US Forest Service

On November 17, 2023, a maintenance employee opened a line and residual bromine was released. The employee sustained burns to their palm and left leg and also suffered an inhalation injury.

An employee was picking up trash bags on a route and putting the bags in the back of a garbage truck. The employee was compacting the trash when one of the bags released vapor and dust from chlorine and pool cleaning chemicals. The vapor and dust contacted the employee's eyes and mouth and were inhaled. The employee was hospitalized with chemical irritation to the eyes and lungs.

On June 2, 2023, an employee was re-installing a repaired valve. When the employee applied pressure to the system to test the repair, air that contained peracetic acid (PAA) residue flowed from the tote filling wan. The employee contacted the PAA mist, resulting in hospitalization for second-degree chemical burns to the face, swelling of the lips and throat, and irritation to the lungs.

An employee was pouring a copper food additive into a bucket when the product splashed into his eyes and face. The employee also inhaled and ingested the substance. The employee suffered copper poisoning.

An employee was rebuilding a valve on a refrigeration system and had pumped down the ammonia in the system to conduct maintenance. He removed a cover and was sprayed by residual anhydrous ammonia. The employee sustained chemical burns to the face and hands and may have sustained a respiratory injury.