How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 786 severe cases of thermal injuries involving hot water and steam over the last decade. The vast majority of these incidents result in thermal burns, which frequently require extensive medical treatment, skin grafts, and long-term rehabilitation.
Because these burns are frequently deep and widespread, you may face prolonged recovery periods that keep you away from your job for months.
Burned by steam or water? Check what benefits you may be owed.
Check My BenefitsHow these injuries happen
Most injuries occur through direct contact with hot objects or substances, often during equipment maintenance or cleaning. You are frequently burned when pressurized steam is released unexpectedly from pumps or when boiling water spills during the transfer of liquids between containers.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contact with hot objects or substances | 744 |
| 2 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 25 |
| 3 | Struck by falling object | 2 |
| 4 | Exposure to harmful substance through exposed tissue | 2 |
| 5 | Ingestion of harmful substance | 2 |
| 6 | Inhalation of harmful substance | 2 |
| 7 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 1 |
| 8 | Indirect exposure to electricity | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 53% of these severe injuries, largely due to the frequent use of high-pressure pumps and steam-based processing equipment. The high volume of thermal exposure in this sector highlights the critical need for rigorous equipment guarding and strict adherence to pressure release protocols.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents include equipment failures during priming, spills while transferring boiling liquids, and unexpected steam releases during maintenance. If your injury occurred while operating or repairing equipment that released hot water or steam, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine if employer negligence played a role.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | SD | Manufacturing | "An employee was priming a cook pump and sustained burns from contact with hot water (140-200 degrees F)." | |
| 2025 | LA | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee transferred boiling water from a rethermalizer (kitchen equipment) into a bucket for cleaning the kitchen floor. Some of the hot water spilled onto the employee's left foot, causing severe burns." | |
| 2025 | FL | Health Care | "At the end of an event, the injured employee was working with another employee to transfer a chafing dish from the bar area to the kitchen. The dish fell, causing hot water to spill onto the injured employee. The employee sustained burns to her stomach, right leg, and toes." | |
| 2025 | NE | Manufacturing | "An employee was working on a pump. When a cap was opened to prime the pump, pressurized steam was released and burned the left side of the employee's body. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | NY | Manufacturing | "An employee was removing the prime port on the seal water recovery pump when water flashed over (became steam) and blew out of the port. The employee sustained first- and second-degree burns to their face, torso, chest, both arms, and upper right thigh." | |
| 2025 | OH | Manufacturing | "An employee was performing sanitation tasks and adjusting a valve by tapping it with a rubber mallet. The valve came apart and the employee was sprayed with 180-190-degree water. He was hospitalized with thermal burns to multiple parts of the body." | |
| 2025 | TX | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was working in the flake wash line and starting up the auger (9 feet tall) when a top cover on the auger came loose. Hot water and plastic flakes erupted from the top, causing second- and third-degree burns to 20% of his body." | |
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "An employee was mixing and transferring NaCl (salt water) from the mixing plant to storage tanks. The line may have became clogged causing fluid to continuously circulate and heat up to abnormal temperatures. While troubleshooting the issue, the employee removed the hose and was then sprayed with heated salt water. The employee sustained second- and third-degree burns to the front of their torso, both arms, and both upper legs." | |
| 2025 | NM | Mining | "An employee was standing behind a frac pump. A discharge hose failed and the employee was burned by hot water on the left upper abdomen. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | GA | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee had filled a bucket of hot water to mop the floor. As she was walking by the bucket, the bucket fell on her. She was hospitalized with second-degree burns to her legs and feet. " |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.