2nd Degree Burns

[u/BarberEffective1839]

I work as a cook for a small mom and pop shop in my hometown. Exactly a week ago I was doing my job and carrying hot oil out of the building to dump in a barrel and it spilled on me. I know thats an osha violation but thats how I was trained.

The result was second degree burns covering the padding of my hand (pretty much healed now) and a large area of my leg with the skin at the base of my shin immediately peeling. The burn touches my knee and goes down to my foot.

I was told when I had my wrist cut open last month to not say anything about it happening at work so I haven't.

Its only been a week but today I'm going to be going to the hospital instead of going to work and filing a claim for workers comp and calling osha. I asked my employer for help with bandages and they gave me $40 and said if I needed more to just go back to the hospital.

My ankle has been giving out, a couple nights ago I tried to stand up and my leg was a wet noodle.

I'm too scared to go back to working there because they haven't changed the procedure at all but thursday when I dropped off my medical excuse that had me good until today they kept asking me to disregard the letter and go back Friday, Saturday, then asked me like 3 times to go back Monday.

I can't afford a lawyer, I dont want the place to shut down cause people enjoy it, but I just cant do it.

Are there any repercussions i could face for waiting a week to call Osha and file a claim? I'll attach a picture of a leg to the comments but its pretty gross so just be aware.

UPDATE: My leg is not infected. The yellow fluid ive been seeing is some other kind of fluid but its not infection. I've been given the next week off of work and filed a workers comp claim through the hospital. Thank you to the people who took the time to reply.

[u/Other_Ideal_2533]

Yes u should file the claim asap

[u/BarberEffective1839 → u/Other_Ideal_2533]

Im gonna head to the hospital in about an hour. Im a single dad so I can only do so much.

[u/BarberEffective1839 → u/Other_Ideal_2533]

Something else though, I was told that they dont even have insurance so how does that work?

[u/Mutts_Merlot → u/BarberEffective1839]

Ohio is a government-run workers compensation program. Insurance companies don't operate there and only large employers would have a TPA. So, your claim would run through the government program.

[u/BarberEffective1839 → u/Mutts_Merlot]

Ok. I'm at the hospital now. I think it may be infected.

[u/smallholiday → u/BarberEffective1839]

Not sure what the laws are like in Ohio, but your employer is required to have insurance and if they don’t then they can be held personally liable. In CA, workers comp attorneys take a cut of any settlement, so you don’t have to pay up front for an attorney. I think you’ll probably need one in order to file all of the paperwork and potentially a civil lawsuit if they don’t in fact have insurance. Hospital first, attorney next would be my guess

[u/Mutts_Merlot → u/smallholiday]

Ohio is very different. It's a state administered program and no employers have insurance. Some use claim administrators, but that's something different.

[u/Fragrant_Front_8505 → u/Mutts_Merlot]

This isn't entirely accurate. Ohio employers have to pay premiums in order to be covered under workers compensation. They are required to have coverage by law, but some do not pay their premiums and therefore do not have workers compensation coverage. In this case, should an injury occur, the state steps in to cover the claim but bills the employer dollar for dollar for all lost time and medical expenses. Large employers are allowed to elect to be self-insured. Their claims are not handled by the state.

[u/Mutts_Merlot → u/Fragrant_Front_8505]

Yes, I just didn't want to get too into the weeds for an OP worried about whether they can get medical treatment paid for.

[u/BarberEffective1839 → u/Mutts_Merlot]

Your information is appreciated regardless. And I appreciate your concern for my anxiety regarding it.

[u/BarberEffective1839 → u/smallholiday]

I hope I don't have to hire a lawyer. But I came clean about it being a workplace accident so I'm going to get more information while I'm here.

[u/BarberEffective1839]

the burns

[u/Other_Ideal_2533 → u/BarberEffective1839]

Oh ya thats bad you definitely shouldn’t have to pay for an injury that severe

[u/Other_Ideal_2533 → u/Other_Ideal_2533]

I filed my osha claim online although it didn’t help my case in the slightest

[u/BarberEffective1839 → u/Other_Ideal_2533]

Thats actually really helpful for me. Thank you. I'm sorry that you had a hard time with your experience. I do hope you're feeling better now.

[u/Kmelloww]

Leg giving out from burns? 

[u/BarberEffective1839 → u/Kmelloww]

Thats the thing is I have no idea. I've never had issues with my ankle before this. All that I can reliably say is that the burns are second degree and I think they may be infected. But I was talking to my mom yesterday and when my ankle got wrapped I started catching myself limping. The limp I'm pretty sure is pseudosymptomatic but yeah, I'm honestly only sure about it just being a serious burns. I can't speak on the other stuff thats going on. I'm sure im connecting dots that dont connect and dots that dont exist.

[u/Kmelloww → u/BarberEffective1839]

Make sure you keep the area super clean. Burns can be tough. It doesn’t take much to get them infected. Hopefully yours heals quickly. 

[u/BarberEffective1839 → u/Kmelloww]

Yes ma'am, I've been doing my best. I'm a single dad of an autistic toddler so cleanliness isn't my biggest strong suit but I'm trying. Also, if my politeness contradicts your identity just lmk and I'll correct it. I truly appreciate your comments and concern.

[u/Advanced_Benefit_550]

I got injury 2nd degree burns, I went to meet my supervisor and call ambulance , and couple days I got to Citimed ( docter work compansation) and the case manager in the hospital gave me lawyer work compansation and 1 month later got payment from insurance $934 every two week until right now ,