Chemical burns suffered at work or home can be excruciatingly painful. Many times, injuries caused by chemical burns are just as devastating as those caused by fire. If you sustained a chemical burn that was the result of another party’s negligence, this injury could feel even more damaging, and you should be fully compensated for your injuries and losses.
Chemical burns are caused by hazardous chemicals so strong that they can dissolve a person’s flesh on contact. While not all compounds are potent enough to burn the skin, those in New York City who work with strong chemicals can develop skin irritation and rashes from constant exposure. Workers who inhale toxic chemicals can also suffer inhalation burns to the throat, lungs, and sinus cavities.
Toxic or hazardous chemicals may cause fires, explosions, and severe burn injuries at work or at home. Whenever products are not labelled correctly, given a misleading warning, placed in an improper container, or when products are used improperly, they can cause chemical burns.
HOW DO CHEMICAL BURN INJURIES OCCUR?
The majority of chemical burn injuries in New York City occur at work rather than at home. Severe burns often occur in industrial locales where strong chemicals are manufactured or during the cleaning process where chemicals are often utilized. When employers fail to provide workers with adequate training in safety protocols along with safety gear for protection, painful chemical burns are more likely to occur.
Most chemical burns affect the eyes, face, hands, arms, and legs. Professions that typically deal with potentially harmful chemicals include:
- Chemical plant employees
- Construction workers
- Farm workers
- Hair stylists
- Janitors
- Mechanics
- Painters
- Pool cleaners
- Welders
WHAT SUBSTANCES CAUSE CHEMICAL BURNS?
Many potentially dangerous chemicals found in the workplace contain sulfuric acid, a substance that’s used in fertilizer, drain cleaners, and car battery fluid. Hydrochloric acid is also commonly used in different cleaners used for pools, metals, and stones. Ammonia and bleach used in cleaning products often cause chemical burns from the main ingredients, sodium and calcium hypochlorite.
Not all burns happen at work, however. Everyday products used in a home can also cause chemical burns, such as:
- Bleach
- Detergent
- Drain cleaners
- Mix for concrete
- Chlorinators
- Toilet bowl or bathroom cleaners
- Household products containing lye
Even when in your home’s safety, it’s essential to be cautious when handling any of these potentially harmful chemicals.
SIGNS OF A CHEMICAL BURN INJURIES
The severity of a chemical burn is related to the chemical’s strength, the contact area, and the amount of the compound that made bodily contact. It’s vital that chemical burn victims receive emergency medical care to recover from injuries that hazardous chemicals inflict.
Common signs and symptoms of chemical burns include:
- Burning and inflammation
- Skin tissue damage
- Conscious pain and suffering
- Severe infections
- Blistered, black, or nonviable skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Cardiac arrest
Victims who suffer devastating chemical burns may require skin grafts or debridement surgeries to treat dead or wounded skin. In catastrophic and rare chemical burn cases, victims can suffer blindness, disfigurement, or die from injuries left untreated.
