Next week (February 1-7, 2026) is National Burn Awareness Week, an event sponsored by the American Burn Association (ABA). The theme for this year’s event is “Burn Prevention Where You Live, Work, and Play – Preventing Burns in the Workplace” to highlight how small, proactive safety steps can prevent serious burn injuries where they happen most—at work.
The risk of burns exists in almost every workplace, from kitchens and offices to construction sites and manufacturing environments. In research laboratories, burns are also common and can result from handling both hot and cold materials, working with certain chemicals, and exposure to specific types of radiation. The most common sources of burns in a laboratory setting are discussed below.
Thermal—Hot
High temperature burns are caused by contact with heat sources which raise skin temperature and cause tissue cell death. Many lab experiments require heat and involve the use of open flames such as with Bunsen burners. There may also be exposure to hot surfaces from the use of certain equipment including heat guns, hot plates, ovens, and autoclaves.
Heat burns can occur from using these devices or handling hot items without the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including heat-resistant gloves. In addition to PPE, proper tools such as tongs when handling heated objects must be used, as any direct contact with hot surfaces should be avoided.
Thermal burns can also occur from lab fires or explosions, often caused by flammable chemicals that are not used or stored properly. Please see our National Burn Awareness Week 2024 blog for more information.
Thermal—Cold
Cold burns, also known as frostbite, cause tissue damage from exposure to extremely low temperatures. They can occur in a laboratory setting from contact with materials including dry ice, liquid nitrogen, and other cryogenics.
These substances often cause severe burns within seconds of direct contact and should never be handled with bare hands. Insulated/cryogenic gloves should always be worn. For eye and face protection from cryogenic liquids, a face shield should also be used.
Chemical
Chemical burns are a risk in most laboratory environments. Many common chemicals such as strong acids (e.g., sulfuric, nitric) and bases (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide) can cause severe eye and skin burns. In addition, many frequently used laboratory cleaning products and disinfectants, such as bleach, are corrosive and can cause serious burns.
To protect against chemical burns, eye protection (safety glasses or goggles, as appropriate) and gloves should always be used when working with corrosive materials. A face shield and/or chemical-resistant apron may also be needed, depending on the work being performed.
Radiation
Another consideration for laboratories is the presence of radiation sources. For instance, ultraviolet (UV) light emitted from some lab equipment (e.g., transilluminators, handheld UV lamps) is capable of producing serious eye and skin burns. Injury can occur after an exposure of only a few seconds.
Some pieces of equipment that house UV sources are equipped with interlocks or safety shields to protect the user. However, when exposure cannot be prevented, UV-rated safety glasses and face shields must be used.
In addition, the use of analytical x-ray equipment, including bone densitometers and cell irradiators, can result in exposure to radiation causing burns to the eyes, skin, and underlying tissue. It is essential that proper safety procedures are followed, including having effective shielding, avoiding the beam path, and never bypassing safety interlocks for any reason. As always, equipment-specific training is critical, and wearing proper PPE will help prevent employee exposure.
The American Burn Association has resources you can use at your organization to promote Burn Awareness and Prevention Week including fact sheets, posters, and social media posts. For assistance with identifying the appropriate PPE, establishing required safety protocols, and providing the necessary safety training to prevent burns at your workplace—contact us!
This blog was written by Beth Graham, Safety Partners’ Director of Quality, Research, and Training.
