Chemical Burns

Oklahoma Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance Program

From 1999-2008, 463 persons were disconnected and sprayed pressurized liquid hospitalized in a burn center and 125 died as a propane/butane for about 3-5 minutes. The result of a work-related burn injury. Forty-nine propane/butane was extremely cold and (8%) of these injuries (including one death) sprayed him until his foot could be freed. were the result of a chemical burn. Chemical A 60-year old female was stripping floors at burns can be severe and result in a high work when her knees began to burn from the Contact number of lost workdays. Three-fourths of the chemical. She was hospitalized 10 days. Information: chemical burns involved less than 10% of the body surface area, but two people were burned A 33-year-old male oilfield worker was using Oklahoma State over more than 20% of their body and 17% of hydrofluoric acid to clean a rig. He was Department of patients were hospitalized for 10 days or longer. wearing soft, low-grade gloves and the acid Health leaked through, burning his fingers. A 35-year-old worker was sprayed with Injury Prevention nitric acid from a ruptured hose. He did A 59-year-old male was working as a team Service make it to a safety shower, but did not leader for a sanitation crew and had nearly 20 years of experience. He was using 1000 NE 10th remove his shirt immediately. He suffered Street burns to 10% of his body and was phosphoric acid to clean large dipping tanks, hospitalized five days. and when he added the acid to the water it Oklahoma City, caused a rapid boiling effect and spilled onto OK 73117 A 29-year-old male who was self-employed him. He was burned over 14% of his body sustained burns to both his ankles from dry and was hospitalized for 11 days. 405-271-3430 or concrete that fell down his boots while he 1-800-522-0204 was working. The concrete remained in his boots for several hours. He was SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS hospitalized five days.

A 33-year-old male fell into an alkaline Provide appropriate training to employees cleaner (140 degrees) for approximately 10 seconds when the grate he was standing working with potentially hazardous on at work broke. materials. A 33-year-old male working as a general Ensure that employees wear proper laborer died after a piece of equipment personal protective equipment (e.g., goggles, gloves, clothing). The Oklahoma Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance Program collects statewide Remove contaminated clothing and information on 19 occupational health promptly irrigate chemical burns that occur. conditions in order to develop and inform occupational injury and illness prevention Properly maintain equipment containing programs. Oklahoma’s occupational surveillance chemical substances. system is a research program of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Keep floors clean, dry, and free of clutter. For detailed reports, please go to the Properly store all chemical agents. Occupational Injuries section at: Consult the NIOSH Pocket Guide to http://ips.health.ok.gov Chemical Hazards for specific exposures.