Underwater Engineering Services Incorporated
Exposure to change in water pressure - Caisson disease, bends, divers' palsy - FORT PIERCE, Florida
| Employer | Underwater Engineering Services Incorporated |
| Address | 6501 S Ocean Drive |
| City, State ZIP | FORT PIERCE, Florida 34954 |
| Report ID | 2025109919 |
| Event Date | October 2, 2025 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized |
| Nature of Injury | Caisson disease, bends, divers' palsy |
| Body Part | BODY SYSTEMS |
| Event Type | Exposure to change in water pressure |
| Source of Injury | Water pressure high or low |
| Secondary Source | Secondary source not applicable |
| Industry (NAICS) | 237990 |
| GPS Coordinates | 27.34000, -80.24000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee was underwater, hand-dredging loose material from the bottom of a water-filled pump vault. While ascending from a depth of 30 feet (on a non-decompression profile), the employee sustained an over-pressurization injury to their lungs.
Incident Summary
On October 2, 2025, a worker at Underwater Engineering Services Incorporated in FORT PIERCE, Florida suffered caisson disease, bends, divers' palsy to the body systems. The incident was classified as exposure to change in water pressure, with water pressure high or low identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.
Context
OSHA has recorded 6 severe injury reports involving "Exposure to change in water pressure" incidents in our database. Browse all Exposure to change in water pressure injuries.
See all reports for Underwater Engineering Services Incorporated.
Similar Incidents
Other severe injury reports involving Exposure to change in water pressure events:
| Date | Employer | Location | Nature | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2016 | RON PERRIN WATER TECHNOLOGIES | JUNCTION, Texas | Embolism, air or fat | Hosp. |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Florida Sea Base | ISLAMORADA, Florida | Caisson disease, bends, divers' palsy | Hosp. |
| Oct 16, 2023 | Halycon Diving, Inc. | ANACORTES, Washington | Caisson disease, bends, divers' palsy | Hosp. |
| Aug 30, 2021 | Industrial Divers Corp. Inc. | FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida | Caisson disease, bends, divers' palsy | Hosp. |
| Aug 11, 2025 | J.F. Brennan Company, Inc. | GORE, Oklahoma | Caisson disease, bends, divers' palsy | 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.