Burns at work are common in kitchens, manufacturing, welding, construction, and any job that uses hot surfaces, steam, chemicals, or electricity. A burn is a work injury just like a sprain or a fracture — it should be reported in writing, treated by a doctor, and followed through the same claim process. The treatment path can be different, though, and it can be long.
How burns happen at work
- Kitchen burns: hot oil, steam, ovens, grills, and hot surfaces in restaurants and food service.
- Manufacturing burns: molten metal, hot parts, steam lines, and furnaces.
- Chemical burns: acids, alkalis, and cleaning products that touch skin or eyes.
- Electrical burns: contact with live parts, and arc flashes.
Why burn care is different
Burns often need specialist care: a burn unit, a wound-care team, or a plastic surgeon, and sometimes skin grafting. Healing can take weeks or months, and physical or occupational therapy often follows, to keep the scarred area moving and to rebuild strength. Scarring from a serious, permanent burn may also raise a disfigurement claim. Read Disfigurement and scarring benefits and Physical Therapy.
What to do
Get emergency care first for a serious burn, and report the injury in writing as soon as you can. Keep photographs of the burn as it heals, and keep every record about the treatment, the dressings, and the therapy. Do not sign anything about a settlement while treatment is still going on. If the burn is serious, or if the employer or insurer is not paying for the care your doctor orders, speak with a lawyer and connect with a provider.
Verify against the IWCC
Rules and procedures can depend on the facts of a case. Check the current rules with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission before relying on anything on this page. If you are seriously hurt, get emergency care first.
This page is general information only. It is not medical advice, not legal advice, and this site is not a law firm. See the Disclaimer.