Westlake Vinyls Company, LP
Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue — Second degree chemical burns and corrosions — GEISMAR, Louisiana
| Employer | Westlake Vinyls Company, LP |
| Address | 36045 Highway 30 |
| City, State ZIP | GEISMAR, Louisiana 70734 |
| Report ID | 2018077203 |
| Event Date | July 17, 2018 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized |
| Nature of Injury | Second degree chemical burns and corrosions |
| Body Part | Multiple body parts, n.e.c. |
| Event Type | Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue |
| Source of Injury | Multiple chemicals or chemical mixtures, n.e.c. |
| Secondary Source | Bags, sacks |
| Industry (NAICS) | 325211 |
| GPS Coordinates | 30.21000, -91.00000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee was adding a bag of sodium thiosulfate to a storage tank containing sodium hypochlorite and a weak caustic solution. The bag fell into the tank and the liquid in the tank splashed onto the employee causing second degree burns to the right and left thigh, abdomen and left hand.
Incident Summary
On July 17, 2018, a worker at Westlake Vinyls Company, LP in GEISMAR, Louisiana suffered second degree chemical burns and corrosions to the multiple body parts, n.e.c.. The incident was classified as exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue, with multiple chemicals or chemical mixtures, n.e.c. 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 3, 2023 | 360 Industrial LLC | AUGUSTA, Georgia | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jul 25, 2021 | Environmental Management, Inc. | ENID, Oklahoma | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Nov 13, 2019 | H2O Solutions, Inc | WEST CALDWELL, New Jersey | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jun 19, 2019 | Elite Auto Center of Gainesville, Inc. | GAINESVILLE, Florida | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jul 31, 2023 | MMR Group, Inc. | GREGORY, Texas | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Sep 21, 2016 | Silver Springs Citrus, Inc. | HOWEY IN THE HILLS, Florida | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Nov 18, 2015 | Zoltek Commercial Carbon Fiber | SAINT PETERS, Missouri | Poisoning, toxic, noxious, or allergenic effect, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Mar 29, 2022 | Peterson Regional Medical Center | KERRVILLE, Texas | Swelling, inflammation, irritation-nonspecified injury | 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.