06 Feb Cuts And Burns

Cuts and Burns

Cuts, scrapes, punctures, and burns are common workplace injuries. Even injuries that appear minor should receive appropriate attention because damaged skin can allow infection, contamination, and additional tissue damage.

Employees should know the location of first aid supplies, understand the company’s injury-reporting procedures, and obtain assistance from trained first aid personnel when necessary.

Cuts and Scrapes

Cuts can range from minor surface wounds to severe injuries involving significant bleeding, nerves, tendons, or other underlying tissue.

When a Cut Requires Immediate Medical Attention

Seek emergency or professional medical care when:

• Bleeding is severe or cannot be controlled with direct pressure.
• Blood is spurting or flowing continuously from the wound.
• The wound is deep, gaping, or has exposed underlying tissue.
• A foreign object is deeply embedded in the wound.
• The injury involves significant crushing or tissue damage.
• There is loss of feeling or movement below the injury.
• The wound was caused by an animal or human bite.
• A puncture wound is deep, heavily contaminated, or caused by a dirty object.
• There are signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth, drainage, or worsening pain.

A healthcare professional should determine whether stitches, a tetanus vaccination, antibiotics, or other treatment are necessary. Do not rely solely on the size of a wound to determine its seriousness.

First Aid for Minor Cuts

For a minor cut or scrape:

1. Wash your hands or put on disposable gloves before providing first aid.
2. Apply firm, direct pressure with sterile gauze or a clean dressing to control bleeding.
3. If blood soaks through the dressing, place additional gauze over it and continue applying pressure rather than repeatedly removing the original dressing.
4. Once bleeding is controlled, gently clean the wound with clean running water and remove superficial dirt or debris when it can be done safely.
5. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing or bandage when necessary to keep it clean and protected.
6. Monitor the wound for signs of infection.

Do not remove deeply embedded objects. Stabilize the object, avoid unnecessary movement, and obtain medical assistance.

All workplace injuries should be reported according to company procedures, even when they initially appear minor.

Burns

Burns may be caused by heat, hot liquids or steam, electricity, chemicals, radiation, or other sources. The severity of a burn depends on its depth, size, location, and cause.

Burns are commonly described as:

• Superficial burns: Red, painful skin without blistering.
• Partial-thickness burns: May cause significant pain, redness, swelling, and blistering.
• Full-thickness burns: Destroy deeper layers of skin and may appear white, brown, black, charred, or leathery. Because nerves may be damaged, these burns are not always painful.

First Aid for Thermal Burns

For a minor thermal burn:

• Remove the person from the source of the burn.
• Cool the burn promptly with cool or lukewarm running water for approximately 20 minutes.
• Remove rings, watches, or other tight items before swelling develops, provided they are not stuck to the skin.
• Cover the burn loosely with a clean, sterile, non-stick dressing.
• Do not break blisters.
• Do not apply ice directly to a burn.
• Do not apply butter, grease, oils, creams, or other home remedies unless directed by a healthcare professional.

Ice or extremely cold water can further damage burned tissue and should not be used.

Serious Burns

Obtain emergency medical assistance for serious burns, including burns that:

• Are deep, charred, white, or leathery.
• Cover a large area of the body.
• Involve the face, eyes, hands, feet, genital area, or major joints.
• Are caused by electricity or significant chemical exposure.
• Involve the airway or are associated with smoke inhalation.
• Are accompanied by difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or other signs of a medical emergency.

For severe burns, do not remove clothing that is stuck to the burned skin. Keep the person warm, monitor breathing and responsiveness, and follow emergency-response procedures until medical assistance arrives.

Chemical Burns

Chemical exposures require immediate action. If a chemical contacts the skin or eyes:

• Consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and follow the chemical-specific first aid procedures.
• Immediately remove contaminated clothing and jewelry when it can be done safely.
• For most chemical skin exposures, flush the affected area with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes or for the period specified by the SDS.
• Use an emergency shower or eyewash when appropriate.
• Do not attempt to neutralize a chemical on the skin unless specifically directed by established procedures.
• Obtain medical attention as required by the SDS or severity of the exposure.

Some chemicals require special first aid procedures, so employees must know the hazards of the chemicals they work with before an exposure occurs.

Remember

Cuts and burns that appear minor can become serious if improperly treated. Report injuries promptly, control bleeding, keep wounds clean, cool thermal burns with cool running water, and know when professional medical care is necessary.

Know where first aid kits, emergency eyewashes, and safety showers are located before an emergency occurs.