Heat-induced burn
Meaning of heat-induced burn: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, heat-induced burn: (a) means an injury to the skin and external body covering tissues due to transfer of energy into the tissue with external contact with flame, or heat; and (b) includes burns of deep tissues and organs that are part of a multiple burn injury that includes injury to the skin and external body covering tissues; and (c) excludes: (i) freezing cold injury (frostbite); (ii) electrical contact or electrical flash burns (electrical injury); (iii) chemical burns; (iv) radiation burns due to ionising radiation; (v) isolated retinal burn of the eye; (vi) photocontact dermatitis; (vii) friction burns (abrasion); and (viii) isolated burn of the internal body organs such as the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and internal genitourinary tract.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 1 of 2024
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting heat-induced burn or death from heat-induced burn with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having exposure to a heat source sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat- induced burn;
- (2)having exposure to high intensity, focussed ultrasound sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat-induced burn;
- (3)having exposure to ultraviolet radiation sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat-induced burn;
Note: Some examples of potential ultraviolet radiation exposure include sun exposure, electric welding arc exposure, and PUVA therapy for skin conditions.
- (4)having exposure to solar radiation sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat- induced burn;
- (5)having laser applied, sufficient to cause at least erythema, at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat- induced burn;
- (6)having exposure to infrared radiation sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat-induced burn;
- (7)having exposure to radiofrequency or microwave radiation sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat-induced burn;
- (8)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for heat-induced burn before the clinical worsening of heat-induced burn;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(8) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 2 of 2024
8 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, heat-induced burn or death from heat-induced burn is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having exposure to a heat source sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat- induced burn;
- (2)having exposure to high intensity, focussed ultrasound sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat-induced burn;
- (3)having exposure to ultraviolet radiation sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat-induced burn;
Note: Some examples of potential ultraviolet radiation exposure include sun exposure, electric welding arc exposure, and PUVA therapy for skin conditions.
- (4)having exposure to solar radiation sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat- induced burn;
- (5)having laser applied, sufficient to cause at least erythema, at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat- induced burn;
- (6)having exposure to infrared radiation sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat-induced burn;
- (7)having exposure to radiofrequency or microwave radiation sufficient to cause at least erythema at the affected area of the body at the time of the clinical onset of heat-induced burn;
- (8)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for heat-induced burn before the clinical worsening of heat-induced burn;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(8) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
