If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Move away from the steam source. Have someone shut it off if it is safe.
- 2Call 911 for steam to the face or airway, hoarse voice, trouble breathing, or large, deep or blistering burns.
- 3Cool the burn with cool running water for a good while. Do not use ice, butter or ointments unless a clinician says to.
- 4Remove rings, watches and tight clothing near the burn before swelling starts, unless they are stuck to the skin.
- 5Cover loosely with a clean, dry cloth.
- 6Tell your supervisor and report it in writing, naming the equipment: a boiler, a pressure valve, a dishwasher, a steam table, an industrial press or a steam line.
- 7If your voice becomes hoarse or breathing feels tight after a steam release, call 911 even if your skin seems fine.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Steam burns happen in manufacturing plants, utilities, restaurant kitchens and hotel laundries. A valve that was opened or failed, a leaking gasket, a dishwasher door opened too soon or a pressure cooker can release steam suddenly. Describe the equipment and what happened. Restaurant workers are often burned when opening a dishwasher or steamer too soon, lifting a lid off a stockpot, or draining pasta. Plant and utility workers can be burned by a blown gasket, a bypassed safety valve, or a line that was thought to be depressurized.
If equipment was faulty or had been reported before, mention that. Ask that it be locked out and inspected. Note whether lockout or depressurizing steps were followed and who told you the line or equipment was safe to open.
Deadlines to report and to file vary by state. Check with your state's workers' compensation agency and your employer soon. Steam burns can look mild at first and blister or deepen over the next day or two, so report even if it seems small.
Keep dated photos of the burn as it heals, your report and all medical records. If the burn changes, add a dated note and photo, and save any inspection or repair records you are given.
Getting medical care
A licensed clinician can evaluate the burn's depth and decide what care fits. Urgent care, occupational medicine or primary care are common starting points; serious burns may need specialized care. Burns on the hands, face, joints or over large areas may need more specialized care. Mention whether you breathed in steam, even if your breathing feels normal now.
Tell the clinician the burn happened at work. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, so ask your employer or the adjuster. Ask what dressing supplies you need and whether they can be provided through the claim.
If medication or dressings are prescribed, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery is often available. Ask whether pain medication affects your ability to drive or work around equipment.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- Your burn is serious, scars or limits movement.
- A valve or piece of equipment failed, which may involve a manufacturer or service company.
- Wound care or specialist visits are delayed.
- You were told to keep working with the burn.
- Your claim is denied or questioned.
- Lockout or depressurizing steps were skipped and you were told the equipment was safe.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow wound care instructions and watch for signs of infection your clinician describes. Burn wounds can take time to heal and may leave the skin tight or sensitive to heat. Tell your clinician if movement becomes stiff or the skin pulls when you stretch.
Ask about restrictions, like keeping the burn dry or avoiding heat. Share them with your employer. In a kitchen, that might mean cold prep or register work instead of the dish station; in a plant, it might mean work away from steam lines. Get restrictions in writing.
Ask what was fixed before returning to the equipment. Stay in touch with your adjuster. Some people feel jumpy around the equipment that burned them. That is common; tell your clinician. Keep copies of every work status note.
Questions to ask
- Has the equipment been locked out and inspected?
- Has this valve or machine leaked before?
- Which clinic should I go to?
- Doctor, how deep is the burn and what should I watch for?
- What tasks can I do while it heals?
- How are work-injury prescriptions and dressings handled?
- Attorney, could the equipment maker or a service company be involved?
- Were lockout and depressurizing steps followed before the equipment was opened?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do after a steam burn at work?
Cool the burn with cool running water, remove tight items nearby and cover it loosely. Call 911 for steam to the face, breathing trouble or large burns. Then report it in writing.
Are steam burns worse than they look?
They can be, because steam can carry a lot of heat into the skin. A clinician can evaluate the depth. Get it checked.
Is a steam burn at work covered by workers' comp?
It may be, depending on your state and the facts. Burns from work equipment are generally the kind of injury workers' comp addresses. Report it promptly.
What if the steam came from a faulty valve?
Note it in your report and ask that the equipment be inspected. Faulty equipment may raise questions about the maker or a service company. People often consult an attorney.
Should I pop a blister from a steam burn?
Do not pop blisters unless a clinician tells you to. Keep the area clean and covered. Follow your clinician's instructions.
Can I keep working with a steam burn?
It depends on the burn and your clinician's advice. Ask for restrictions in writing. Share them with your employer.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).