U.S. Postal Service

Exposure to harmful substance through skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue, unspecified — Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified — POTOMAC, Maryland

HOSPITALIZED — Worker hospitalized after incident at U.S. Postal Service in POTOMAC, Maryland
Employer U.S. Postal Service
Address 9600 New Bridge Dr.
City, State ZIP POTOMAC, Maryland 20854
Report ID 2019066169
Event Date June 19, 2019
Outcome Hospitalized
Nature of Injury Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
Body Part Leg(s), unspecified
Event Type Exposure to harmful substance through skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue, unspecified
Source of Injury Bacteria
Secondary Source Law enforcement and self-defense equipment, n.e.c.
Industry (NAICS) 491110
GPS Coordinates 39.02000, -77.18000

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Incident Narrative

An employee had been wearing a training suit while instructing law enforcement trainees in personal defense. Early the following morning, he woke with a fever and a severe headache, requiring hospitalization for a staph infection in his leg.

Incident Summary

On June 19, 2019, a worker at U.S. Postal Service in POTOMAC, Maryland suffered infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified to the leg(s), unspecified. The incident was classified as exposure to harmful substance through skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue, unspecified, with bacteria identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.

Context

OSHA has recorded 18 severe injury reports involving "Exposure to harmful substance through skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue, unspecified" incidents in our database. Browse all Exposure to harmful substance through skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue, unspecified injuries.

See all reports for U.S. Postal Service.

Similar Incidents

Other severe injury reports involving Exposure to harmful substance through skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue, unspecified events:

Date Employer Location Nature Outcome
Sep 20, 2018 ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS LLC ALVIN, Texas Cellulitis and abscess Hosp.
Aug 11, 2019 BASF Corporation MC INTOSH, Alabama Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified Hosp.
Jul 22, 2015 Humphrey Associates DFW AIRPORT, Texas Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified Hosp.
May 9, 2018 ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER SAPPINGTON, Missouri Other or unspecified allergic reactions Hosp.
May 21, 2022 Cartamundi East Longmeadow, LLC EAST LONGMEADOW, Massachusetts Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified Hosp.
Jun 19, 2019 Help at Home, LLC GARDENDALE, Alabama Infectious and parasitic diseases, unspecified Hosp.
Feb 11, 2015 Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc. LA CROSSE, Wisconsin Cellulitis and abscess Hosp.
Dec 27, 2015 THE FRESH MARKET, INC. BOCA RATON, Florida Soreness, pain, hurt-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.

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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.

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