Mouth at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Mouth at Work
Severe mouth injury reports are trending downward
OSHA has recorded 100 severe incidents involving the mouth, with amputations and avulsions accounting for 36% of these cases. Fractures represent another 26% of reports, highlighting the extreme physical force often involved in these workplace accidents.
Injuries to the mouth are uniquely debilitating because they compromise essential functions like speaking, breathing, and nutrition. A severe injury here frequently requires complex reconstructive surgery and can lead to permanent changes in facial structure or dental alignment.
What's Driving the Trend?
Over the last decade, reported severe mouth injuries have decreased by 70%, though year-over-year data shows a recent 100% spike in incidents. This volatility suggests that while long-term safety protocols may be improving, specific high-risk tasks remain inadequately controlled.
Construction and manufacturing industries account for 46% of all reported cases, driven by the prevalence of heavy machinery and hazardous materials. Workers in these sectors face constant exposure to propelled objects and fall risks that directly threaten the oral cavity.
How Mouth Injuries Happen
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Most mouth injuries stem from high-impact events like being struck by propelled objects or falling on hard surfaces. These incidents often occur when safety barriers fail or when workers are exposed to hazardous substances without adequate protection.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 20 |
| 2 | Fall on same level | 16 |
| 3 | Other fall to lower level | 9 |
| 4 | Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object— unspecified | 8 |
| 5 | Struck by falling object | 7 |
| 6 | Injured by object handled by person | 7 |
| 7 | Ingestion of harmful substance | 6 |
| 8 | Bitten or stung by animal | 5 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to mitigate these risks under 29 CFR 1910.132, which mandates the use of personal protective equipment when hazards are present. Furthermore, 29 CFR 1910.212 requires machine guarding to prevent propelled objects from striking workers, a common cause of severe oral trauma.
Industries with Most Mouth
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Construction leads all sectors with 27% of severe mouth injuries, largely due to the high-risk nature of navigating scaffolding and handling heavy materials. Manufacturing follows at 19%, where the proximity to high-speed machinery and corrosive substances creates a persistent threat to worker safety.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
Employers in these high-risk industries must strictly adhere to 29 CFR 1926.451 regarding scaffold safety to prevent falls that lead to facial impact. Additionally, 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires comprehensive hazard communication and training for workers handling corrosive substances that can cause chemical burns to the mouth.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
The documented incidents reveal a pattern of preventable failures, ranging from the ingestion of unmarked hazardous liquids to falls from unstable work platforms. These reports demonstrate that even routine tasks, when performed in environments lacking proper labeling or structural integrity, can result in life-altering oral trauma.
"A bartender tasted a small amount of an unknown liquid found behind a bar. He had a severe reaction to the liquid, which proved to be concentrated liquid detergent, and he suffered burns to the interior of the mouth. He was hospitalized and required surgery."
"An employee drank drain cleaner from an unmarked container, causing burns to their lips and mouth area. The employee was hospitalized."
"On October 21, 2024, an employee was navigating over materials while transitioning in and out of the door opening onto a debris catchment scaffold below. One of the walk boards on the scaffold failed, causing the employee to fall to the ground below. The employee sustained swelling above their left brow, on the left side of face, and on the right side of their lip, as well as bleeding and broken teeth. The employee was hospitalized."
"An employee slipped while walking on steel girts loaded on flatbed trailer and fell striking the mast of a nearby, parked forklift. The employee sustained a laceration above his upper lip. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery."
"An employee entered a home to complete a work order and was bitten by a dog. The employee sustained lacerations to the upper lip that required surgery and hospitalization."
"An employee was delivering packages when a dog attacked her and tore off her bottom lip."
"An employee was leaf blowing to help clean the road. An excavator began backing up and caught the employee's foot, causing her to fall to the ground. The employee sustained the loss of a tooth, abrasions to the face and hand, and a cut to the foot."
"An employee was working in a crew conducting pile driving at a bridge replacement site. A 1-inch-by-43-inch crane anemometer pole broke from a bracket and fell, striking the employee in the mouth. The employee sustained a fracture to the palate of their mouth."
"An employee was using a Johnson bar to pry a piece of concrete with the help of a skid steer. When the bar moved, the employee was struck in the mouth by it, resulting in a tooth avulsion and a mouth injury that required stitches."
"An employee was using a stand-up forklift to remove pallets from a rack. The forklift tipped over and the employee's tongue was lacerated, requiring hospitalization."
Common Questions About Mouth 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.