How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 242 severe incidents involving high-pressure water systems between 2015 and 2023. The vast majority of these cases result in cuts, lacerations, and punctures that often require emergency surgery to address deep tissue damage.
These injuries frequently target your feet and hands, areas where high-pressure streams can easily penetrate skin and muscle. Because these incidents often involve high-velocity equipment, the resulting trauma can lead to long-term complications and significant recovery time.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries occur when a pressurized stream strikes you directly, accounting for 94 percent of reported cases. This happens when hoses fail, nozzles are handled improperly, or you slip while operating equipment. These incidents are often the result of inadequate safety training or the failure to provide proper protective gear for high-pressure tasks.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 228 |
| 2 | Contact with hot objects or substances | 9 |
| 3 | Exposure to change in water pressure | 4 |
| 4 | Indirect exposure to electricity | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Administrative services account for 26 percent of these injuries, often due to the widespread use of pressure washing in facility maintenance. Manufacturing and construction follow closely at 18 percent each, where you frequently operate heavy-duty hydroblasting equipment. In these environments, the high-pressure nature of the work leaves little room for error when safety protocols are ignored.
Real cases like yours
Reports consistently show that injuries occur when you are cleaning equipment or performing maintenance tasks with high-pressure hoses. Many incidents involve the water stream contacting your gloved hands or feet, leading to severe lacerations that require immediate hospitalization. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | OH | Manufacturing | "On November 25, 2023, an employee was using a high-pressured water hose to perform sewer line cleaning operations. The employee's right little finger and palm were lacerated by pressurized water from the hose." | |
| 2023 | TX | Administrative Services | "An employee was hydroblasting when they slipped and the pressurized water stream lacerated their left ankle." | |
| 2023 | LA | Construction | "An employee was using a 20,000-pound per square inch (psi) pressure washer when they sustained a laceration between their right thumb and index finger from the water pressure." | |
| 2023 | WI | Manufacturing | "On October 17, 2023, at 2:30 p.m., an employee was cleaning a combine with a pressure washer when the water jet contacted his gloved hands. The employee suffered a laceration to their finger that required hospitalization." | |
| 2023 | WA | Agriculture | "An employee was diving for sea cucumbers at a depth of approximately 70 feet. After completing the dive, they began to feel numbness in their legs and were hospitalized for decompression sickness." | |
| 2023 | FL | Construction | "An employee was working near a colleague that was using a high-pressure wand. When the colleague opened the valve, the injured employee's left hand was lacerated by a high pressure water stream." | |
| 2023 | NE | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was pressure washing a trailer exterior. As he was holding the hose, it slipped and water from the pressure washer nozzle grazed his left hand. The employee sustained a quarter-inch laceration to the palm side of the left middle finger." | |
| 2023 | AR | Manufacturing | "On 8/9/2023, an employee was pressure washing a mandrel shell when the pressurized mixture lacerated their right hand near the thumb. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2023 | FL | Health Care | "A scuba employee was diving when he ascended to the surface and suffered decompression syndrome." | |
| 2023 | FL | Construction | "An employee was using a vacuum truck to clean a 6-inch pipe. The hose and water, with approximately 1500-1600 PSI, struck the employee in the face, resulting in the loss of an eye and skull fractures." |
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. If you were injured while operating high-pressure equipment, you are generally entitled to benefits regardless of fault. An attorney can help you document the incident and ensure your claim is processed correctly.
Workers' Compensation is a no-fault system, meaning you are typically covered even if a mistake occurred during your shift. Employers often attempt to shift blame to avoid liability, but an attorney can investigate whether proper training or equipment maintenance was provided. You should speak with a legal professional to protect your rights.
OSHA requires your employer to provide safe equipment and adequate personal protective equipment for tasks involving high-pressure water. Failure to maintain hoses or provide proper training can constitute a violation of safety standards. An attorney can help determine if your employer failed to meet these critical safety obligations.
Recovery times vary significantly based on the depth of the wound and whether internal structures were damaged by the pressure. These injuries often require surgical intervention to clean the wound and prevent infection. An attorney can help you understand how your medical recovery timeline impacts your Workers' Compensation claim.