Swarthmore Dining Worker Severely Scalded by Industrial Dishwasher, Colleagues Raise Safety Concerns

A longtime member of Swarthmore College’s Dining Services was severely scalded by an industrial dishwasher in the Dining and Community Commons (DCC) in early February and was sent to a hospital in Philadelphia, The Phoenix has confirmed. Student media reported the incident in an article published February 19, 2026, and the injured worker is being referred to anonymously in reporting.

DCC staff said the incident is under investigation and that the college brought in an external commercial restaurant repair company to examine the dishwasher. The college also contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Hirsch wrote that he “couldn’t give too many details,” and the college “will continue to share information that [OSHA] requests,” he added. Employers are mandated to contact OSHA within 24 hours of a work-related hospitalization.

As of Feb. 15, college administrators had told Dining Services staff there were no updates on the injured employee’s condition and had asked staff to respect the employee’s privacy. Some staff said supervisors had not shared much information about the situation. An anonymous employee said, “He is an amazing person and people are deeply hurt that something like that has happened.”

The Phoenix article placed the scalding incident against recently heightened workloads after late January severe winter weather strains on campus operations. Associate Vice President for Sustainable Facilities Operations and Capital Planning Andy Feick said many Facilities staff worked fourteen consecutive days to maintain campus operations and that many staff members stayed overnight in Worth Hall and the Swarthmore Inn. Those workers told The Phoenix they received double pay for hours worked during the storm, while other employees who were unable to reach campus reportedly were not paid for missed shifts and could not retroactively apply sick or vacation time to cover those shifts.

Key specifics remain unreported: the injured worker’s name, exact date and time of the early-February accident, the specific Philadelphia hospital, detailed medical information beyond “severely scalded,” findings from the external repair company’s examination, and any OSHA inspection or citation status. The college has said it will share information OSHA requests, and Swarthmore’s engagement of an external repair vendor and OSHA notification are the primary steps the institution has reported so far.

The Phoenix has confirmed the facts above in its February 19, 2026 article, and NewsBreak has reposted that reporting. Further clarity on the worker’s condition, the repair company’s findings, and any OSHA action remains pending.