WestRock Company
Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue — Swelling, inflammation, irritation-nonspecified injury — EVADALE, Texas
| Employer | WestRock Company |
| Address | 1913 Farm to Market 105 |
| City, State ZIP | EVADALE, Texas 77615 |
| Report ID | 2021108945 |
| Event Date | October 17, 2021 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized |
| Nature of Injury | Swelling, inflammation, irritation-nonspecified injury |
| Body Part | Eye(s) |
| Event Type | Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue |
| Source of Injury | Chlorine, chlorine bleach |
| Industry (NAICS) | 333243 |
| GPS Coordinates | 30.33000, -94.07000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee was cleaning a copy machine. While trying to open the filter compartment to finish the cleaning by rinsing with water, the pressure exerted on the lid caused a solution with possible traces of a sodium hypochlorite to spray into the employee's eyes, resulting in eye irritation that required hospitalization.
Incident Summary
On October 17, 2021, a worker at WestRock Company in EVADALE, Texas suffered swelling, inflammation, irritation-nonspecified injury to the eye(s). The incident was classified as exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue, with chlorine, chlorine bleach 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 8, 2015 | Ames Advanced Materials Corp. | SOUTH PLAINFIELD, New Jersey | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Aug 14, 2022 | Northwest Cosmetics Laboratory, LLC | IDAHO FALLS, Idaho | Third or fourth degree chemical burns and corrosions | Hosp. |
| Feb 6, 2021 | Service Transport Company | HOUSTON, Texas | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Feb 23, 2016 | Amerigas | NORTH VERSAILLES, Pennsylvania | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Apr 25, 2018 | Exide Technologies | COLUMBUS, Georgia | Second degree chemical burns and corrosions | Hosp. |
| Jun 28, 2023 | Howard Sheppard Inc | SAVANNAH, Georgia | Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified | Hosp. |
| May 26, 2020 | American Foods Group, LLC | YANKTON, South Dakota | Third or fourth degree chemical burns and corrosions | Hosp. |
| Apr 14, 2021 | GAC Chemical Corporation | SEARSPORT, Maine | 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.