Employees with Burn Injuries 

Accommodation and Compliance Series
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Preface

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service of the Office of Disability 

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Updated 03/22/10.
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JAN’S ACCOMMODATION AND COMPLIANCE SERIES

Introduction

JAN’s Accommodation and Compliance Series is designed to help employers determine 

effective accommodations and comply with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act 

(ADA). Each publication in the series addresses a specific medical condition and 

provides information about the condition, ADA information, accommodation ideas, and 

resources for additional information. 

The Accommodation and Compliance Series is a starting point in the accommodation 

process and may not address every situation. Accommodations should be made on a 

case by case basis, considering each employee’s individual limitations and 

accommodation needs. Employers are encouraged to contact JAN to discuss specific 

situations in more detail.

For information on assistive technology and other accommodation ideas, visit JAN's 

Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) at http://askjan.org/soar.

Information about Burn Injuries

How prevalent are burn injuries?

Burns are one of the most common household injuries. It is estimated that about 1.25 

million burn injuries occur each year in the United States. Due to burn prevention and 

education programs, this rate has actually dropped by 50% in the last 30 years. Also, 

because of the advances in treatment of burns an individual is now much more likely to 

survive a serious burn injury. Since more individuals are surviving even the most severe 

of burn injuries, especially those burned as children, there are more burn survivors in 

the workplace (American Burn Association, 2000). 

What causes burn injuries and how are they classified? 

Burns are usually caused by heat (thermal burns), such as fire, or hot liquids. Burns can 

also be caused by chemicals and radiation such as sun light and electricity (Merck, 

2003).

Burns are classified in three ways: first, second and third degree:

• First degree burns are the most common type of burn injury. This involves only 

the top layer of skin and is characterized by pain, redness, and swelling. Sunburn 

is a typical first degree burn (Merck, 2003).

• Second degree burns involve the first and second layer of skin. They are 

characterized by blistering of the skin, redness, and swelling and are very painful 

(Merck, 2003).
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• Third degree burns are the most severe and often result in extensive scarring. 

They can require a long recovery time and may result in severe limitations 

(Merck, 2003).

Burn Injuries and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Are burn injuries a disability under the ADA?

The ADA does not contain a list of medical conditions that constitute disabilities. 

Instead, the ADA has a general definition of disability that each person must meet 

(EEOC, 1992). Therefore, some people with burn injuries will have a disability under the 

ADA and some will not. 

A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially 

limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as 

having such an impairment (EEOC, 1992). For more information about how to 

determine whether a person has a disability under the ADA, visit 

http://askjan.org/corner/vol02iss04.htm.
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Accommodating Employees with Burn Injuries

(Note: People with burn injuries may develop some of the limitations discussed below, 

but seldom develop all of them. Also, the degree of limitation will vary among 

individuals. Be aware that not all people with burn injuries will need accommodations to 

perform their jobs and many others may only need a few accommodations. The 

following is only a sample of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation 

solutions may exist.)

Questions to Consider:

1. What limitations is the employee with a burn injury experiencing?

2. How do these limitations affect the employee and the employee’s job performance?

3. What specific job tasks are problematic as a result of these limitations?

4. What accommodations are available to reduce or eliminate these problems? Are all 

possible resources being used to determine possible accommodations?

5. Has the employee with a burn injury been consulted regarding possible 

accommodations?

6. Once accommodations are in place, would it be useful to meet with the employee 

with a burn injury to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations and to 

determine whether additional accommodations are needed?

7. Do supervisory personnel and employees need training regarding burn injuries?

Accommodation Ideas:

Gross Motor Impairment: 

• Modify the work-site to make it accessible

• Provide parking close to the work-site

• Provide an accessible entrance

• Install automatic door openers

• Provide an accessible restroom and break room

• Provide an accessible route of travel to other work areas used by the employee 

• Modify the workstation to make it accessible

• Adjust desk height if wheelchair or scooter is used

• Make sure materials and equipment are within reach range

• Move workstation close to other work areas, office equipment, and break rooms

• Provide material lifts

• Provide stand/lean stools

• Provide anti-fatigue matting
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Fine Motor Impairment: 

• Implement ergonomic workstation design 

• Provide alternative computer access

• Provide alternative telephone access

• Provide arm supports 

• Provide writing and grip aids

• Provide a page turner and a book holder

• Provide a note taker

• Provide anti-vibration gloves

• Provide tool balancers

Heat Sensitivity: 

• Reduce work-site temperature

• Use cool vest or other cooling clothing

• Use fan/air-conditioner at the workstation

• Allow flexible scheduling and flexible use of leave time

• Allow work from home during hot weather

Cold Sensitivity:

• Increase work-site temperature

• Use portable space heaters

• Dress in layers using thermal material or fleece

• Wearing gloves 

• Provide heated clothing

• Allow work from home during cold weather

Working Effectively with Supervisors: 

• Provide positive praise and reinforcement

• Provide written job instructions

• Develop written work agreements that include the agreed upon accommodations

• Communicate performance standards and the consequences of not them

• Allow for open communication to managers and supervisors

• Establish written long term and short term goals

• Develop strategies to deal with problems before they arise

• Develop a procedure to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodation

Interacting with Coworkers:

• Educate all employees on their rights to accommodations

• Provide sensitivity training to coworkers and supervisors
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• Do not mandate that employees attend work-related social functions

• Encourage all employees to move non-work related conversations out of work 

areas

Difficulty Handling Stress and Emotions: 

• Provide praise and positive reinforcement 

• Refer to counseling and employee assistance programs

• Allow telephone calls during work hours to doctors and others for needed support 

• Allow the presence of a support animal

• Allow the employee to take breaks as needed

Sleep Disorder:

• Allow flexible work hours

• Allow frequent breaks 

• Allow work from home

Situations and Solutions:

A drafting engineer has third degree burns to 80% of his body. He is limited in sitting for 

extended periods. JAN provided him information on sit/stand work stations.

A school teacher with burn injuries to both hands was having trouble writing, particularly 

when she has to reach overhead to write on the chalkboard. JAN provided information 

on assistive writing aids such as pen/pencil grips and devices to make holding a 

pen/pencil easier. A desktop tablet that projected onto a screen in front of the 

classroom allowed her to do traditional board writing using a pen/tablet computer 

system.

A person employed as a ground maintenance laborer was recovering from severe burns 

of his head, neck, and back. His job required him to work outside during most of the 

day. Due to the scars he was unable to sweat to cool his body temperature and he was 

concerned about getting sunburned. His employer provided him with a hat, long sleeved 

light cotton shirts and a cool vest. He was given a portable beach umbrella to provide 

him shade and he was encouraged to take breaks as often as he needed them. The 

employer also changed his schedule to an earlier start time so that he could work 

mainly during the morning hours. 

A consultant employed by a federal agency has severe limitations in fine motor 

movements as a result of burns to her hands. She has difficulty writing and typing. Her 

job requires her to use a computer to enter data and maintain files. An articulating 

keyboard tray was added to her desk, allowing her to bring the keyboard closer to her 

body. She was also given a split keyboard and a trackball mouse that allows her to use 

her fingers to move the curser and type, eliminating the need for her to use her thumbs. 

The individual combined these devices with speech recognition.
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Resources

Job Accommodation Network

West Virginia University

PO Box 6080 

Morgantown, WV 26506-6080

Toll Free: (800)526-7234

TTY: (877)781-9403

Fax: (304)293-5407

jan@askjan.org

http://askjan.org

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service that provides 

information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and 

the employability of people with disabilities. 

Office of Disability Employment Policy

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-1303

Washington, DC 20210

Toll Free: (866)633-7365

TTY: (877)889-5627

Fax: (202)693-7888

http://www.dol.gov/odep/

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is an agency within the U.S. 

Department of Labor. ODEP provides national leadership to increase employment 

opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities while striving to eliminate barriers to 

employment. 

Alberta Burn Rehabilitation Society

136 - 6325 Gateway Boulevard

Edmonton, AB T6H5H-6

Direct: (780)433-3273

Fax: (780)433-8572

abrs@accessweb.com

http://www.burnrehab.com

The Alberta Burn Rehabilitation Society is dedicated to the support and rehabilitation of 

burn survivors and their families, and to preventing burn injuries through education and 

awareness. 
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American Burn Association

625 North Michigan Ave

Suite 2550

Chicago, IL 60611

Direct: (312)642-9260

Fax: (312)642-9130

info@ameriburn.org

http://www.ameriburn.org

Dedicated to promoting and supporting burn-related research, education, care, 

rehabilitation, and prevention.

Burn Survivor Resource Center

Toll Free: (800)669-7700

http://www.burnsurvivor.com

One stop resource center to ensure professional information is made available to the 

burn survivor, to the many people who are searching for critical information on behalf of 

a loved one, to the family, and to the professionals. 

Burn Survivors Throughout The World, Inc.

16193 Lone Star Ranch Drive #102 

Conroe, TX 77302

Toll Free: (866)712-6164

Direct: (936)647-2256

info@burnsurvivorsttw.org

http://www.burnsurvivorsttw.org/home.html

BSTTW offers membership, a peer support team, education, advocacy, medical 

referrals, a free medical treatment program, medical equipment, legal referrals, healing 

weekends, public awareness for the burn survivor community and the public worldwide. 

Flicker of Hope Foundation

8624 Janet Lane

Vienna, VA 22180

Direct: (703)698-1626

Fax: (703)698-6225

info@flickerofhope.org

http://www.flickerofhope.org/

FHF was founded with the purpose of providing emotional and practical support for burn 

survivors and their families. This support is presented in the form of counseling, 

scholarship opportunities, and the sharing of useful information. 
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Foundation for Burns and Trauma, Inc.

PO Box 1329

Phoenix, AZ 85001

Direct: (602)230-2041

Fax: (602)230-2157

http://www.azburn.com 

Assisting burn victims and their families in becoming burn survivors, through different 

programs, rehabilitation, treatment, and research.

International Society for Burn Injuries 

Elisabeth Greenfield, RN, MSN

2172 US Highway 181 South

Floresville, TX 78114

http://www.worldburn.org/

One of the main aims of our society is to disseminate knowledge and stimulate 

prevention in the field of burns.

Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, Inc.

1835 R W Berends Dr. SW

Grand Rapids, MI 49519-4955

Toll Free: (800)888-2876

Direct: (616)458-2773

Fax: (616)458-2831

info@phoenix-society.org

http://www.phoenix-society.org

Information and resources for burn survivors.

Shriners Hospitals for Children

2900 Rocky Point Dr.

Tampa, FL 33607

Toll Free: (800)237-5055

Direct: (813)281-0300

http://www.shrinershq.org/

Network of 22 hospitals that provide expert, no-cost orthopedic and burn care to 

children under 18.
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References

American Burn Association. (2000). Burn incidence and treatment in the US: 2000 fact 

sheet. Retrieved September 4, 2008, from 

http://www.ssw.uga.edu/Images/1108657422_burn%20incidence%20and%20tre

atment%20in%20the%20us.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (1992). A technical assistance manual on 

the employment provisions (title I) of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Retrieved December 14, 2005, from http://askjan.org/links/ADAtam1.html

Merck & Co, Inc. (2003). Burns. In The Merck manual home edition: Online medical 

library (1st ed., sec. 24, chap. 289). Retrieved December 21, 2005, from 

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec24/ch289/ch289a.html#sb289_1
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This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a 

contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment 

Policy (DOL079RP20426). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the 

position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, 

commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of 

Labor.