Water Tech, Inc.
Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue — Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified — FORT SMITH, Arkansas
| Employer | Water Tech, Inc. |
| Address | 7215 Hwy 271 South |
| City, State ZIP | FORT SMITH, Arkansas 72908 |
| Report ID | 2016087554 |
| Event Date | August 12, 2016 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized |
| Nature of Injury | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified |
| Body Part | Eye(s) |
| Event Type | Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue |
| Source of Injury | Chemicals and chemical products, unspecified |
| Industry (NAICS) | 221310 |
| Inspection # | 1171249 |
| GPS Coordinates | 35.31000, -94.42000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee was pressure flushing a clogged drain pipe that contained a caustic chemical with a pressure washer. The caustic substance in the drain pipe was pushed back out by the water pressure and splashed into the employee's face. His safety glasses were knocked off by the pressure and the caustic chemical got into his eyes. He was hospitalized.
Incident Summary
On August 12, 2016, a worker at Water Tech, Inc. in FORT SMITH, Arkansas suffered chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified to the eye(s). The incident was classified as exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue, with chemicals and chemical products, unspecified identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.
Context
OSHA has recorded 653 severe injury reports involving "Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue" incidents in our database. Browse all Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue injuries.
Similar Incidents
Other severe injury reports involving Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue events:
| Date | Employer | Location | Nature | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2015 | White Energy | HEREFORD, Texas | Third or fourth degree chemical burns and corrosions | Hosp. |
| Apr 28, 2020 | Honeywell | CLAYMONT, Delaware | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jan 5, 2020 | Sappi North America | SKOWHEGAN, Maine | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| May 2, 2017 | DanoneWave | DALLAS, Texas | Second degree chemical burns and corrosions | Hosp. |
| Nov 13, 2019 | H2O Solutions, Inc | WEST CALDWELL, New Jersey | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Aug 8, 2016 | Bell Partners Inc. | DUBLIN, Ohio | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jan 3, 2020 | QPS Employment Group, Inc. | MILTON, Wisconsin | Dermatitis and reactions affecting the skin-acute, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jan 24, 2019 | Cleaver Brooks Sales and Service | NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Workers injured on the job have the right to medical treatment covered by workers' compensation, wage replacement benefits during recovery, and protection against retaliation for reporting the injury. You have the right to file a complaint with OSHA if you believe your workplace is unsafe, and OSHA cannot reveal your identity to your employer without your consent. You also have the right to see your OSHA 300 injury log. If your employer denies a workers' comp claim, you can appeal through your state's workers' compensation board. An occupational health attorney can advise on complex cases involving denied claims or third-party liability.
After an employer reports a severe injury, OSHA decides whether to conduct an on-site inspection. Fatalities and amputations typically trigger automatic inspections. For hospitalizations and eye loss events, OSHA may conduct a phone/fax investigation or an on-site inspection based on the circumstances. During an inspection, OSHA compliance officers assess the accident scene, interview witnesses, review safety records, and identify violations. Citations and penalties may be issued. OSHA also works with the employer to abate hazardous conditions. All inspection results are published in OSHA's public inspection database at osha.gov.
You can file an OSHA complaint online at osha.gov/workers/file-complaint, by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or by visiting your local OSHA area office. Complaints can be filed anonymously. OSHA prioritizes formal written complaints from workers. If you believe an imminent danger exists, call OSHA immediately — they are required to investigate immediately when there is reasonable grounds to believe imminent danger exists. Workers are protected from retaliation for filing complaints under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act; if you experience retaliation, file a separate complaint within 30 days of the adverse action.
About This OSHA Report
This is a severe injury report filed with OSHA. Employers are required to report all work-related fatalities and severe injuries within 8 to 24 hours. Browse more reports by employer, state, or industry below.