Last Updated 3rd December 2025. Coping with a burn injury can be extremely difficult. Whether the injury heals completely or has long-lasting effects on your health, it has likely caused you significant stress. Those affected often experience psychological trauma alongside their physical issues. You should never have to deal with a burn injury at work, but you could be eligible to seek compensation if your employer was responsible for the incident.
Speak with our advisory team to find out whether you can make an accident at work claim. They offer all advice free of charge and with no obligation to follow up afterwards, so why not enquire? You could be eligible to work with one of our specialist solicitors, who will make strong arguments for a compensation payout to reflect the total impact you have suffered.
Common Questions We Receive
- How are burn injuries assessed? There are 4 different burn classifications that depend on how deeply the burn has penetrated.
- What is a common cause of workplace burn injuries? There are many examples, but not having the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) can leave workers vulnerable.
- Can I claim compensation for a private skin graft? Yes, private medical expenses can be added to your burn at work compensation under special damages.
- Does my employer need to report the burn injury? Your employer is legally required to report certain workplace accidents, including serious burns.
- How long does it take to get burn at work compensation? This is highly case-dependent, as no 2 cases are exactly the same. For example, settlement may take longer if the defendant does not accept liability for the incident.
Contact our advisors today to see whether you may be eligible to claim compensation.
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Am I Eligible To Claim For A Burn Injury At Work?
Before we look at any examples of skin burn at work claims payouts, we need to examine the eligibility criteria to begin a personal injury claim. Employers are required to take reasonable steps to ensure employee safety as per the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Any failure to take those steps could constitute a breach of the duty of care owed. You could have valid grounds to seek compensation if that breach caused you harm.
In summary, then, in order to claim compensation, you will need to show the following:
- Your employer owed you a duty of care at the time of the accident.
- This duty was breached in some way.
- This breach resulted in an accident in which you were injured.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, has published various resources to help employers meet their legal obligations. Steps to manage risks need to be taken to minimise the potential for accidents to occur. This can include performing adequate risk assessments and introducing measures to remove or control those risks.
So, for example, if hot equipment such as welders or chemicals are being used, sufficient personal protective equipment should be provided to minimise the risk of employees suffering burns
To find out if you can claim in your particular circumstances, contact our advisory team today.
How Much Could You Claim For A Burn Injury At Work?
Compensation in a successful burn injury at work claim can be paid out under two separate heads of claim. These are:
- General damages, which awards for the physical and psychological harm caused.
- Special damages, which awards for monetary losses. We’ll look at this in more detail later.
When solicitors come to calculate a potential general damages figure, reference can be made to your medical evidence alongside the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG document contains guideline award brackets for various injuries.
We have used a selection of the guidelines for bodily scarring in our table here. It is important to note that the first entry was not taken from the JCG.
Compensation Table
Please be advised that this table is intended as guidance only.
| Type of Injury | Severity | Guideline Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Severe Injuries As Well As Special Damages | Very Severe | Up to £250,000 plus |
| Scarring To Other Parts of The Body | Burns Covering 40% or More of the Body | Likely to exceed £127,930 |
| A Single Scar causing Disfigurement or Multiple Noticeable Lacerations | £9,560 to £27,740 | |
| No Significant Internal Injury | In the region of £10,550 | |
| A Noticeable Scar Or Multiple Superficial Scars | £2,890 to £9,560 | |
| Facial Disfigurement | Very Severe Scarring | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less Severe Scarring | £21,920 to £59,090 | |
| Significant Scarring | £11,120 to £36,720 | |
| Less Significant Scarring | £4,820 to £16,770 |
Can I Claim Special Damages Following A Burn Injury At Work?
The second of the two heads of claim, special damages, compensates for the financial harm caused by your injuries. As special damages can be awarded for both current and future losses, they will very often be higher than general damages payouts.
We have given a few examples here:
- Loss of earnings.
- Medical Expenses.
- Care costs.
- Transportation.
Make sure you hold onto copies of your payslips, travel tickets, invoices and other document as proof of any losses you incurred.
To get a free assessment of your eligibility to claim skin burn at work compensation, as well as a more personalised idea of what your potential claim could be worth, get in touch with our team today.
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Types Of Burn Injury At Work
What types of burn injury at work can you experience? According to the NHS there are four main types of burn:
- A superficial epidermal burn damages the epidermis or outer layer of the skin. Symptoms include red skin and swelling.
- A superficial dermal burn will damage the epidermis, the outer layer of skin, and part of the dermis.
- A deep dermal burn or partial thickness burn damages the epidermis and the dermis. Symptoms include red skin blotchiness. In some instances, the skin may be dry or moist. The skin may also have blisters.
- The skin has three layers; the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis. A full-thickness burn is where all three layers of the skin are damaged. The injury may have fully burned the skin away, and the tissues below may appear to be blackened.
Symptoms of burn injuries can include the following:
- Red skin
- Peeling skin
- White skin
- Charred skin
- Blisters
- Swelling on the skin
What is the difference between scalding and burns? Dry heat causes burns. And scalding injuries are caused by wet heat such as hot liquids or steam. For example, you can be scalded by a hot drink.
What Burn Injuries Can You Claim For?
There are various types of burn injuries that you could claim compensation for. However, you would need to prove that your injury was caused by your employer breaching their duty of care. Some examples of the types of burn injuries you may be able to make a personal injury claim for include:
- Electrical burns – this type of burn occurs when an electrical current passing through your body is resisted by the body tissues, subsequently causing a heat burn. An electrical burn could be caused by a faulty plug in a workplace that is not adequately maintained by an employer.
- Chemical burns – these burns are defined as tissue damage caused by a harsh or corrosive substance. A cleaner may be prone to this type of burn as they use cleaning equipment, which often contains harsh chemicals such as bleach. Staff should be provided with regular training on how to handle such chemicals correctly.
- Thermal burns – any direct exposure or contact with fire, hot surfaces or hot fluids may cause a thermal burn. Employees working in restaurants or manufacturing industries are at risk of a thermal burn injury. Therefore, their employer should provide them with sufficient personal protective equipment to prevent the risk of injury.
To find out if you could make a personal injury claim for compensation for a burns injury, you can contact one of our friendly advisors today. They can offer you free advice and help answer any questions you may have.
What Evidence Is Needed For A Burn At Work Claim
If you have decided to make a personal injury claim following a burn at work, you will need evidence to prove not only that your employer has acted negligently but this has led to a burn injury at work. Evidence will need to show liability and the extent to which you were harmed. Therefore the evidence which will be useful for you to collect would be:
Medical evidence—If you suffer a burn injury, it is always important to have it checked out by a medical professional. This will ensure not only that you get the treatment you need to recover but that the injury will also be recorded in your medical records, and these can be used as evidence to prove what injury you suffered.
Photographic evidence — If possible and only when safe, capture evidence of the cause of your injury. If the area is covered by CCTV cameras, ask for a copy of the footage that shows the incident occurring.
Witnesses – although you cannot take statements from witnesses for your claim yourself, it is important to gather their contact details so an allocated person can take a statement from them during the claiming process.
Accident logbook—It is vital that if you suffer an accident in the workplace, you report it to the designated person so that it can be correctly logged. If you go on to make an accident at work claim for a burn injury, you can request a copy to use as evidence.
Why not give our advisors a quick call? In a free case assessment, they can tell you if you have grounds to make a burn at work claim. They could also connect you with an accident at work solicitor if your case is eligible. Our solicitors will gather all the necessary evidence needed to prove your case if you decide to work with them.
How Long Do I Have To Start A Burn Injury At Work Claim?
Employees typically have 3 years to start a burn injury at work claim. In most cases, this period commences on the day their injuries were sustained. Therefore, it is beneficial to keep a record of this date to ensure you do not leave the limitation period.
Although this time limit generally applies to most personal injury claims under the Limitation Act 1980, there are certain exceptions in place for those who are unable to make their own claim.
For example, the time limit on a claim may be indefinitely paused if it is recognised that the claimant does not have the mental ability to start a claim. However, if the claimant regains mental capacity, the 3-year time limit may commence.
If the time limit is paused, a litigation friend may be appointed to claim burn injury at work compensation on behalf of the claimant. Anyone may take on this responsibility if they:
- Are over the age of 18
- Make decisions in the claimant’s best interests
- Keep the injured person up to date with the claim
If you have any questions regarding the time limit for claiming compensation for a burn injury at work or the role of a litigation friend, please contact our advisors.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Burn Injury At Work Claim?
Have you suffered a burn injury at work that was not your fault? Then you may be eligible to claim compensation from your employer. Legal Expert can provide you with a knowledgeable solicitor to handle your claim and help you get the compensation you deserve.
All our solicitors offer No Win No Fee terms. We will only charge a success fee if your lawyer wins your claim. You will sign a Conditional Fee Agreement to formalise the process.
To begin your burn injury claim, please get in touch with Legal Expert today using the details below:
- Call our claims helpline on 0800 073 8804. We can offer you free legal advice and answer any questions you may have.
- Visit our ‘contact us‘ page online
- Alternatively, please type a question for us into the chat widget on the bottom right-hand side of your browser.
More Information
You can read some of our other accident at work claims guides here:
- Find out more about claiming compensation for a pulled muscle at work with this guide.
- See our case study – £50,000 compensation for burns from fireworks here.
- Learn more about when compensation for lifting injuries at work could be awarded.
We have also included some external resources for additional information:
- An NHS guide to applying first aid to burns
- Types of incidents that are reportable to RIDDOR
- You can learn about how to request CCTV footage of yourself with this government guidance.
We’d like to thank you for taking the time to read our guide to claiming burn injury at work compensation. You can get further information as well as a free assessment of your eligibility by talking to our advisors. Contact the team at any time via the details given above.
Guide By Chelache
Edited By Melissa.