How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 21 severe cases of skin and subcutaneous tissue infections over the last decade. These injuries frequently affect your lower legs and knees, often requiring significant medical intervention and hospitalization.
These infections are particularly consequential because they can lead to systemic health complications and long-term functional limitations. When a minor workplace wound becomes infected, it can rapidly impact your ability to perform physical tasks, potentially leading to extended periods of lost wages and permanent tissue damage.
What causes Skin and Tissue Infections
Exposure to harmful substances through exposed tissue accounts for 73% of these severe cases. This typically occurs when chemicals or infectious agents enter a pre-existing cut or abrasion, or when prolonged contact with contaminated surfaces leads to a rapid onset of infection.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exposure to harmful substance through exposed tissue | 11 |
| 2 | Exposure to harmful substances— unspecified | 2 |
| 3 | Other fall to lower level | 1 |
| 4 | Kneeling, crawling | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 33% of these severe infections, where you are frequently exposed to coolant fluids and industrial chemicals. These substances can easily penetrate your skin through minor abrasions, turning routine tasks into serious medical emergencies that require immediate hospital care.
Real cases like yours
These incidents often stem from chemical splashes during routine maintenance or prolonged physical contact with contaminated environments that compromise your skin integrity. If your injury resulted from a similar workplace exposure or an infection that developed after a minor site accident, an attorney can help you review the specific circumstances of your case.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | TX | Administrative Services | "On September 16, 2024, an employee was filling a mop bucket from a dispenser with a solution of water and cleaning chemicals when some of the solution splashed onto a wound on his foot and it became swollen. The employee was hospitalized with an infection to the foot." | |
| 2022 | MA | Manufacturing | "An employee bumped his elbow and sustained a bacterial infection." | |
| 2021 | NJ | Health Care | "An employee who was caring for patients received a bacterial infection." | |
| 2021 | AL | Manufacturing | "An employee was operating a lathe when coolant got onto his face. He was hospitalized, suffering from a bacterial infection." | |
| 2021 | FL | Construction | "On June 28, 2021, an employee spent a long period kneeling while performing plumbing services at a commercial establishment. His left knee swelled and he was hospitalized, suffering from a bacterial infection." | |
| 2019 | RI | Administrative Services | "An employee had been doing lawn care work when he felt pain in his abdomen that radiated to his hip and right leg. He developed a rash and was hospitalized, suffering from cellulitis." | |
| 2019 | OH | Manufacturing | "On July 19, 2019, wet cement got on an employee's elbow. The employee developed cellulitis on the elbow and was hospitalized." | |
| 2019 | MD | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee had been wearing a training suit while instructing law enforcement trainees in personal defense. Early the following morning, he woke with a fever and a severe headache, requiring hospitalization for a staph infection in his leg." | |
| 2019 | GA | Public Administration | "An instructor contracted MRSA through an abrasion on his right knee from bacteria on the padded mats used by personnel during training." | |
| 2018 | WI | Manufacturing | "An employee's knee buckled while they were walking down stairs. The employee was hospitalized for an infection." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if your infection arose out of and in the course of your employment, it is generally compensable. You must demonstrate that the injury or exposure occurred on the job, which often requires medical documentation linking the infection to a specific workplace event. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to support your claim.
You should immediately report the incident to your supervisor and seek medical attention to document the exposure. Ensure that the incident report specifically mentions the chemical involved and the location of the wound, as this documentation is critical for your Workers' Compensation claim. An attorney can help you ensure your employer properly records the event.
Workplace injuries resulting from repetitive physical stress or contact with contaminated surfaces are often covered under Workers' Compensation. If your job requires prolonged kneeling that leads to severe swelling or infection, you may be entitled to medical benefits and lost wages. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your employer failed to provide adequate protective equipment.
The timeline for receiving benefits depends on the complexity of your medical records and the responsiveness of your employer's insurance carrier. Because infections can escalate quickly, it is vital to file your claim promptly and maintain clear records of all treatment costs. An attorney can help you expedite this process by managing communication with the insurance company.