Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue · Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Elemental Scientific, Inc, 7277 World Communications Dr, OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68122
on — Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified, affecting the face, unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was removing a chemical mixture from a cooler. A chemical reaction occurred and the employee was sprayed in the face with nitric acid.
On November 27, 2023, an employee was emptying a 2-inch product line that transports sodium hydroxide liquid from a rail car to a 275-gallon tote tank. The nozzle came out of the tote and sprayed sodium hydroxide onto the employee's face. The employee was hospitalized with chemical burns to their face, mouth, and neck.
An employee was working with sulfuric acid as part of the production process. While transferring the chemical from a large container to a smaller container, it splashed on his body and hand, resulting in a chemical burn.
An employee knelt in wet concrete while performing work as a concrete finisher and sustained a chemical burn to the right shin. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
An employee was using a 5-gallon bucket to unload acid product from a tank. Residual product leaked into the containment area, causing the employee to sustain first- and second-degree burns to the chest, as well as third-degree burns to the arms.
An employee was transferring an alkaline cleaning chemical from a bulk container into 1-gallon containers. The employee lifted a gallon container by its label tag. The tag broke causing the container to fall approximately 14-18 inches. The container struck the ground and the contents splashed onto the employee causing chemical burns to their eyes.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 334516)
An employee was boarding a barge. As he stepped onto the gangway, it shifted and the handrail he was using collapsed, causing him to fall and strike his right knee against the gangway. His patellar tendon was torn.
An employee was inspecting the tension of a belt on the motor of a labeler machine when his right index finger got caught in a pulley. The employee's fingertip was amputated.
An employee was feeding stainless steel (2 x 6) sheet metal into a shear machine inside the warehouse. The pressure plate on the shear machine crushed the employee's right index fingertip. The employee sustained an amputation of the fingertip pad.
An employee was unpackaging fuel samples onto a table when they started having an allergic reaction resulting in facial swelling, red/itchy skin, hives, and respiratory symptoms. They were hospitalized.
An employee was advancing a sheet of foil through the knife on a pouch packaging machine when the knife cut his left index finger. The employee sustained an approximately 4-millimeter fingertip amputation.
An employee was stacking concrete blocks for a concrete bunker. As a block was swinging into place, the employee's left leg was pinched between two blocks, resulting in injuries to his left heel and lower leg.
An employee was climbing a ladder to inspect a vent in a restaurant dining area. The ladder slid out on the floor and the employee fell approximately 12 feet onto the ladder and the floor. He was hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder and a back injury.
An employee was filtering a fryer with a fryer filter machine. After going around the corner and then returning to the fryers, the employee stepped into the filter machine. The hot oil burned the employee's right ankle, and the employee was hospitalized.
An employee was cleaning out corn from a grain bin. The sweep auger in the bin was activated and caught his trouser leg. His leg was pulled into the auger, which injured his calf and caused leg fractures and lacerations.