How to Treat a Burn in the Workplace: First Aid Guide for London Staff

Burns happen in every kind of workplace. A hot drink spills in the office kitchen. A steam jet catches a chef’s wrist. A cleaner splashes a chemical. A technician touches a live wire. Most burns are minor and can be treated on the spot, but some are serious, and the first few minutes make a big difference to how well the skin heals.

In this guide, we explain how to treat a burn in the workplace in plain English, following the advice used in UK first aid and the topics covered on an Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course in London. You will see the steps, the things never to do, when to call 999 and how workplaces can prepare. If you want to see a real course page as you read, here is the Emergency First Aid at Work course in London.

Important Notes First

• This guide is general information, not training or medical advice. A trainer can show you the steps and check your technique.
• Your own safety comes first. Never put yourself at risk of being burnt or shocked while helping.
• If in doubt, get help. Call 999 for serious burns, or NHS 111 for advice.
• This guide is mainly for adults. Burns in babies and young children need extra care, and any burn in a young child should be checked by a medical professional.

The Short Answer

For most burns and scalds, remember three words: Cool, Call, Cover.

• Cool the burn under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes, as soon as possible, ideally within three hours of the injury.
• Call for help if the burn is serious, or if you are unsure: 999 in an emergency, or NHS 111 for advice.
• Cover the burn loosely with cling film or a clean, non fluffy dressing, and keep the person warm.

Never use ice, iced water, creams or greasy substances such as butter.

What Is the Difference Between a Burn and a Scald?

• A burn is caused by dry heat, such as flames, hot metal, hot equipment or contact with electricity or chemicals.
• A scald is caused by wet heat, such as hot water, steam, hot oil or hot drinks.

The first aid is almost the same for both. The important thing is to act quickly.

How Burns Happen at Work

In London workplaces, burns can come from many sources.

• Kitchens and cafés. Hot oil, steam, boiling water, ovens, grills and hot pans.
• Offices. Hot drinks, kettles, urns and hot surfaces.
• Workshops and light industry. Hot metal, welding, soldering irons and machinery.
• Cleaning and maintenance. Chemicals such as bleach, acids and strong cleaners.
• Electrical work. Contact with live wires or faulty equipment.
• Hospitality and events. Candles, heaters and hot food.
• Construction and trades. Hot bitumen, flames and torches.
• Fires. Clothing catching fire or exposure to flames.

Understanding where burns come from helps you plan first aid and prevention.

Step by Step: First Aid for a Burn or Scald

Step 1: Make the scene safe

Look around for dangers. Switch off the heat source if you safely can, for example a hot tap, a fryer or equipment. Do not put yourself at risk. If there are fumes, flames or live electricity, wait for the emergency services.

Step 2: Stop the burning

Get the person away from the heat source straight away.

• If clothing is on fire, get the person to stop, drop to the ground and roll, or smother the flames with a blanket or coat, or douse them with water. Do not put yourself at risk.
• If hot liquid has soaked into clothing, take care, because it holds the heat. Remove it carefully if you can, unless it is stuck to the skin.
• If it is an electrical burn, switch off the power first. Do not touch the person until it is safe.

Step 3: Cool the burn

This is the most important step.

1. Hold the burn under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes.
2. Start as soon as possible. Cooling is most effective in the first few minutes, and is still recommended up to about three hours after the injury.
3. If there is no running water, use cool bottled water or a wet towel, changing the towel regularly.
4. Do not use ice, iced water, very cold water or any creams or greasy substances such as butter. Ice can cause further damage to the skin.
5. Keep the person warm elsewhere, for example with a blanket on the rest of the body, because prolonged cooling can chill them. Take care not to rub the blanket against the burn.

Step 4: Remove clothing and jewellery near the burn

While you cool the burn, gently remove any clothing, rings, watches, bracelets and other jewellery from near the affected area, because swelling can follow. Do not remove anything that is stuck to the skin. Cut around it instead, and leave it for medical staff.

Step 5: Cover the burn

Once the burn has been cooled, cover it.

• Lay a layer of cling film over the burn, lengthways, without wrapping it around a limb. For a burn on the hand, a clean clear plastic bag can be used.
• If cling film is not available, use a clean, non fluffy dressing or cloth that will not stick.
• Do not use fluffy material such as cotton wool, because fibres can stick to the burn.
• Do not use adhesive dressings directly on the burn.

Step 6: Decide whether more help is needed

Use the checklist below to decide between self care, NHS 111, A&E or 999.

Step 7: Keep the person comfortable and monitor them

Stay with them. Keep them warm and calm. Watch for signs of shock, such as pale, cold, clammy skin, a fast pulse, dizziness or confusion. If the face or eyes are burnt, sit the person up as much as possible, which helps reduce swelling.

Step 8: Pain relief

Pain from burns can be significant. NHS advice says that painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to treat pain. As a workplace first aider, you should not give medicines. The person may choose to take their own, following the instructions on the packet. Do not give anything by mouth to someone who may need an urgent operation or has a serious burn, unless medical staff advise it.

Step 9: Record what happened

Note the time of the injury, the cause, how long you cooled the burn, what you covered it with and what help was arranged. This helps medical staff and your employer.

When to Get Urgent Medical Help

Use this guide to decide.

Call 999, or go to A&E, for:

• Large or deep burns, bigger than the person’s hand.
• Burns that cause white or charred skin, of any size.
• Burns on the face, neck, hands, feet, genitals or buttocks, or over a joint.
• All chemical burns and all electrical burns.
• Burns caused by fire or smoke, especially if the person inhaled smoke, has breathing problems or has burns around the mouth or nose.
• Burns in babies, young children or older people.
• Burns that completely encircle a limb.
• Any burn where the person is unwell, in shock, confused or short of breath.
• Burns where you are unsure how serious they are.

If the person is unresponsive or not breathing normally, treat it as a medical emergency: call 999 and follow the steps for CPR.

Call NHS 111, or see a GP, for:

• Smaller burns where you are unsure what to do.
• Burns that blister and are larger than a small coin, or are on parts of the body where they might affect movement.
• Signs of infection later on, such as increased redness, swelling, pus or fever.

Usually safe to manage at work and at home:

• Small, superficial burns, with redness and mild pain, no blisters or only small ones, on areas other than the face, hands, feet, genitals or joints.

NHS advice notes that small burns and scalds can often be treated at home and can take around two weeks to heal. Even then, a small burn can be more serious than it looks, and the amount of pain is not always a guide, because even a very serious burn may be relatively painless.

Special Situations

Chemical burns

Chemical burns can be very damaging and need urgent medical attention.

1. Protect yourself. Wear protective gloves if available, and avoid contact with the chemical.
2. Remove contaminated clothing and jewellery, if you can do so safely, without touching the chemical.
3. Rinse with plenty of cool running water. Keep rinsing for at least 20 minutes, and longer if the pain continues. Some guidance suggests rinsing for up to an hour for some chemicals. Follow the safety data sheet for the substance if one is available.
4. Do not try to neutralise the chemical. Use water only, unless the safety data sheet says otherwise.
5. Find out what the chemical was. Take the container, safety data sheet or label to hospital, or tell the ambulance crew.
6. Call 999 or go to A&E. All chemical burns need medical assessment.
7. If the chemical is in the eye, rinse the eye under running water with the affected eye lowest, keep the eyelids apart, and seek urgent medical help.

Workplaces that use chemicals should have safety data sheets and, where needed, eyewash stations.

Electrical burns

Electrical burns may look small but can cause serious damage inside the body.

1. Make it safe. Switch off the power at the source if you can do so safely, or unplug the equipment. Do not touch the person until the power is off. If it is a high voltage source, such as overhead power lines, stay well away and call 999.
2. Call 999. All electrical burns need urgent medical attention. If it is a high voltage source, tell the call handler.
3. Check the person. If they are unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED.
4. Cool any burns with running water for 20 minutes, if it is safe and does not delay other help, and cover them.
5. Keep them still and watch them, because heart rhythm problems can develop.

Steam burns and scalds in kitchens

Steam can cause burns to the skin and to the airway if inhaled. Cool the skin as above. If the person has breathing difficulty, hoarseness or burns around the mouth, call 999.

Burns to the eyes

If the eye has been burnt by heat, treat it as a serious injury. Do not apply pressure. Cover lightly with a clean, non fluffy dressing, sit the person up, and call 999 or go to A&E.

Burns from fire or smoke

Move the person to fresh air if it is safe. Check their breathing. Cool any burns, and call 999, because smoke inhalation can cause delayed breathing problems.

Burns in children

Burns in children need particular care, and any burn in a young child should be checked by a medical professional. Cool the burn and call for advice. Paediatric first aid training covers this in more detail.

What Not to Do

• Do not use ice, iced water or very cold water.
• Do not apply creams, lotions, ointments, butter, oil or toothpaste.
• Do not burst blisters. They protect the skin underneath.
• Do not remove anything stuck to the burn.
• Do not wrap cling film tightly around a limb. Lay it loosely, in a layer.
• Do not use fluffy cotton wool or adhesive dressings directly on the burn.
• Do not delay cooling to look for supplies. Start with running water straight away.
• Do not overcool the person. Keep them warm elsewhere.
• Do not give medicines. As a workplace first aider, let the person decide on their own.
• Do not ignore a burn that seems small but painless. Painless burns can be very deep.

After the First Aid: Aftercare

Once a minor burn has been cooled and covered, simple aftercare helps healing.

• Keep the burn clean and dry, and covered with a clean dressing.
• Follow medical advice about changing dressings.
• Watch for signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, pus, a bad smell, fever or worsening pain, and seek medical advice if they appear.
• Avoid picking blisters or peeling skin.
• Protect the area from the sun while it heals.
• Ask a pharmacist or GP if you need advice on pain relief or dressings.

Reporting and Recording at Work

After an incident, record it properly.

• The accident book or record. Note the date, time, place, what happened, who was involved, the first aid given and what happened next.
• Report to your employer. They should know about any burn injury.
• Serious injuries may need reporting to the authorities. Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, often called RIDDOR, certain serious injuries must be reported, and your employer decides what is needed.
• Learn from it. Employers should look at what caused the burn and how to prevent it happening again.
• Support the person. Burns can be painful and upsetting, and may need time off or support.

What Workplaces Should Have Ready

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate first aid for their employees. For burns, preparation helps.

• Trained first aiders on every shift. As a starting point for low hazard workplaces, HSE suggests at least one appointed person for fewer than 25 employees, at least one first aider trained in Emergency First Aid at Work for 25 to 50 employees, and at least one first aider trained in First Aid at Work for every 100 employees above that, or part of 100. Higher hazard workplaces need more. A first aid needs assessment gives the best answer.
• Access to cool running water. Make sure first aiders know where the nearest sink or shower is, especially in kitchens and workshops.
• Cling film and non fluffy dressings. Where burns are a risk, such as kitchens, keep them in the first aid kit. The contents of a first aid kit depend on your needs assessment.
• Eyewash stations. Where chemicals are used.
• Safety data sheets. Easy to reach for any chemicals on site.
• Clear procedures. Who calls 999, who stays with the casualty, who meets the ambulance.
• Prevention. Safe handling of hot liquids, guards on hot equipment, good training, protective clothing and good housekeeping.
• Regular refreshers. HSE strongly recommends them, although they are not a legal requirement.

How an EFAW Course Covers Burns

On an Emergency First Aid at Work course, you learn how to treat minor injuries, including small burns and scalds, as part of the practical content. You practise the steps, learn when a burn is too serious for first aid alone and discuss real workplace situations with the trainer. The longer First Aid at Work course covers burns in more detail, among a wider range of injuries and illnesses.

On the day, you will also learn how to assess an incident safely, give adult CPR, use an AED, place someone in the recovery position, help a choking adult, control serious bleeding and manage shock. The course is a one day, regulated Level 3 qualification, and HSE guidance says it should include at least six hours of training time, not counting breaks. The certificate is valid for three years.

Choosing a Good Course in London

Look for:

• A regulated Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) from a recognised awarding organisation.
• At least six hours of training time, not counting breaks.
• Practical training and in person assessment. HSE guidance expects this for a workplace first aider, so online only courses are generally not suitable.
• Qualified, experienced trainers.
• Small classes. Many awarding organisations set a maximum of around 12 learners per trainer.
• A clear certificate and a clear total price.

HSE stopped approving first aid training providers in 2013, so be cautious of any claim that a course is HSE approved. In London in 2026, public prices for a one day course commonly range from about £65 to £150 per person. One provider page, linked above, lists £89 per person for classroom training and £75 per person for groups of five or more, at the time of writing in October 2026. Prices change, so always confirm. You can review the Emergency First Aid at Work training page to see how one provider presents its course, price and booking options.

Why London Workplaces Should Be Ready

London has a huge number of kitchens, cafés, restaurants, workshops and busy offices, and many workplaces are small, tightly packed and spread over several floors. Roads and public transport can be crowded, so ambulances may take time to arrive, and the first minutes of cooling can make a real difference to how a burn heals. There is also a very large number of training providers and dates in London, and many deliver training at your workplace, which is a practical way to teach a whole team first aid for burns together.

Final Thoughts

So, how do you treat a burn in the workplace? Remember Cool, Call, Cover. Cool the burn under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes, remove clothing and jewellery near the burn unless it is stuck, cover it loosely with cling film or a clean non fluffy dressing, keep the person warm and get medical help if the burn is large, deep, on a sensitive area, chemical, electrical or you are unsure. Never use ice, creams or butter, and do not burst blisters.

The steps are simple, but practice helps you act confidently. When you are ready to learn with a trainer, take a look at the Emergency First Aid at Work course in London and choose a date that suits you.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you treat a burn at work?

Cool the burn under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes, remove clothing and jewellery near it unless stuck, cover it loosely with cling film or a clean non fluffy dressing and keep the person warm. Get medical help if the burn is large, deep, on a sensitive area, chemical or electrical.

2. How long should you cool a burn?

NHS advice is to cool a burn or scald under cool running water for 20 minutes, as soon as possible, ideally within three hours of the injury. If no running water is available, use cool bottled water or a wet towel.

3. Should you put ice or cream on a burn?

No. Do not use ice, iced water, creams, ointments or greasy substances such as butter. Ice can damage the skin further, and creams can trap heat and increase the risk of infection.

4. Should you burst a blister from a burn?

No. Blisters protect the skin underneath from infection. Leave them alone, and cover the burn loosely. If a blister is large or on a sensitive area, seek medical advice.

5. How do you cover a burn?

After cooling, lay a layer of cling film lengthways over the burn, without wrapping it around a limb, or use a clean, non fluffy dressing. For a burn on the hand, a clean clear plastic bag can be used. Do not use fluffy cotton wool or adhesive dressings directly on the burn.

6. When should I call 999 for a burn?

Call 999 or go to A&E for burns bigger than the person’s hand, deep burns, burns with white or charred skin, burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals or over joints, all chemical and electrical burns, burns from fire with smoke inhalation, and burns in babies, children or older people.

7. How do you treat a chemical burn?

Protect yourself, remove contaminated clothing safely, rinse with plenty of cool running water for at least 20 minutes, follow the safety data sheet if available, find out what the chemical was and call 999 or go to A&E. All chemical burns need medical assessment.

8. How do you treat an electrical burn?

Switch off the power if it is safe, do not touch the person until it is off, call 999, check their breathing and start CPR if needed. All electrical burns need urgent medical attention, because they can cause damage inside the body.

9. Does an EFAW course cover burns?

Yes. An Emergency First Aid at Work course covers treating minor injuries, including small burns and scalds, and when to get more help. The longer First Aid at Work course covers burns in more detail. EFAW is a one day regulated Level 3 qualification with at least six hours of training time.

10. Where can I learn first aid for burns in London?

You can book an Emergency First Aid at Work course through a training provider that offers the regulated qualification, either as a public course or as training at your workplace. Check the practical content, the awarding organisation, the class size and the total price before you book