In brief
For thermal burns, the first and most important step is to cool the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes; ice, oil, toothpaste or yoghurt are not applied, and stuck clothing and molten material are not pulled off. For chemical burns, the rescuer first protects themselves, powder chemicals are brushed off, contaminated clothing is removed and the area is washed for a long time with plenty of running water; no attempt is made to neutralise. First aiders, eyewash stations, emergency showers and first aid supplies are planned in advance according to the workplace's burn risk.
First aid for burns: the first minutes determine the outcome
Unlike most workplace accidents, first aid for burns directly affects the depth of the wound. Heat continues to work inside the tissue for a while even after the source of the burn has been removed; early and sufficient cooling limits this progression. In chemical burns, the damage continues as long as the substance stays on the skin. A simple intervention done correctly in the first minutes can therefore change the extent of the treatment needed later.
This article was prepared for workplaces with a high burn risk, such as plastics, chemicals and metalworking. Hot moulds, extruder heads, steam lines, molten metal and corrosive chemicals can all be found together in the same facility. The article is a reminder; the response in your workplace is carried out by first aiders trained in accordance with the First Aid Regulation.
First steps for thermal burns and burn cooling time
Whatever the source, the sequence for thermal burns is the same:
- Make the scene safe. Stop the machine, close the steam valve and isolate the power if necessary. Do not let the rescuer get burned too.
- Stop the burning. If clothing has caught fire, the person does not run; they stop, drop to the ground and roll, or a blanket is put over them.
- Cool. Cool the burned area under cool running tap water for at least 20 minutes. Do not use iced water or ice; it constricts blood vessels, damages tissue and lowers body temperature.
- Remove jewellery and tight items. Rings, watches and bracelets are removed before swelling starts. Clothing stuck to the skin, however, is not pulled off but cut around.
- Cover. After cooling, cover the burn loosely with a clean, lint-free dressing or cling film. Do not use cotton wool.
- Keep the casualty warm. Cool the burn but do not chill the person. For extensive burns, cover the rest of the body.
- Call 112. If one of the referral criteria below applies, do not waste time; cooling continues while the call is being made.
Time the cooling. In a moment of panic, 20 minutes feels very long and most people stop after a few minutes. The first aider should look at their watch or ask a colleague to keep time.
Hot surface burns: moulds, extruders and ovens
Plastic injection moulds, extruder heads, heater bands and oven doors are typical sources of contact burns. These burns are usually on the hand and forearm; even if they look small, hand burns are a referral criterion. On the prevention side, insulating hot surfaces, warning signs and heat-resistant gloves are decisive. We described equipment-specific measures in our articles on the plastic injection machine and extruder and granulation lines.
Steam and hot water burns
Steam burns look superficial at first glance, but steam gets under clothing and affects a large area. In a steam leak, first close the valve, then remove wet clothing; fabric soaked with hot water keeps transferring heat to the skin. With steam burns to the face and neck, the airway may be affected: hoarseness, coughing or shortness of breath are an emergency.
Molten metal and molten plastic
Molten metal and molten plastic stick to the skin and form a crust as they cool. This crust is not pulled off; pulling it tears off the skin as well. The area is again cooled with running water, and the stuck material is removed in hospital. In casting areas, metal getting inside a shoe or glove causes the most severe burns; spats and suitable protective clothing are important for this reason. For sector-specific measures, see our article on workplace safety in foundries.
Example: forearm burn during a mould change
On an injection line, a setter changing a mould touches the hot mould surface with their forearm. The correct sequence works like this: the setter presses the machine's emergency stop, a colleague calls the first aider and takes the setter to the nearest sink. The watch and wristband are removed immediately, the arm is held under cool running water and the time is kept. While cooling continues, the first aider checks the size of the burn: if it is a redness smaller than the person's palm without blisters, it is covered with a clean dressing after 20 minutes and an incident record is written. If blisters have formed or the burn is over a joint, the person is taken to a healthcare facility. In both cases, why the mould surface was left unguarded is investigated separately.
Chemical burn first aid
In chemical burns, the damage continues as long as the substance is in contact with the skin. The sequence is:
- Protect yourself. Do not intervene without chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection. If the chemical spill is ongoing, make the area safe first; details are in our article on chemical spill response.
- Brush off powder chemicals first. Dry, powdery substances such as caustic soda and quicklime are first brushed off dry, then washing begins.
- Remove contaminated clothing. Cut it off if necessary; do not pull it over the head and spread it onto the face.
- Wash for a long time with plenty of running water. Wash with low-pressure, lukewarm-to-cool running water for at least 20 minutes. If section 4 of the product's safety data sheet recommends a longer time or a special treatment, follow it.
- If it has splashed into the eye, wash it with the emergency eyewash while holding the eyelids open; remove contact lenses if present.
- Inform 112. Give the name of the chemical and the safety data sheet to the medical team.
Do not try to "neutralise" an acid with a base or a base with an acid. The reaction releases heat and deepens the burn. Some chemicals require special treatment; for example, in workplaces that work with hydrofluoric acid, the workplace physician decides whether to keep the special first aid material recommended in the safety data sheet.
What not to do with burns
| Wrong practice | Why is it harmful? | The right way |
|---|---|---|
| Ice or iced water | Causes additional tissue damage, lowers body temperature | Cool running tap water |
| Toothpaste, yoghurt, tomato paste, butter | Traps heat, creates infection risk, the doctor cannot see the wound | Cooling and a clean dressing |
| Bursting blisters | Opens the door to infection | Covering without touching |
| Pulling off stuck clothing or molten material | Tears the skin | Cutting around it, having it removed in hospital |
| Cologne, alcohol | Irritates, increases pain | Water only |
| Covering with cotton wool | Leaves fibres in the wound | Lint-free dressing or cling film |
| Trying to neutralise the chemical | Releases heat | Washing with plenty of running water |
| Cooling for a few minutes and stopping | Heat continues to work in the tissue | At least 20 minutes |
Which burns go to hospital?
If any of the following applies, call 112 or take the person to a healthcare facility:
- Burns larger than the person's own palm or that look deep (the palm is taken as roughly one per cent of body surface area)
- Burns on the face, neck, hands, feet, genital area and over joints
- Burns that encircle a limb
- Chemical and electrical burns
- If smoke or hot steam has been inhaled, or there is hoarseness or shortness of breath
- Painless burns that look white, brown or charred
In electrical burns, the small mark on the skin does not reflect the damage inside; these burns are always assessed by a doctor.
Preparation in the workplace: first aiders, supplies and scenario
Preparation for burn risk is done before the incident:
- Number of first aiders. One first aider is required for every 20 employees in less hazardous, every 15 in hazardous and every 10 in very hazardous workplaces. Plan so that there is at least one first aider on every shift.
- Water source. In departments working with hot surfaces and chemicals, a sink, emergency shower or eyewash allowing 20 minutes of cooling should be close by. Run the eyewash and emergency shower regularly and check that water flows.
- Supplies. Keep sterile dressings, cling film, scissors and chemical-resistant gloves in the first aid cabinet; for the contents, see our article on first aid cabinet contents.
- Scenario and drills. The emergency plan should include a burn and chemical contact scenario; first aiders should practise the cooling time and referral criteria in drills.
For chemicals and plastics businesses in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, incorporating the burn scenario into the emergency plan is part of our emergency plan service, while first aid supplies and post-burn follow-up are part of our workplace physician service. You can track the validity dates of first aider certificates with the OHS calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a burn be cooled?
For thermal burns, at least 20 minutes under cool running tap water. Time it with a clock; a few minutes of cooling is not enough. Ice and iced water are not used.
Is anything other than water used for chemical burns?
The general rule is to wash for a long time with plenty of running water. For some chemicals, the safety data sheet may recommend a special treatment; in that case the material and method are agreed in advance with the workplace physician. No attempt is made to neutralise.
Should fluid-filled blisters on a burn be burst?
No. The blister protects the tissue beneath it. Bursting it increases the risk of infection. Cover it with a clean dressing and see a doctor if necessary.
What should be done if molten plastic sticks to the skin?
The material is not pulled off. The area is cooled with running water, covered with a clean dressing and the person is taken to a healthcare facility; the stuck material is removed there.
A physician assigned for the time your hazard class requires: pre-employment and periodic examinations, fitness-for-work reports and health surveillance.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.