How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 254 severe cases involving cleaning and polishing agents over the last decade. The most common injury types are effects of poison or toxic exposure and chemical burns, which frequently require hospitalization and extensive medical intervention.
When you handle cleaning agents, improper storage or mishandling can lead to life-altering damage to your skin and respiratory systems.
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Check My BenefitsHow these injuries happen
Injuries involving cleaning agents typically occur through direct contact with exposed tissue or the inhalation of hazardous vapors. You are frequently harmed when containers break, chemicals are misidentified, or protective equipment fails during routine sanitation tasks. These incidents often stem from a lack of proper training on handling concentrated substances or the absence of necessary safety barriers during equipment washdowns.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exposure to harmful substance through exposed tissue | 106 |
| 2 | Inhalation of harmful substance | 81 |
| 3 | Ingestion of harmful substance | 22 |
| 4 | Flash fire | 15 |
| 5 | Exposure to harmful substances— unspecified | 15 |
| 6 | Contact with hot objects or substances | 8 |
| 7 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 2 |
| 8 | Explosion of nonpressurized vapors, gases, or liquids | 2 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 27% of these severe incidents, followed by health care at 25%. In these environments, the use of industrial-strength detergents and antimicrobial agents creates a constant risk of exposure. Your employer is required to maintain strict adherence to hazard communication protocols to ensure you are not exposed to substances that cause chemical burns or respiratory distress.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents include the accidental ingestion of mislabeled liquids, inhalation of aerosolized cleaning products, and skin contact during high-pressure washdowns. These reports highlight a recurring failure to provide adequate personal protective equipment or clear labeling for hazardous materials. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you determine if employer negligence played a role.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | RI | Accommodation & Food Services | "A bartender tasted a small amount of an unknown liquid found behind a bar. He had a severe reaction to the liquid, which proved to be concentrated liquid detergent, and he suffered burns to the interior of the mouth. He was hospitalized and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | FL | Retail Trade | "On June 5, 2025, an employee was pouring a bottle of antimicrobial produce wash when they inhaled the product and sustained irritation in their lungs and dizziness. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "A sanitation worker was washing down equipment using hoses that contain hot water and antimicrobial cleaning agents. He got wet while working and started to experience heat and irritation on his body. At the end of his shift, he noticed a rash from his armpits to his knees. The employee sustained a rash and burns due to chemical contact." | |
| 2025 | TX | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was picking up a plastic jug of concentrated liquid dish detergent from a rack. The jug broke and spilled the detergent onto him. He suffered chemical burns to the right thigh and right foot." | |
| 2025 | MA | Other Services | "An employee was taking pictures of automotive wheels for sale. To get the numbers off the back off the wheel, he used brake cleaner to clean the wheel. The brake cleaner ignited while he was wiping and/or using a wire brush tool. He sustained burns to the face and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | GA | Other Services | "On April 18, 2025, an employee was cutting the lid off an empty 55-gallon drum using a plasma cutter. The drum originally contained a flammable liquid and residual liquid inside the drum ignited and exploded. The employee was hospitalized with burns to the face, chest, and arms." | |
| 2025 | IL | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was dispensing a cleaning chemical from a storage cage. The chemical splashed onto the employee's lower leg and burned it." | |
| 2025 | TX | Wholesale Trade | "A plumber was unclogging a sink in an employee's work area when the employee suffered an allergic reaction and an asthma attack from the liquid drain-cleaning chemicals." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Construction | "A mechanic was working on a drive shaft that had seized. They applied brake cleaner and compressed air to the drive shaft. The employee then used a torch to heat up the area. The torch ignited fumes from the brake cleaner and the mechanic suffered burns to their face." | |
| 2025 | GA | Manufacturing | "An employee was repairing a chemical leak under an ultrasonic cleaning machine while lying on the ground. The employee had used water to identify the leak. The floor got wet and potentially activated the chemical, a solution used for cleaning anilox rolls. The employee sustained chemical burns to their right shoulder, right forearm, and right buttock." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.