Forearms at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Forearms at Work
Forearm injury rates are currently increasing
OSHA has recorded 1,201 severe forearm injuries over the last decade, with an average of 113 cases reported annually. These incidents frequently result in fractures and deep lacerations that require immediate surgical intervention and extended recovery periods.
The forearm is essential for the complex motor functions required in most manual labor roles. Damage to this area often compromises grip strength, rotation, and the ability to operate heavy machinery, which can permanently limit a worker's earning capacity.
What's Driving the Trend?
The 10-year trend shows an 11.3 percent increase in severe forearm incidents, signaling persistent gaps in workplace safety protocols. Machinery Entanglement hazards remain the primary drivers of these injuries, particularly during the normal operation of powered equipment.
Manufacturing accounts for 44.9 percent of all reported forearm cases, followed by construction at 14.2 percent. These industries rely heavily on conveyors and cutting handtools, which frequently cause the traumatic injuries captured in federal reporting data.
How Forearms Injuries Happen
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Most forearm injuries occur when workers are caught or entangled in running powered equipment, which accounts for 29.3 percent of all reported cases. Objects handled by workers and falling items also frequently strike the forearm, leading to severe fractures and crushing injuries.
| 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 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to protect workers from moving machine parts under 29 CFR 1910.212. When a conveyor or drill press causes a forearm injury, it often indicates a failure to provide adequate machine guarding or implement effective lockout-tagout procedures as mandated by 29 CFR 1910.147.
Industries with Most Forearms
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Manufacturing leads all sectors with 539 reported forearm injuries, largely due to the high concentration of automated machinery and assembly lines. In these environments, the constant interaction between human workers and high-speed equipment creates a high risk for entanglement and laceration.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
OSHA standards such as 29 CFR 1910.212 require employers to install physical guards on all points of operation where a worker could be injured. Furthermore, 29 CFR 1910.132 mandates that employers provide appropriate personal protective equipment to mitigate risks when engineering controls are insufficient.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
Real incident reports reveal a recurring pattern of workers suffering severe forearm trauma while operating industrial machinery or using cutting tools. These accounts frequently involve gloves or clothing becoming snagged in moving parts, leading to life-altering fractures and amputations that require emergency hospitalization.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
Common Questions About Forearms Claims
The ClaimsBoost Research Team aggregates official government data to help workers understand workplace injury trends and their coverage options.
ClaimsBoost is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. ClaimsBoost is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any government agency. Performance scores, rankings, and statistics displayed on this site are calculated by ClaimsBoost using publicly available government data from OSHA severe injury reports. Individual results may vary. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice or a guarantee of benefits. If you need legal help, we can connect you with licensed attorneys in your area.Some written content on this page was created with the assistance of AI to help interpret and explain the data. AI can make mistakes — all content has been reviewed for accuracy, but we encourage you to verify any information that is important to your situation.