How often these injuries happen
Over the last decade, OSHA recorded 1,201 severe forearm injuries that required federal reporting. Fractures are the most common nature of these injuries, accounting for 45% of all cases, followed by deep lacerations and amputations.
Your forearm is essential for the range of motion and grip strength required in most manual labor roles. Damage to this area often results in long-term functional impairment, making it difficult to perform your basic job tasks or maintain the dexterity needed for your trade.
How these injuries happen
Most forearm injuries occur when you are caught or entangled in running powered equipment, which accounts for 29% of all reported incidents. These accidents often involve conveyors or industrial machinery where moving parts pull your arm into a danger zone before you can react.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 344 |
| 2 | Injured by object handled by person | 120 |
| 3 | Struck by falling object | 88 |
| 4 | Fall on same level | 86 |
| 5 | Other fall to lower level | 63 |
| 6 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 60 |
| 7 | Contact with hot objects or substances | 41 |
| 8 | Struck by running powered equipment— unspecified | 38 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 45% of all severe forearm injuries, largely due to the high density of heavy machinery and automated production lines. Construction follows as the second most common industry, where you frequently face risks from falling objects and manual tool operation that can lead to crushing or cutting injuries.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports show a recurring failure to properly guard machinery or provide adequate training for clearing jams. You are often injured while performing routine maintenance or clearing debris when equipment is not fully DE-energized. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was working with a drill press when his glove and forearm were caught by the drill bit, resulting in lacerations and fractures to his right forearm. The employee's arm was amputated below the elbow." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was pushing fabric into a wind-up. The wind-up caught the employee's arm, pulled it forward, and broke the forearm. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee was scraping dough off a plastic dough auger using a utility knife when the knife slipped and lacerated their left forearm. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | MA | Manufacturing | "An employee was grinding a part when the grinding disk got caught on the part and jumped outward, contacting the employee's left forearm. The employee suffered a gash and severed artery that required hospitalization and surgery." | |
| 2025 | FL | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee at an amusement park was helping a guest at an attraction when the employee fell to the ground, resulting in a fractured right forearm that required hospitalization." | |
| 2025 | VA | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was using a pocket knife to cut a zip tie that was holding the slacked portion of line on a ratchet strap. The ratchet strap opened unexpectedly, causing the employee to lacerate an artery in his left forearm. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | FL | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was driving a forklift and unloading racks of glass from a truck. A rack began to tilt; the employee exited the forklift and went to stabilize it. The rack tipped and pinned his left arm against the forklift. The forearm was broken and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | CO | Manufacturing | "An employee was troubleshooting a caster machine. While removing a cap cover, the catch pan moved up and caught his right arm against the caster blocks. He suffered lacerations and an open break of the ulna. He was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee working on a sheet line was removing masking from the underside of plastic sheeting that was being lifted by a vacuum lift. The plastic sheet measured 4 feet wide, 14 feet long, and approximately 1 inch thick, and it weighed approximately 300 pounds. The vacuum lost suction and dropped the plastic sheet onto the employee's arm, pinning it between two sheets and resulting in a broken right forearm." | |
| 2025 | TX | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was putting paperwork in a box while sitting on a forklift when the accelerator was actuated. His right arm then became caught between a yellow concrete pole and the forklift. He was hospitalized with a fractured right forearm and a laceration." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Recovery time for a forearm fracture depends on the severity of the break and whether surgery is required to stabilize the bone. You may face months of physical therapy to regain full range of motion, which can keep you out of your regular job duties for an extended period. An attorney can help you understand how to document these recovery timelines for your Workers' Compensation claim.
If your injury resulted from a machine that failed to operate safely or lacked proper guards, you may have grounds for a claim beyond standard Workers' Compensation. Employers are required to maintain a safe environment under OSHA standards, and equipment failure often points to a breach of these duties. An attorney can help you investigate whether third-party liability or employer negligence played a role in your accident.
Yes, severe injuries like amputations are covered under Workers' Compensation, which is designed to provide medical benefits and wage replacement for permanent impairments. These cases often involve complex calculations regarding your future earning capacity and the need for long-term prosthetic care. An attorney can help you ensure your claim accurately reflects the full scope of your permanent disability.
Workers' Compensation is generally a no-fault system, meaning you are typically eligible for benefits even if you made a mistake that contributed to the accident. The focus is on the fact that the injury occurred during the course of your employment rather than assigning blame. An attorney can help you navigate the claims process to ensure your benefits are not unfairly denied.