How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 22 severe cases of acute allergic and irritant dermatitis between 2015 and 2025. These incidents frequently impact your hands, arms, and face, often leaving you unable to perform basic manual tasks during your recovery.
These reactions are particularly consequential because they often involve systemic symptoms like swelling and infection that require you to be hospitalized. Beyond the immediate pain, you may face long-term sensitivity or permanent skin damage that limits your ability to return to your previous role.
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Free Benefits ReviewWhat causes Allergic and Irritant Dermatitis
Exposure to harmful substances through exposed tissue accounts for 55% of these severe cases. This typically occurs when you handle corrosive acids or bases without adequate personal protective equipment, or when you encounter stinging insects and venomous animals while performing outdoor tasks.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exposure to harmful substance through exposed tissue | 12 |
| 2 | Bitten or stung by animal | 6 |
| 3 | Exposure to harmful substances— unspecified | 2 |
| 4 | Inhalation of harmful substance | 1 |
| 5 | Exposure to harmful substance—multiple routes of exposure | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 23% of these severe cases, as you frequently handle industrial chemicals and pickling agents. Construction and administrative services also see high rates of injury, often due to environmental hazards like insect stings or contact with cleaning agents that trigger acute allergic and irritant dermatitis.
Real cases like yours
These reports frequently involve sudden exposure to chemical agents or animal stings that lead to immediate hospitalization. Common themes include inadequate protective gear during chemical handling and unexpected encounters with wildlife in the field. If your injury occurred under similar circumstances, an attorney can help you evaluate the specific safety failures involved in your case.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CT | Education | "An employee was conducting an experiment with a rat. The rat bit a finger (first digit) on the employee's left hand that resulted in swelling and pain due to an infection. The employee was hospitalized for treatment." | |
| 2025 | IL | Information | "An employee was putting on gloves when an insect stung his right middle finger. He developed swelling and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was using metal pickling gel when it came into contact with their skin. The employee suffered an allergic reaction to the chemical, which caused burning and skin yellowing. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2024 | AL | Professional Services | "An employee was performing survey work in a field when he came into contact with a venomous animal. The employee sustained a puncture wound and swelling in his left hand and arm. " | |
| 2024 | FL | Agriculture | "An employee was engaged in landscaping activities and was stung by about 300 bees. The employee was hospitalized with pain and swelling over their face, neck, back, arms, and hands." | |
| 2024 | AL | Administrative Services | "An employee was applying pesticide to a crawl space when a spider bit his left leg. The employee suffered an infection at the location of the bite on his right thigh and he was hospitalized." | |
| 2024 | AR | Agriculture | "An employee was spraying vegetation around power lines where the grass was tall. He was bitten on the back of his knee by a snake. The employee was hospitalized with swelling, pain, and discoloration." | |
| 2022 | IL | Manufacturing | "On September 8, 2022, an employee was working with cinnamic aldehyde and noticed his arms had some irritation after leaving work for the night. After showering, the irritation became more intense and a rash appeared. The employee was hospitalized for a rash on both arms between the elbow and the wrist." | |
| 2022 | IL | Retail Trade | "On May 11, 2022, an employee had an allergic reaction due to a customer spraying perfume in the changing room. The employee broke out in hives and was hospitalized." | |
| 2021 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee had an allergic reaction to the apron they wore. The employee developed a neck rash and was hospitalized." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.