Burn injuries are known to occur on all types of watercraft, and range in severity from minor skin scarring and heat blisters (first degree burns) to complete hair, skin and tissue destruction (third degree burns). Currently, there are no laws that mandate privately-owned vessels to carry any type of fire-extinguishing device, and many experts suggest that maritime law needs reviewing in order to reverse the increasing number of burn injuries.

The most common types of burn injuries suffered on waterborne vessels are chemical, electrical and steam burns. They are often the result of employee negligence aboard work platforms such as oil rigs, floating canneries or the operation of cranes and platforms by unskilled or poorly trained longshoreman. Additionally, chemical treatment facilities and electrical power plants that are built on or near bodies of water have reported cases of burn injuries ranging in severity from mild to extensive. Burn injuries have also been reported to have affected recreational boaters as well as cruise ship patrons.

Unfortunately, burn injuries are often borne of employee negligence or insufficient supervision and instruction by vessel officers. If you or a loved one has endured pain and personal anguish from burn injuries aboard either a commercial or private vessel, now is the time to contact an attorney experienced in maritime and admiralty law. You have suffered enough.

Chemical Burns

Most often, chemical burns occur during industrial accidents. Chemical burns can cause progressive damage until the chemical is inactivated. The severity of this type of burn depends on the kind of chemical, length of exposure and amount of tissue involved.

The first step in treating a chemical burn is to remove the material causing the burn. If the material is a dry powder, it can be brushed off. If the material is a liquid, it can be flushed away with water. If the chemical that caused the burn is known, it may be neutralized with some other chemical. For example, if the burn is caused by an acid, a weak base can be used to neutralize the acid. The burned area can then be covered with clean gauze and, if necessary, treated further by a doctor.

If you or a loved one has suffered the indignities associated with chemical burn injuries, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. In maritime cases, chemical burns are often caused by acts of negligence – either by an employee, supervisor or third party that was unskilled in the safety procedures needed to maintain a risk-free work environment. If you have doubts about the precautions (or lack thereof) taken to ensure your safety and security, contact a qualified and experienced maritime/admiralty law attorney at your soonest possible convenience.

Electrical Burns

Contact with live wires or unprotected electrical outlets can also cause burn injuries. The severity of these types of burns depends on the intensity of the electrical current and the duration of exposure.

The first step in treating electrical burns usually involves saving the patient’s life. An electrical charge large enough to burn the skin may also produce life-threatening symptoms. The source of electricity must be removed and life support treatment provided to the patient. When the patient’s condition is stable, the burn can be covered with a clean gauze and medical treatment sought. In maritime cases, offshore oil rigs and refineries have reported the highest number of burns associated with electrical devices, as complex wiring and machine structure impacted by precipitation can prove a disastrous combination.

Electrical burns can be extremely painful and debilitating, and require extensive amounts of time for rehabilitation. The costs incurred from this process can leave your financial future as precarious as your current physical condition. Let qualified, compassionate and experienced lawyers help you understand your rights under the guidelines of maritime/admiralty law, so that you can take action against those who failed to provide a hazard-free environment.

Steam Burns

Steam burns occur when an individual is exposed to excessive amounts of pressurized steam or hot liquid. Studies suggest that steam burns are most prevalent in industrial environments, and that the prevailing damage done is in the form of skin scalding, a specific type of burning that is caused by non-solid hot material.

Steam-related injuries are most common in the following types of industries: Ship building and repair, barge cleaning and refinery construction. Often times, steam injuries are the result of a worker’s exposure to broken or improperly installed pipes, and, at times, the results can be fatal.

Burn injuries can forever alter life and livelihood of the victim, and, in many cases, the injury is born of another’s negligence. If you or a loved one has suffered a steam burn or steam-related injury, now is the time to contact a compassionate, qualified and experienced admiralty law attorney. You deserve answers.