Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue · Third or fourth degree chemical burns and corrosions
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Old Bridge Chemicals, Inc., 554 Waterworks Road, OLD BRIDGE, NEW JERSEY 08857
on — Third or fourth degree chemical burns and corrosions, affecting the back, including spine, spinal cord, unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was standing between two digesters drawing a sample from one digester when the hot copper sulfate solution erupted from the other digester and splashed onto the employee's back. The employee sustained third degree burns on their back.
HospitalizedBack, including spine, spinal cord, unspecifiedChemicals, n.e.c.
More severe injuries at Old Bridge Chemicals, Inc.
On 7/19/17, an employee was cleaning near a zinc sulfate bagging operation when the employee tripped. The employee's right hand then entered the rotary air valve and contacted rotating parts, amputating the index fingertip.
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 325180)
An employee was on a ladder disconnecting a 1-inch hose, known to have last carried acrylic acid that had been drained. When the hose was disconnected, residual acid dripped onto the employee's shoulder/arm area, causing a second-degree chemical burn.
On October 1, 2025, at approximately 9:50 p.m., an employee was removing a sack of debris from a dust collector when four of his right-hand fingers were severed by a rotary valve. The employee was hospitalized and underwent surgery to amputate the four fingers at the knuckle.
An employee was unloading and depressurizing a railcar filled with sulfuric acid. The employee turned the valve to disconnect the hose when sulfuric acid released and sprayed upward via the standpipe. The employee was hospitalized burns.
On May 8, 2025, an employee developed a cough while cleaning up chemical sewage from the floor. He was hospitalized, having suffered an allergic reaction to chemical product vapors.
An employee was loading a magazine of tubes into a machine to fill. As they raised the door into position, the door dropped onto the employee's right hand and amputated their right index fingertip at the nailbed.
An employee was installing fence posts when they stepped into a recently dug hole that was not visible due to rainfall. The employee's leg was fractured.
An employee assisted in cleaning material from a conveyor pit. After the pit was cleaned, the employee proceeded to replace metal safety plates to ensure other employees did not fall into the pit. While replacing one of the last plates, the employee mis-stepped and fell approximately 5 feet into the pit. The employee was hospitalized with back/side bruising, elbow bruising, bone bruises, and/or fractured ribs.
An employee was walking on the sidewalk. When they stepped off the curb, they fell to the ground, resulting in fractures to their tibia, fibula, and a metatarsal.