How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 78 severe cases involving radiator fluid since 2015. Thermal burns account for 73% of these incidents, often resulting in significant tissue damage that requires emergency medical intervention.
These injuries frequently impact parts like the trunk, arms, and face. Because these burns often involve high-pressure spray, the damage can be deep and require extensive recovery time.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries occur through direct contact with hot objects or substances, which accounts for 51% of reported incidents. You are often sprayed when removing pressurized radiator caps or loosening engine piping. Flash fires and accidental ingestion also contribute to the danger, particularly when fluids are not allowed to cool sufficiently before maintenance begins.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contact with hot objects or substances | 40 |
| 2 | Flash fire | 19 |
| 3 | Ingestion of harmful substance | 9 |
| 4 | Exposure to harmful substance through exposed tissue | 5 |
| 5 | Inhalation of harmful substance | 5 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 26% of these severe injuries, as you frequently handle engine components and cooling systems. Mining operations follow closely at 22%, where the constant use of heavy machinery and high-pressure engines creates a risk for fluid-related burns.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include you being sprayed while performing routine dip tests or opening radiator caps on engines that were not fully cooled. These incidents often occur during vehicle maintenance or roadside assistance. If your injury occurred under similar circumstances, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your case.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "An employee was working on a hot motor when radiator fluid sprayed onto his right hand, hip, back, and torso, resulting in second-degree burns that required hospitalization." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee had been driving his work truck on the highway when it overheated. He parked it and opened the coolant cap in the engine bay. Engine coolant was ejected from the hot engine and the employee suffered second-degree burns. He was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Retail Trade | "An employee was in a parking lot, helping a customer whose vehicle was overheating. The employee lifted the vehicle's hood and removed the radiator cap and hot radiator fluid sprayed him, burning his face, right hand, and chest." | |
| 2025 | TX | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was performing a dip test on a vehicle's radiator fluid. He waited 30 minutes for the vehicle to cool and then performed a quarter-turn of the radiator cap. The cap flew off and radiator fluid sprayed on his left hand and forearm, resulting in second-degree burns." | |
| 2024 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was loosening piping prior to replacing a water pump on an engine when hot antifreeze sprayed onto his left hand and right forearm, resulting in burns." | |
| 2024 | TX | Mining | "On October 24, 2024, at 1:06 AM, an employee shut the hydraulic fracturing pump's engine off and removed one of the pump's engine block coolant temperature sensors. Heated engine coolant then released from behind the sensor and burned the employee's hands and forearms." | |
| 2024 | PA | Education | "On September 2, 2024, at about 5:10 PM, an employee was warming an ethanol solution in a glass container with a heat gun. The glass container broke and the ethanol ignited, resulting in second-degree burns to the employee's torso and third-degree burns to his right hand and arm that required surgery." | |
| 2024 | GA | Manufacturing | "An employee was walking around and performing basic job duties on assembly prior to shipment. They drank from a water bottle that contained windshield washer fluid. The employee sustained stomach injuries and was hospitalized." | |
| 2024 | FL | Agriculture | "An employee was repairing a water pump on a lawn mower. He replaced the water pump and thermometer and then went to test drive it. The mower started running hot, so he brought it back to the shop and opened the hood on the mower. The radiator overflowed the bottle, the lid blew off, and hot coolant sprayed the employee's face, eyes, and neck. The employee was hospitalized for burns." | |
| 2024 | GA | Agriculture | "An employee had been skidding wood. They opened the radiator to let some pressure out and hot radiator fluid exploded all over him, causing second-degree burns to his right hand, arm, side, and back. The employee was hospitalized." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical expenses and lost wages for injuries you sustain on the job. Because these burns often require hospitalization and time away from work, you are likely entitled to benefits. An attorney can help you ensure your claim is filed correctly.
In most cases, Workers' Compensation is the exclusive remedy for your workplace injuries, meaning you cannot sue your employer directly. However, if a third party, such as an equipment manufacturer, is responsible for a defective part, you may have a separate claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your situation to identify all potential avenues for compensation.
Employers are required to provide proper training, personal protective equipment, and clear protocols for cooling engines before maintenance. Failure to enforce these safety standards can be a critical factor in your claim. An attorney can help you determine if your employer failed to meet these safety obligations.
Recovery time varies depending on the severity and location of your burn, but many cases require long-term wound care and physical therapy. You should not rush back to work if your doctor has not cleared you. An attorney can help you document your recovery needs to ensure your benefits cover the full extent of your treatment.