How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 35 severe cases involving glues and adhesives over the last decade. Thermal burns are the most frequent injury type, representing 57% of all reported incidents.
You may face long-term complications from chemical exposure or severe skin damage that requires extensive medical intervention.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving adhesives typically stem from contact with hot substances or dangerous chemical reactions. You are often harmed when hot glue tanks malfunction or when spray adhesives ignite, causing flash fires. Inhalation of toxic vapors in poorly ventilated areas also leads to severe respiratory distress and hospitalization.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contact with hot objects or substances | 11 |
| 2 | Flash fire | 8 |
| 3 | Inhalation of harmful substance | 7 |
| 4 | Exposure to harmful substance through exposed tissue | 3 |
| 5 | Exposure to harmful substances— unspecified | 3 |
| 6 | Fire— unspecified | 1 |
| 7 | Ingestion of harmful substance | 1 |
| 8 | Fire— small-scale, limited | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 60% of all severe adhesive injuries. High-volume production lines often require constant use of industrial-grade glues, increasing your risk of exposure to heat and hazardous fumes when safety protocols are neglected.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you suffering from sudden chemical-induced asthma or severe burns while handling heating equipment. Many incidents occur when personal protective equipment is missing or when ventilation systems fail to clear toxic vapors. If these scenarios reflect your experience, an attorney can help you review the specific details of your claim.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CT | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was sorting packages. A spray adhesive was used to repair a belt 8-10 feet away; the vapors traveled to the employee, who suffered a chemical-induced asthma attack with dizziness, difficulty breathing, and brief loss of consciousness. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2024 | OH | Manufacturing | "On September 23, 2024, an employee was filling a hot glue tank with glue pellets when he sustained second- and third-degree burns to four fingers on his right hand. The employee was not wearing personal protective equipment at the time." | |
| 2024 | AL | Manufacturing | "An employee was laying insulation using spray glue when it caught fire and the employee was burned." | |
| 2024 | CT | Retail Trade | "On April 11, 2024, new carpeting was being installed in the store, and fumes from the glue caused an employee to be hospitalized with respiratory issues." | |
| 2024 | AL | Manufacturing | "An employee was working with glue on a line when they began to experience an allergic reaction, resulting in hospitalization due to swelling in the face." | |
| 2023 | GA | Manufacturing | "An employee was spraying glue to the floor of an enclosed cargo trailer. The fumes made contact with the heater causing a flash fire. The employee suffered burns to their face and right hand." | |
| 2023 | IL | Manufacturing | "An employee was loading a mix tank with cyanoacrylate. The drum was elevated on a drum tipper with a plastic spout attached. The employee went to open the spout but the entire spout came out of the drum. The cyanoacrylate splashed onto the employee saturating the left sleeve of their shirt. The employee removed the saturated garment but had already sustained burns from the shirt adhering to their arm. The employee was hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns." | |
| 2023 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was carrying a bottle of door seal solution containing sodium silicate. The employee bumped their arm, causing them to ingest the solution. The employee suffered from wheezing, nausea, and breathing difficulties." | |
| 2022 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was replacing a temperature gauge on a discharge header from a tank in a hot melt manufacturing building. As he was removing the gauge, hot adhesive discharged from the threaded port piping and caused second- and third-degree burns on the top side of his right arm from the elbow to the wrist." | |
| 2021 | AL | Manufacturing | "An employee was exposed to glue containing isocyanate while doing maintenance work on a glue machine. The employee developed respiratory problems and 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 your medical costs and lost wages for work-related injuries, including chemical burns. If your injury occurred during the course of your employment, you are generally entitled to benefits regardless of fault. An attorney can help you document your medical treatment and ensure your claim is filed correctly.
Seek immediate medical attention to document your respiratory distress and any loss of consciousness. Report the incident to your supervisor right away to create an official record of the exposure. An attorney can assist you in gathering evidence, such as safety data sheets and witness statements, to support your Workers' Compensation claim.
Employers are required to provide a safe workplace, which includes maintaining equipment and providing necessary personal protective equipment. If a lack of safety guards or inadequate training led to your burns, your employer may be held accountable through the Workers' Compensation system. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your employer failed to meet these safety obligations.
Yes, occupational illnesses resulting from the inhalation of harmful substances are covered under Workers' Compensation. Proving that your condition is work-related is essential for your claim, which often involves medical records and exposure reports. An attorney can help you navigate the process of proving your injury and securing the benefits you deserve.