🔥 Burned at Work? Here’s What You Need to Know About Workers’ Compensation in California

Jun 16

Burn injuries can change your life in an instant. Whether caused by fire, chemicals, electricity, or scalding liquids, they often require extensive treatment and long recovery periods—and can leave lasting physical and psychological scars.

If you suffered a burn injury on the job in California, you may be entitled to significant workers’ compensation benefits. But insurance companies rarely make it easy. Here’s what you need to know.

⚠️ Common Types of Burn Injuries at Work

Workplace burns come in many forms—some obvious, others less so. These are the most common:

Thermal Burns – Contact with open flames, hot surfaces, steam, or boiling liquids.
💼 Common in: kitchen staff, welders, construction workers
Chemical Burns – Caused by exposure to acids, cleaning products, or solvents.
💼 Common in: janitors, manufacturing workers, lab technicians
Electrical Burns – Resulting from contact with live wires or faulty equipment.
💼 Common in: electricians, maintenance staff, utility workers
Radiation Burns – From UV exposure or radiation equipment.
💼 Common in: healthcare workers, welders, industrial technicians
Friction Burns – Caused by repetitive rubbing or machinery.
💼 Common in: factory and warehouse workers

🧯 High-Risk Jobs for Burn Injuries

Certain occupations face an elevated risk of burn injuries. These include:

Restaurant and food service workers
Construction and demolition workers
Electricians and linemen
Chemical plant or refinery workers
Janitorial and custodial staff
Healthcare professionals (radiology, sterilization burns)
Warehouse, factory, and industrial workers

Even office workers can suffer burns from electrical shorts or spilled hot liquids.

🏥 Step One: Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Your health always comes first. Even first-degree burns can lead to serious complications if untreated. Moderate to severe burns should be evaluated immediately—preferably at a designated burn center.

Prompt medical treatment not only supports your recovery—it also creates the documentation you’ll need for your workers’ compensation claim.

💵 Temporary Disability Benefits for Burn Injuries

Most California workers are eligible for Temporary Total Disability (TTD) if their injury prevents them from working. This is usually limited to 104 weeks of tax-free payments at two-thirds of your average gross wages.

But there’s an exception for severe burns.

Under California Labor Code §4656(c)(3)(F), workers with qualifying severe burns may receive up to 240 weeks of TTD benefits. That’s more than double the typical limit—reflecting the long-term recovery and medical needs of serious burn victims.

Insurance companies often fight these extended benefits, arguing that your burns aren’t “severe enough.” That’s where legal representation becomes critical.

📊 Permanent Disability & Additional Impairments for Burns

Burn injuries may also entitle you to Permanent Disability (PD) compensation. But in 2013, California law changed—eliminating ratings for psychiatric issues, sleep disorders, and urological conditions in most cases.

However, there’s a key exception.

Under Labor Code §4660.1(c)(2)(B), burn victims can still receive compensation for these additional impairments:

Depression and anxiety due to trauma
Sleep disturbances linked to pain or PTSD
Urological problems related to the burn injury

These extra ratings can significantly increase your final settlement or lifetime benefits.

⚖️ Why Legal Representation Matters

Burn injuries affect more than just your skin—they impact your ability to work, sleep, live without pain, and care for your family. Insurance carriers often minimize the impact of these injuries, especially psychological harm or secondary symptoms.

At Lee Partners Law: Work Injury Attorneys, we specialize in severe injury cases, including burns. We fight back using expert medical opinions, burn specialists, and legal strategy to get you the full benefits you’re owed.