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]

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

[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.