If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Stop and step away from the broken glass. Don't reach back in.
- 2Press a clean cloth firmly on the cut and raise it above heart level.
- 3Call 911 for spurting or heavy bleeding that won't slow after steady pressure.
- 4Don't dig for glass you can't see. If something is sticking out, leave it and get care.
- 5Get the cut checked if it is deep, gaping, on a finger, palm, wrist or face, or if a finger feels numb or weak.
- 6Tell your supervisor and report the cut in writing. Keep a copy.
- 7Ask someone to clean up the glass safely so no one else is hurt.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Glass injuries often come from things like a glass broken in a dish sink full of soapy water, a trash bag with broken bottles, a shattered pitcher, or a window or mirror while cleaning. Describe exactly how it happened in your report. It helps explain the injury and prevent the next one.
Even a cut that only needs a bandage is worth reporting, because glass cuts can become infected or turn out to involve a tendon or nerve. Your employer generally sends the report to its insurer or claims administrator to start a claim.
Deadlines to report and file vary by state. Check with your state's workers' compensation agency as soon as possible.
Take photos of the cut, keep visit paperwork, and note missed shifts, lost tips and any tasks you can't do.
Getting medical care
Urgent care, an emergency department or an occupational medicine clinic can evaluate a glass cut. A licensed clinician decides whether it needs closing, imaging to look for glass, or other care. Cuts that affect finger movement or feeling are often referred to a hand specialist.
Tell the clinician it was glass and that it happened at work. Mention if you think a piece may still be inside, or if you feel tingling or numbness. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, so ask your employer or adjuster.
If you are prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Many can be filled locally or delivered to your home.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- The cut damaged a tendon or nerve and you have lasting weakness or numbness.
- Glass left in the wound was missed and caused more problems.
- You need surgery or hand therapy and there are disputes about it.
- Your claim is denied because the injury is called minor.
- You were discouraged from reporting, or your shifts were cut after you reported.
- Broken glass in another company's space, like a client's building, caused the cut.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Keep the wound clean and follow your clinician's instructions. Watch for redness, swelling, pus, a feeling that something is still inside, or fever.
Ask your doctor whether you can put your hand in dishwater, wear gloves, or grip trays and bags. Ask your employer for tasks that fit while it heals.
Keep your supervisor and adjuster updated. If a finger stays numb or stiff, tell your clinician; therapy referrals are common.
Questions to ask
- Doctor: Could there still be glass in the wound?
- Doctor: Did the cut reach a tendon or nerve?
- Doctor: When can my hand go in water again?
- Employer: Can I get a copy of my injury report?
- Employer: Are there tasks I can do while it heals?
- Adjuster: What is my claim number?
- Attorney: My finger is still numb weeks later. What should I know?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I was cut by broken glass at work?
Press firmly on the cut with a clean cloth and raise it, and call 911 for bleeding that won't slow. Get it checked if it's deep or on your hand or face, or if glass may be inside. Report it to your supervisor in writing.
How do I know if there's still glass in my cut?
You may feel a sharp, poking pain when you press or move, but small pieces can be hard to detect. A clinician may use imaging to check. Don't dig for it yourself.
Does a glass cut on my hand need stitches?
A clinician decides, but deep, gaping, jagged or bleeding cuts are commonly checked. Hand cuts can affect tendons and nerves. Get it looked at promptly.
Is a cut from broken glass at work covered by workers' comp?
Cuts on the job are often handled through workers' compensation, depending on your state and situation. Report it in writing even if minor. Check deadlines with your state's agency.
I cut myself reaching into the dish sink — is that a work injury?
If it happened while you were doing your job, it is generally treated as a work injury, depending on your state. Report it in writing. Describe how it happened.
When can I go back to washing dishes after a hand cut?
Your clinician decides based on the wound. Ask whether gloves are enough or if you need to keep it dry. Ask your employer about other tasks meanwhile.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).