is fixed. So we start cooking on our shift. Machine was OK during first two cooks, however same issue happened after second cook where that splash hit my head, so I believe was not fixed properly. I am going to contact doctor on Monday.
I am a team Leader, just think if I claim I will have problems at work. I am going back to work on Sunday.
What do you think?

You have a right to make a claim and doing so should not have a negative impact on your right to continue with your job. Your employer cannot legally discriminate against you, reduce your hours or terminate your employment for making a legitimate claim against their mandatory insurance cover.

I had had an accident at work two weeks ago. I tipped hot soup all over my chest. This resulted in quite a significant scald in my chest and breast. I had no first aid and still don’t know if it’s been recorded. The microwave that I was taking the soup out of is so high I have to stand on my tip toes to get the jug out and I can only reach if the jug is at the front. I’ve been off work for two weeks now and the wound still has not healed. I’m really not sure whether I should make a claim, I’m also worried about going back.

You have a right to make a claim and we’d like to get you in touch with our Solicitors so that you can further discuss your accident and injury with them. When it comes to whether or not someone can make a claim for personal injury compensation, a phrase that is often used is ‘was the accident or cause of injury foreseeable’. This is to say that someone could have reduced the risk of an injury happening in the way it has happened to you, foreseeable. In this case, I feel that this was foreseeable and that you have a claim.

Our Solicitors would argue that the position of the microwave in this case was dangerous. It was located above chest height (in your case above head height) and it was therefore foreseeable that removing hot contents from the microwave was potentially dangerous as someone would have to stretch or reach above themselves without clear sight of a handle or safe way of removing the hot contents. As such, I feel employer negligence attaches. Our Solicitors would say that your employer should have realised that the microwave was located in an unsafe position and that it was foreseeable that someone could suffer burn or scalding injuries stretch and reach to access the hot contents. The employer’s failure to place the microwave on a counter top at a safe height placed you at undue risk of injury in an incident that could have been avoided.

Hi, I recently had an accident at work where I was poaching an egg in works microwave and after taking it out it exploded in my face. This resulted in me in A&E and then an ambulance transfer to a hospital with burns facilities. I spent 6 days on an ophthalmology and plastics ward as an inpatient for severe cornea damage to my left eye, which still isn’t healed. I sustained first degree burns on my whole face which are healing nicely.

I’ve been signed off work for a month so far, however there is nothing to say whether my eye will be okay by then as I may yet need an operation if the treatment doesn’t work. The last resort is an operation which is next on the cards.

I know health and safety at work are looking into this, but I know our microwaves don’t show wattage on them to say how hot they go. The doctors at the hospital I was admitted to explained that the eggs only explode based on getting to a certain heat and I really hadn’t had it in the microwave that long to get these injuries.

I had assumed it was my own fault but now I’m starting to worry about the microwave being too hot especially since there aren’t any caution signs to say it gets very hot. I just would like some advice on this because of how bad my injuries are.

When you are fit to return to work (or if you have a good relationship with a colleague who can do this for you whilst you are away from work), obtain some photographs of the microwave in question showing whether or not there are any signs indicating wattage or warnings of correct use etc. You should then enter in to some informal correspondence with the employer regarding the microwaves to ask their thoughts. Once this has been done, come back too us with their initial response and your images and we can investigate whether or not the employer may have been negligent and if you can therefore pursue a claim for the injuries you have sustained.

I’ve recently scarred my chest with hot boiling water. It is a quite noticeable size on my chest. I was on a breakfast shift at work, I was on my own and it was quite busy, I had to try and put the urn on the side of the bar because it is quite awkward to carry. It hit the bar and the hot water poured on to my chest. I went to my manager, he said it was my own fault and walked off, it wasn’t even put in the accident book. An Employee friend who works in the kitchen came and helped put burn things on me. I had to work the whole rest off my shift wet through, I did inform my manager I was in pain he still said it was my fault, I finished my shift but now I have a scar I have to live with.

Please use the ‘start your claim‘ page of our website to provide further information and your contact details. We can then further investigate your enquiry with a view to pursuing a claim on a No Win No Fee basis for you.

I scalded my shoulder when a colleague bumped into me with a cup full of boiling water for making coffee (I work in a bar). The water comes from an instant boiling water tap. I’ve been left with pain and quite a large blister which I’ve photographed, and I’m about to record it as an accident with my managers. Only question is would my colleague get into trouble because of this? Do I even have a claim?

Your colleague would not get in to trouble as they have not caused your injury through misbehaviour or on purpose. You may have a valid claim if we can show that the working environment is such that there is perhaps insufficient room to work safely or that the location of the instant boiling water tap is unsafe and likely to increase the risk of a burn or scalding injury. If we can show this, or any other issue of employer negligence, you are likely to be able to succeed with a claim.

There is no obligation to pursue any action, but you may wish to consider your options after allowing us to consider this matter further.

Burnt my hand at work without any training or induction on the machine, it was the day after a trial shift as they were short staffed. Do I have the right to claim compensation?

We can help you to claim compensation for the burn injury you have sustained. Our Solicitors have previously been successful with identical claims where a new staff member was not afforded training before being injured at work whilst operating potentially dangerous machinery. This is seen as employer negligence and you are likely to have a valid claim that should succeed.

I work in a coffee shop and yesterday I was using a boiling water tap, which I believe is about 100 degrees. This tap always spits out hot water, and the handle to turn it on and off is right above the faucet, so the steam also rises up and burns you. Yesterday, however, while I was making an order I had to move midway through making a drink, which caused me to accidentally bump the cup, and boiling water spilled over my hand. I was allowed to run my hand under a cold tap for about a minute, then sent back to work without allowing for any other form of treatment. My employer also refused to write it in the accident book.
I had to finish the last four hours of my shift in a lot of pain – it felt like someone was literally and violently tearing my skin up with their fingernails. It’s now the next morning and it is still hurting whenever I bend my fingers.
I contacted my employer to let her know that due to the burn I would not be able to make it into work today, and received a message back letting me know that calling sick for the day is not an option and that I need to go into work anyway.

Could you please advise me on whether or not I would be able to make a claim? This is not my first injury at this workplace, and none of them have been recorded in the accident book or allowed to be properly treated.
Thanks.

You need to make sure that you make a written report of the injury to your employer – an email will suffice. Make sure that the details of the injury are recorded and that the boiling water tap appears to be dangerous. You should also seek medical attention for the burn injury or at the very least document it with photographs.

What happens if my employer doesn’t have the adequate insurance for me to claim? I burnt my legs in work due to a boiling water from a kettle that was situated at about 6 feet and I am only 5 ft 2 so could not see if it was back on its base.

Employers are obliged to have insurance to cover situations such as this. If the employer has taken the risk of not having insurance, you can pursue a claim directly against the business owners or business itself.

I am an International student studying in UClan University. I am legally working on NI in one restaurant which is near to my University, at my workplace my hand got burnt so badly. It was terrible, I was traumatised and could’t find any help from my employer, at last I asked him for sick leave and he couldn’t even approve it. I am very much distressed and suffering with pain and burning.
I would like to request your help in getting me compensation for the incident that happened to me.
Thank you.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Our Solicitors are happy to consider your accident at work and will advise you on your options to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation.

I had an injury at work a few months ago. I had no professional training only copy what I’d seen. I was not shown any protocols or safety techniques. I burnt my hand at work. They had no one first aid trained and ran under water then covered with a microfibre cloth. They then made me continue working. I had to seek hospital attention as the burn blistered. My workplace phoned and were annoyed I’d been signed off work. They made me feel guilty about having the time off and I didnt claim as I didnt want to lose my job. I have now moved on but I have a relative who works there I dont want her to be mistreated the way I was. Can I claim?

You can make a claim. The employers failure to provide you with the required training was negligent and we would like to help you make a claim.

Hi,
My daughter works in a care home. When she was on duty she was scalded on her left hand and foot by boiling water. This happened due to a member of staff not securing the lid of the container holding the boiling water. Her hand is now purple and has a blister on it and two blisters are present on her left foot. Could you please advise if she would be eligible to claim compensation? 111 was phoned on the day it happened. An accident form has been completed and she has photos of the areas which were burnt.

A claim would be valid in the scenario you describe. Please go to our ‘start your claim for compensation‘ form or call us on 01225430285 to get further help and advice.

I was working a night shift last night, I am a waste operative and I just started 2 weeks ago. Last night I was told to go into a clave (steams waste in metal bins). They go up to 140 degrees Celsius and when I went in to collect the bins boiling hot water dripped onto my face just near my right eye, so I narrowly avoided that one but it’s left me with a 2nd degree burn on my face. When I told my team leader he just laughed at me and said, “it happens to everyone” – I was baffled!

At the end of the shift a supervisor (who also happens to be the managers son) pulled me up in front of everyone and said that if I don’t go in the clave again, I’ll lose my job. So I showed him the burn, only for him to reply “so, you should know how to do it right”. I then told him that I’ve never been shown how to do it. So I have had no training on it and no PPE for entering that death trap, I was not offered any first aid and for about 3 hours I was refused the accident book. I also have photographed evidence of burn and accident report.

Well done for photographing the burn injury and accident report. This useful evidence protects your interests and rights going forwards should you opt to pursue a claim for compensation against the employers insurance cover. It would seem that your employer has a lackadaisical approach to workplace safety and their failure to provide you with appropriate training or PPE indicates employer negligence. As such, although you are only a couple of weeks in to this new job, you have a valid right to make a claim and you should ignore the comments of the shift supervisor as they are unhelpful, misleading and quite frankly do not comply with employment law let alone Health and Safety law. Many people wrongly worry about being sacked after an accident at work if they make a claim. In law, you are legally entitled to pursue a claim if the employers negligence can be attributed to injuries sustained at work.

I burnt/scalded my arm at work whilst getting food out of the steamer. I had my arm under water for 20 mins and then went to the walk in centre and had it dressed by a Nurse. I Went back the next day to have the dressing changed and had a monster of a blister. They said if it popped I was to go to A&E. It popped on the Sunday so I went to A&E who cut all the blistered skin away and redressed it. This was recorded in the work accident book and when I went back we were told we were having training on how to remove trays from the steamer. All kinds of people came in filling in paperwork, so I think it was recorded with health and safety reps also. I do have photos of my arm .

Not only are burn injuries painful and sore at the time of the injury, they can remain sore and problematic for a considerable time and may well leave scarring. As such, compensation settlements for burn or scalding injuries can be substantial.

In this case, it would seem that the employer has realised that they need to provide more training for staff using the steamers in order that employees can work safely. Whilst this is a good move by the employer, it has come too late in your case and this indicates that you would be likely to succeed with a claim against the employers insurance for the injury you have sustained as it may have been avoidable if the employer had provided the appropriate training at an earlier date.

I burned my self a couple of months ago at work on a petrol strimmer – the engine guard was damaged so engine was showing and not covered. It’s left a nice scar on my arm. At the time I was worried about trying to collect compensation in case I lost my job. I took a few days off with it thinking they would maybe still pay me but no, they’ve terminated my employment for no reason. So I think it’s only in my right to claim back what I’m owed – they had no first aid to treat it with the guy on the yard literally wrapped it in a bag off the floor, highly unhygienic.

Please contact us to make your claim for compensation. This is certainly a matter we can help you with.

My partner burnt her hand at work after not being provided with the correct PPE to carry out her job. As a result of this she took several trips to a walkin centre and spent roughly a week off work. Now they have issued her with a disciplinary hearing for taking time off. Is this something they can do and is there any legal standing to argue this. Further to this she was not paid any SSP for the time that she was off due to this injury.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Whether or not the employer is acting legitimately in undertaking a disciplinary procedure for the absence from work caused by the accident at work is unclear, but this can be looked in to.

However, the employers failure to provide the correct PPE to your partner is employer negligence and she therefore has a right to make a claim for personal injury compensation against the employer for the injuries sustained, the pain caused, any lost income or other costs such as petrol/parking at hospital visits etc.

We’d like to help your partner make her claim, so please ask her to call us on 01225430285.

I burnt my hand with boiling water at work. I work in a college the starbucks unit. I poured the boiling water to make a cup of tea for a customer. But the lid wasn’t on properly the lids didn’t seem to fit the cup so when i lifted the cup the lid popped off and poured down my hand. I run it under cold water informed my manager and asked to put in accident book, which wasn’t done. I asked for the first aid kit and there wasn’t an updated one. I went to the chemist to ask advice and brought some cream. It has blistered and now they have popped, i think it will scar my hand.

If your accident was recorded in the employers accident book/accident reporting system you have a right to make a claim. If you would like to find out more about a potential claim, please call us on 01225430285.

I burned myself using a instant boiled water tap that is always spitting out boiling water everywhere and Left a big red mark going across my hand of which I have images, I’m an apprentice but have received no training in health and safety whatsoever, I don’t even know where the fire exists are, would something like this warrant a claim?

Make sure that your injury is recorded with the employer in writing – ideally in an accident book, but if not, email your Managers to report what happened stating where and when you were injured.

I burnt myself on a chute at work (chute is where we pushed burgers and chicken between the hot hold to front counter to pack orders) I burnt myself once and told the store manager it was too hot then 3 months later burnt myself badly, no accident report was done and no first aid given, could I claim anything?

There is certainly a claim to be investigated in this scenario. You appear to have warned the employer of a risk of injury and they have not acted upon that. Therefore, it may be possible to hold the employer liable for employer negligence should you pursue a claim.

We would be happy to further consider this matter for you and investigate a potential claim.

I burned my arm in January at work on a fry station. The handle on the fry basket had broke on one side and slipped so I had the hot basket and oil burn my arm. It looks like a second degree burn to me and I am still scarred now. I was working on my own under a lot of pressure to get fries cooked as it was a busy day so my manager wouldn’t even look at it or help me. It wasn’t recorded in an accident book and I couldn’t put it under cold water so it blistered. It has effected my confidence as I model for a hobby and now the scar can been seen in all of my photos and photographers do not want to work with me. Could I make a claim? And would my employer need to know?

You can certainly make a claim as the cause of the injury was not your fault. Any claim would be against the employers insurance and not the business directly. Of course, if a claim is made, someone within the business would know but they would not be able to discuss with you directly and UK law protects you from discrimination should you pursue a claim against your employer.

Amazing! Also would I need any kind of evidence of proof for this?

Do you have photographs of the burn injuries? Any copies of text messages or emails between you and the employer? Also, your medical records should state that you had treatment for burn injuries.

I burnt my legs in chip fat when emptying a fryer while wearing shorts in the kitchen while cheffing. Went hospital around 2.5 years ago. Not much scaring but very minor ones.
However the company has been closed since then and declared bankruptcy.
Anything I can do?

It can be possible to pursue a claim against a now closed employer, but it will depend on whether the employer had insurance in place at the time of the accident. Do you know how long after the accident the business closed? If it was over a year later, it is likely that the insurance in place at the time of your accident had been paid in full and could therefore still be pursued.

Thank you.
Around 6 months after the injury they decided to close. Another one would be would the person who owned the company know there is a claim as the company is now shut?

The former company owner would have no idea if any claim were made.

I work in a private mental health hospital, recently I have had a cup of boiling hot water thrown into my face by a patient which has resulted in 2nd degree burns to my face, head and ear all on my left side. I spent 5 hours in the hospital and transferred to another hospital as the doctor thought I may need a skin graft, thankfully I didn’t but all the left side of my face has been left peeling, blistering and I am in a lot of pain. I keep getting flash backs of the incident and now afraid of hot water, i’m scared to go into work in case this happens again. With it being a mental health hospital am i to expect this or is there a claim? I have logged it with the police, I have medical records on file to prove I was there, I have pictures of my wounds and all paper work has been completed regarding the assault. Is it worth me chasing this up?

The fact that you were working in a mental health hospital does not mean that your rights and the obligations of the employer to minimise the risk of injury are waived, indeed you and all support workers have a right to make an assault claim.

Our Solicitors would want to know what information you were given about the potential risks of the patient who assaulted you and whether the employer had failed to provide the right guidance, updated care plan or risk assessment or whether you had received the correct training.

Please call us on 01225430285 so that we can take some further details and have this matter formally considered for you by our Solicitors. We work on a No Win No Fee basis, so you can further investigate your potential claim without having to pay any costs should the claim either not be pursued or if it were to fail.

I am a caterer on a ward and i was probing food at work using the right equipment and ppe and when placing a lid back onto something the tub slipped and my hand went into boiling hot soup that splashed all over me and onto my arm that is covered by my oven gloves. I took my gloves off ASAP and my arm had all burnt, I ran it under cold water and within 10 minutes it had blisters in 3 places.
This was through the oven gloves provided by my employer. I reported it my supervisor and was sent to a and e. It was treated and dressed. I was sent home due to un able to work on wards with dressing on and they are refusing to pay me for the afternoon they sent me home for. Even though this injury happened at work and through ppe provided. Is there anything I claim for?

Thankyou

This is certainly a matter we would like to investigate further for you. As the employer has provided the required PPE, it would appear that they have considered the risks posed in your work. However, as the item that caused your scalding injury ‘slipped’ there is a potential to succeed with a claim if it can be shown that the equipment you are using to move the hot items around is not fit for purpose.

Please call our team on 01225430285 so that we can discuss this matter with you in more detail and submit a formal claim enquiry to our specialist Solicitors. Whilst it may be the case that your employers have a robust defence and you may not succeed, there is sufficient in this matter to warrant pursuit of a claim for compensation and as our No Win No Fee service protects you from the risk of facing costs if you don’t succeed, you can pursue a claim without worrying about the cost implications of doing so.

i was working and the chef was pouring boiling water into the sink and it went onto my foot and through my shoes and socks and burnt 4 of my toes. My work has not provided the appropriate footwear as since i joined no one has said anything. i have missed events and opportunities due to this and i’ve only been to the pharmacy but it hurts really badly whenever i walk as i have to cover it up with a gauze when i go out.

If the incident and your scalding injuries has been recorded in an accident book at work, you could make a claim for compensation. The employers failure to provide you with the appropriate footwear could lead to a successful claim.

I suffered a burn at work caused by a hot oven tray and the Head Chef. There was no accident book to report the accident or my injury and neither was there any first aid equipment dress it in the first aid box. Fortunately, the burn hasn’t gone septic. I am hoping it doesn’t leave a scar but it is still quite red and this was 4 weeks ago. Can I claim?

Given the nature of the injury and cause there is certainly a valid point in pursuing a burn injury at work claim. We would like to assist you in making a claim for compensation. Please call us on 01225430285 so that we can discuss this further with you and take your claim forward.

I was burnt at work with a chemical called one shot it is an acid it burnt through my trousers, sock and trainer.

In the UK, employers using chemicals and substances hazardous to health must ensure that the substances and chemicals are stored safely and handled correctly by way of the COSHH guidelines.

The COSHH guidelines would require staff using such chemicals to have received training and for the employees to be provided with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, clothing and face masks.

It would appear that your employer has failed to carry out their statutory obligations. As such, please call us on 01225432085 so that we can help you further investigate whether or not you can claim compensation for the chemical burns you have sustained.

I am a cook in the cafe of this well known large supermarket. I was wiping the table next to the large fryer. A colleague had spilt beans everywhere so he was busy cleaning that up which made us behind. I was using blue kitchen roll paper as i always do. I didn’t realise the end of the roll was in the fryer. As i raised my arm the paper stuck to my face burning it. I did put my face under the tap. I put my burn lotion on it which did relieve it for a while. I carried on working till 5pm because the kitchen had to be clean in case the auditors came in, I finished work put it in the accident book and went home. I went to A &E where i was treated over 2 separate days. I now have a scar down my cheek. Can i claim?

The scenario you describe certainly warrants detailed and specialist consideration by our expert panel Solicitors.

I burnt myself in work on a ‘de carb’ machine. I am untrained on the machine but have used it multiple times. I was wearing the safety glove, but the water which is mixed with chemicals has managed to splash down my arm. The water sits at around 90 degrees and once I burnt myself I ran it under cold water and put burn gel and bandages around it.

However, around an hour later, I was informed by my Manager that he wanted to take me to Hospital I didn’t refuse, nor did I agree and I said I feel fine. The details of this injury have not been put in the accident book as there isn’t one provided, nor is anyone first aid trained. I did eventually attend Hospital that night where the burn was sterilised and new dressings were applied.

Your description of the cause of your injury indicates employer negligence. UK law requires that all employers and employees adhere to the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act and follow safe working guidelines. As such, your employer should not have allowed you to operate the machine without having ensured that you had received the correct training and guidance to use it safely. As they did not, you may well succeed with a claim for compensation against your employer.

If you would like to take this further and find out more about how we can help you, please call us on 01225430285.

I was trying to light the gas fryer at work, it wasn’t working and the manager had left and said she would be back soon. I couldn’t light it so I told her, she said try this try that, I still couldn’t so I got help from another member of staff – he moved some things around and asked me to light it, I tried to then the gas explosion happened. It left me with second degree burns to both arms, right hand, my left leg, minor burns to my face and singed my hair, and has had a major effect on my mental heath and well being, what am I entitled to? She said I’m not entitled to sick pay because I’m self employed but she has offered to pay me sick pay out of her money, should I make a compensation claim? Please help me.

You will not be entitled to sick pay if you are self-employed and your only real option is to make a claim for personal injury compensation. It would appear that the gas fryer you were working with was unsafe and it could be that the employer hasn’t had it maintained or serviced as she should do. The self-employed are still entitled to claim in this respect.

We would be happy to help you make a claim for compensation and explain the process to you. Given the injuries you have to both arms, your hand, leg and the mental health aspect of this incident, claiming compensation will not only see you achieve a settlement (if you are successful) but will also enable you to access specialist rehabilitation therapies, which could greatly benefit your recovery.

My friend recently had an accident at work where her colleague spilt a tray of boiling hot water over her is she entitled to help?

The details of the scalding injuries sustained by your friend in her accident at work should be recorded in the employer’s accident book to ensure that a proper record is retained and that evidence is available to support any future claim. We would be happy to assist your friend in claiming compensation for the injuries sustained.

2 years ago I was involved in an accident which resulted into blistering burns on my toes and onto my foot, this is because after repeated asking for safety shoes to be provided I was simply told there was no money left in the budget for uniform. Because of this during my daily tasks within a kitchen environment I had to clean the floor I.e pour water out of a boiler on the floor then clean it. However upon doing so the water splashed back and went over the top of my shoes which were not safety shoes provided by the company. After being sent home for my injuries and have 1-2 days off work I submitted a accident report form. Subsequently the manager the purchased me safety shoes after my accident report had been submitted. I do have evidence of the invoice for the date of which they were purchased, however the manager at the time fraudulently filled the date in wrong on the sheet (apparently he bought them for me in 1970…) I also have pictures of the burns to my feet. Although effectively I was responsible for using boiling water on the floor it was one of my job roles to do so, but I would like to claim on the basis of manager negligence as he had not provided me the correct footwear.

This is certainly a claim that can be considered and looked in to further. The issue you cite regarding the date of the purchase of the safety shoes should not be an issue.

We would like to know more about this so it would be wise for you to make further contact and discuss this possible claim with us. Please call us on 01225430285 or use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website to make an online enquiry.

My line manager purchased a rubber sleeve to fit over the pan handle when cooking, this slipped off and the contents of the pan burnt my foot. The company was not aware that the line manager had brought the rubber sleeve into the workplace, all staff at the site knew that the rubber sleeve could slip and slide so who is responsible ?

The line manager has clearly made a decision off their own bat and apparently caused a risk of injury to you. In this case, the employer carries an overall responsibility and any claim would be made against them. This is something we would be happy to help you pursue. Please use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website to make further contact with us and we’ll look in to this matter for you.

What if manager train you the wrong way and you get hurt? Because she told me to pick up the Fried Chicken Basket, she said it was hot, got third-degree Burns, don’t know what to do next – workers compensation accepted my claim.

If you are injured in an accident at work because you have been given training that is incorrect and caused you to suffer injury, you can pursue a claim for compensation against the employer.

Hi I had an accident at work where I sustained burns and was off work for a while. Problem is the business is closing down now, can I still pursue a claim?

Yes, you can still pursue a claim and even if the business is already closed the possibility of claiming remains open to you. The employer would have insurance in place that would cover the period of time where you worked for the employer. Ideally, you should start your claim at the earliest opportunity.

Hi, I have recently fallen at work up some steps with a bucket of instant boiling water which resulted in me suffering 1st degree burns on my left and right hands and left wrist. I’ve been to hospital 3 times to have it dressed and had to have a course of antibiotics and a tetanus injection. I returned to work 4 days later for my night shift as I could not afford time off work, but after doing a shift my hand became worse and more sore and so I have decided to stay off work. Obviously this is going to have an effect on me financially and I’ve been told I can not claim due to my own fault of carrying a shallow bucket with hot water up some steps rather than using a mob bucket which is deeper, I’m not sure what to believe and I could do with some advice.

Did your employer provide you with training and guidance with regards to the handling of hot water? Were you instructed or required by a supervisor to move the hot water?

You could have a claim here and although there maybe some contributory negligence with regards to the handling of the water in the shallow bucket, you could still succeed. What was it that caused you to fall on the steps?

I burnt myself at work (2nd degree burn.) The manager on shift’s first aid certificate ran out so he didn’t record it in the accident book.
The next day a more senior manager redressed my burn and we had an informal discussion about what duties I could still carry out as I work in a kitchen so was wary of anything too hot/wet or dirty.
Another manager asked me to do one of the jobs that I had been told not to do, and we argued about it.
I am now suspended and facing dismissal for gross insubordination. This doesn’t seem right considering I only refused to save myself further Injury/infection.
What are my rights here?

Under UK law it will depend on what your Doctor has stated as being appropriate work or anything you must avoid. Essentially, if you have been deemed first to work, your employer is able to instruct you to perform any duty that you are able to do – but under UK law, an employer cannot cause you to worsen an injury or risk your health and you have rights to prevent this.

Can i claim if i burned my foot with the boiled water from the steamer at work? I’ve been told by the supervisor to go and drain the excess in the toilet as it was too much water in it and that’s where the incident happened.

If the incident has been recorded in the employers accident book and medical treatment has been obtained for the burn, then yes, you could make a claim.

If you would like to discuss this further, please call us on 01225430285.

Hi I was injured at work I burned myself with hot liquid after taking a tray of hot food out of the oven that slipped of a shelf and burnt my arm. I reported it in the accident book and gave myself first aid on the spot. I didn’t take time off work or see a Doctor but I now have scars.

I should add that we have also reported problems with the work place that haven’t been made right for months so it seems like my employer who is the local council are being negligent towards our health and safety.

We would like to speak to you regarding your injury at work as there could well be a claim to pursue here. Although you have not attended the GP, the accident book report will provide useful evidence to support any claim that could be made.

We need to know more about the accident that lead to your burn injury so that we can ascertain whether or not you have a valid claim, so we would recommend further contact with us.

I got burnt whilst working as an agency chef, from my chin to my groin 20% of my body. I slipped on grease on the kItchen floor in the clean up area. I was carrying 10 litres of boiling water. I did not have safety shoes on it the manager was aware of this as I was waiting to get paid to get mine. I am off work I am in pain and I am a mess emotionally and physically. Whilst waiting for paramedics they got me to sign the accident book stating it was my fault as well, I feel I was in shock at this time.

We would like to discuss this further with you and believe that it is worthwhile pursuing a claim against your employer in this matter.

I was scalded in the face and suffered whiplash when a tap at work exploded boiling in my face, this tap had no caution hot water signs above it and was never or very rarely checked for faults, could my employer be at fault here?

Our initial view is that you have a valid claim for workplace injury compensation here and we would be happy to pursue this further for you. If the employer cannot demonstrate that they have an adequate maintenance and inspection regime in place regarding the plumbing within the workplace, they could struggle to defend any claim.

I was severely burned with boiled kettle water in a work accident almost 3 years ago, I have tried to claim three times and each time they have closed my file due to lack of witness. My final claim has just been closed also because they have found my witness but she has said that she does not want to be involved in any way. I would like justice because this has caused me to be depressed and has made me loose all confidence, it has caused me visible damage for life up my leg and I’ve had to go through surgeries of skin grafting etc.. please advice me, what can I do?

What an awful situation, burn injuries, including scalding are extremely painful and distressing injuries and we can appreciate why you want justice.

The situation you describe is a clear indication as to why it is so important that a claim is supported by evidence if the claimant is to have a good prospect of succeeding. If your claim has failed on 3 occasions, it is extremely unlikely that anyone is going to be able to succeed for you unless new and substantial supportive evidence becomes available. In your case, this sounds unlikely.

Of course, if your witness were willing to provide a supportive statement and assist you in the claims process that would give you a far better chance of winning your claim. Is there any way you can speak with the potential witness to see if you can get them on board? The other issue you have is the pressing proximity of your 3-year claim limitation. Any action MUST be taken before that 3-year period expires.

Hi, i recently got a facial burn at work whilst making gravy. I was covering the chef while they were on a break and we were really busy and short staffed.

We currently have no manager so i have been trying to cover both my own role as well as the manager role.

I was taken to a&e because we had no burn gel on site. I was treated for 2nd degree burns to my face. I was phoned by my boss to return to work the next day as they were struggling without me. I felt pressured to go in even though medical advice told me not to.

When i have looked at my training records when filling in the incident form at work i noticed i have not been signed off for anything.

My boss is coming tomorrow to look at it. What would your advice be?

I am worried because we have no manager i’m not sure what i should do.

If you have not been given the right training to work in the kitchen, the cause of your injury is a result of employer negligence and as such, you could well have a valid claim for accident at work compensation.

Regarding returning to work, you really MUST follow medical advice and not allow your concerns about your employer to cloud your judgement as to when to return to work. When speaking with your employer, you needn’t make any mention of any potential action you could take as a result of the injury and should simply talk about the lack of sufficient staff and any lack of training provision.

We would be happy to further investigate a possible claim for you as a result of this accident at work. If you would like to take this further, please contact us. We’ll then present a claim enquiry to our specialist burn injury at work Solicitors who can then discuss your claim with you in detail.

I’ve got injured at work. I was wearing the correct PPE due to that we didn’t have fire Jacket and the employer said they still on order and the face shield got broken while I was busy trying to light a boiler. So as a result of my injury. I’ve got burnt on my face and both arms. Is it my fault or employers fault?

If the employer has provided you with all of the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure that you are fully trained and qualified to perform your duties, it will be hard to succeed with a claim against them.

However, if the employer has in any way been negligent and failed to provide the right training or PPE equipment, then you could succeed with a claim.

It sounds as though you didn’t have the right fire jacket on and if so, you could well be able to claim for the burns to your arms. However, if you damaged the face shield through your own ‘negligence’ there could be an element of contributory negligence that would have to be accepted for the burn to your face.

It would be useful for us to speak with you so that we can get a better understanding of the incident and then give you a more ‘qualified’ view of whether or not you can make a claim.

I have an injury after an incident at work. I got burned to the hands due to faulty electrics. I think that the insurers have denied liability and now await my medical records. I am not sure if my claim is strong enough. I went to A&E for medical help and was given good treatment for my injuries with dressings and medicines. Do you think I can get any compensation and win my claim?

If the electrics at your work were faulty or live circuits were exposed so that you were caused to come in to contact with a live 240 volt circuit, your employer has been negligent and as such, our initial view of this is that you would have a valid claim for accident at work compensation.

In order for us to give a more definitive opinion on the strength of any possible claim, it would help us greatly if you could explain how you came in to contact with the live electricity and how you came to to suffer the burns to your hands.

Aside from this, you must ensure that the details of your accident have been properly reported and recorded with your employer. You may also wish to consider whether or not the details of your accident at work require a RIDDOR report.

Good evening,
5 weeks ago I had an accident at work. I work in a kitchen and I was doing the washing up like every afternoon. Next to the sink sits a fryer on top of a counter. Somehow the base of the fryer caught in one of my colleagues back pocket and when he moved the hot oil fell on me. I burned my right arm, side, buttock and thigh down to my knee.
I got some more superficial burns and some deeper ones, one of which is still healing.

Can you give me some good advice?
Thanks a lot.

It is understandable that you didn’t want to have to go down the route of claiming compensation from your employer for the injuries you have sustained. No worker wants to have to take action against an employer.

However, given what you have said, I think you have both a viable and more importantly a very just claim for compensation. I appreciate that you may have concerns about making a claim and how the whole process works. I think it would be a good idea for us to have a chat on the telephone so that I can give you a proper opinion and then answer any queries or worries you may have.

Hi i had an accident at work a few weeks ago where i burned my arm in a 100° alkalyne decarbonizer that i was not trained or signed off on, and my employer wrote out a back to work form. He said if i claim he will sack me on the spot , are there any way that a back to work form states that the accident was my fault ? I have now made a claim and lost my job.

Robert

Thank you for taking the time to inform us of your situation and ask for some advice about your recent accident at work. It certainly sounds like your former employer has behaved in an underhanded manner and failed to offer you any kind of fairness or adequate support. Furthermore, if they have sacked you for making a claim then that is illegal. I am pleased that you have already started a claim – it sounds like you have a very strong claim (which is probably why your former employer has treated you so badly).

I would not really be able to comment on the back to work form regarding who is at fault as I would need to see the form to offer any sensible advice. However, the form should be available to you to view and therefore you should seek a copy of the form at the earliest opportunity and check it to ensure that it is an honest representation of what happened, what was said and that you agree with the contents.

Hi ian, thanks for your reply, I got a phone call off my boss saying i signed a waiver stating its my fault, but my boss wrote the whole thing – he said he would sack me if i didn’t sign it, he didn’t let me have a look at it either.

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