Occupational burns among migrant workers in South Korea: a qualitative study of challenges and coping strategies

Burns are a global public health concern, and migrant workers face a disproportionately high risk for occupational burns. We traced their trajectory from injury occurrence through treatment to return to work, to identify key public health issues along this pathway.

This qualitative study involved repeated semi-structured interviews with seven migrant workers in South Korea who had experienced occupational burns. Participants had diverse nationalities, occupations and legal statuses. Interpreters were employed when needed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, guided by a general inductive approach to identify recurring patterns and issues systematically.

Six themes were identified and organised into three phases: pre-burns, burns-phase and post-burns challenges. Pre-burns challenges included (1) insufficient safety management and the difficulty of asserting occupational safety. Burns-phase challenges encompassed (2) worsened burn severity associated with inadequate first aid and treatment delays. Post-burns challenges involved (3) psychological trauma compounded by systemic gaps in mental health care, (4) premature return to work due to insufficient compensation, (5) inability to return to pre-injury work and limited reemployment due to lasting impairments and a passive job-seeking process, and (6) concerns about legal status.

The interviewed migrant workers with occupational burns face interconnected challenges rooted in systemic failures. This study highlights the need for improved workplace safety, timely medical treatment, mental health support, and adequate compensation, as well as reforms of visa renewal regulations and employer-dependent employment systems. Above all, occupational and public health policies must explicitly recognise and address the distinct vulnerabilities of migrant workers in order to protect this population and promote health equity.