Restaurant kitchens run on speed and efficiency, and industrial-strength cleaning products are a central part of keeping them operational. But the same degreasers that cut through grease on commercial equipment can cause severe chemical burns when they contact skin, eyes, or the respiratory tract. For cooks and kitchen workers who suffer these injuries on the job, understanding how to file a workers’ compensation claim is critical to getting the medical care and wage replacement benefits they deserve.
Why Chemical Burns from Degreasers Are More Serious Than They Appear
Industrial degreasers often contain caustic alkaline compounds, petroleum distillates, or solvents that react aggressively with human tissue. A splash to the forearm during routine equipment cleaning can initially appear minor — some redness, irritation, a mild burning sensation — but the damage can continue to develop over hours as the chemical penetrates deeper layers of skin. Burns to the eyes or face carry even more severe consequences, including vision damage or scarring. Inhalation of degreaser fumes in poorly ventilated kitchen spaces can cause chemical pneumonitis or long-term respiratory damage.
Because the harm from a chemical exposure injury doesn’t always manifest immediately, some workers delay reporting or assume the injury will resolve on its own. That delay can complicate a workers’ comp claim significantly.
Steps to Take After a Degreaser Exposure Injury
The most important thing a kitchen worker can do after a chemical splash or exposure incident is to report it to a supervisor immediately and seek medical treatment without delay. Under California’s workers’ compensation system, the injury must be reported to the employer within 30 days, but prompt reporting strengthens the claim and reduces the risk of disputes over causation.
After reporting, the employer should provide a claim form (DWC-1). Completing and submitting this form opens the formal workers’ comp process. The insurer then has 90 days to accept or deny the claim, though injured workers are entitled to up to $10,000 in medical treatment during this period regardless of the claim’s status.
What the Claim Should Document
A strong chemical burn claim depends on thorough documentation. Medical records should clearly connect the diagnosis — first, second, or third-degree chemical burns, respiratory symptoms, or eye injury — to the specific workplace exposure event. It helps to identify the product involved, as safety data sheets (SDS) for industrial degreasers are typically required to be on hand in commercial kitchens. These documents can support the claim by confirming the chemical’s known hazards.
Witness statements from coworkers who saw the incident, or who can speak to the conditions in the kitchen — inadequate ventilation, insufficient personal protective equipment, poor handling protocols — can also be valuable. If the employer failed to provide proper protective gear, that context may support additional claims related to unsafe working conditions.
When a Claim Becomes Complicated
Workers’ comp insurers sometimes dispute chemical exposure injuries, particularly when the initial symptoms were mild and the worker did not seek immediate treatment. They may argue that the injury was pre-existing, occurred outside of work, or is not as severe as claimed. If a claim is denied or benefits are delayed, injured workers have the right to appeal through the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.
Speak with an Attorney About Your Injury
Restaurant workers injured by chemical exposure on the job deserve full compensation for their medical treatment, lost wages, and any lasting impairment. PLBH has been fighting for injured workers for decades. Call (800) 435-7542 to speak with an attorney about your workers’ comp claim.