ProtecWork Catalogue 1
Understanding the risks. Working in high-risk env
ironments involves, as the name implies, high risk levels. Arcs due to electrical faults can cause severe injuries and damage. Consequences include thermal injury, serious burns, electric shock, noise, UV emissions, pressure and shrapnel, as well as toxic exposure and the impact of physical and mental shock. Temperature and exposure time determine how extensive and severe the injury is. First-degree burn – damage to the epidermis, normally heals in a couple of days. Second-degree burn – dermalepidermal, injures the dermis, usually causes skin blisters and major inflammation. Third-degree burn – total damage to skin/tissue characterised by hard, white skin resembling parchment. In a full-thickness skin injury, sensory receptors in the tissue are damaged, meaning no pain will be felt in the damaged area. Fourth-degree burn – burn extends through the entire skin into underlying fat, muscle and bone. Skin is black and charred with dead tissue. The area is given in TBSA (Total Burn Surface Area) percentage, which expresses the size of the burn as a percentage of total body area. An arm is approximately 9%, and a leg 18%. Categorising the severity of burns A burn is a type of injury to the skin or other tissue caused by heat or hot substances in a solid, liquid or gaseous state. They can cause tissue damage to various degrees, depending on the nature, intensity and duration of the damage. Burns are classified into four types, ranging from first- to fourth-degree. Skin burn: · At 44˚C – pain is felt · At 48˚C – second-degree burn may occur · At 72˚C – second- or third-degree burns occur instantly