How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 132 severe scalp injuries between 2015 and 2025. Cuts, lacerations, and punctures account for 62% of all reported incidents.
Injuries to your scalp are rarely just superficial. They often involve significant blood loss and the risk of infection, which can sideline you for weeks or months while you recover from the trauma.
How these injuries happen
Falls to lower levels are the leading cause of scalp injuries, accounting for 24% of all reported cases. When you slip or trip, your scalp is frequently the first point of impact against hard surfaces like concrete or metal equipment.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 31 |
| 2 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 25 |
| 3 | Fall on same level | 20 |
| 4 | Struck by falling object | 10 |
| 5 | Struck against stationary object | 9 |
| 6 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 6 |
| 7 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 4 |
| 8 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 3 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing leads all sectors with 39% of reported scalp injuries. The high density of powered machinery and fast-paced assembly environments creates frequent opportunities for entanglement or contact with overhead hazards.
Real cases like yours
Incident reports show a recurring pattern of you striking your head on stationary objects or being hit by falling tools and equipment. These injuries often occur during routine maintenance or while cleaning under workstations. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you determine if your employer failed to maintain a safe environment.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | GA | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was cleaning underneath the prep table in the kitchen. When he got up, he slipped on an onion on the floor and fell backward, striking the back of his head on the corner of the table. The employee suffered an open laceration and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | AL | Real Estate | "An employee was performing maintenance on the engine of a box truck. He placed a socket wrench on top of the truck s cargo box and the wrench subsequently rolled out of reach. The employee climbed onto the top of the box to retrieve the tool. As he stood up, he was struck in the head by the operational engine fan. The employee sustained a laceration to his head." | |
| 2025 | IL | Construction | "An employee was replacing a panel inside a nacelle (wind turbine component) that was at ground level. When he stood up from a crouching position, he struck his head on a metal bracket. The employee was hospitalized with a hematoma on the left side of his head." | |
| 2025 | MA | Health Care | "An employee was in a driveway teaching a client how to use an electric scooter. He fell and his head struck the asphalt. The employee suffered a head injury with bleeding from the back of the head. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | IL | Manufacturing | "An employee was in a powered industrial vehicle (PIV), pulling down racks. One of the racks tilted and its top portion struck his head. He suffered a head injury that required staples." | |
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was working at a threader machine. A spindle caught her sweatshirt. She was pulled into the machine, which pulled off her hooded sweatshirt and pulled in her hair. She suffered a scalping and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee was working as a spotter for a 150-ton marine travel lift during a boat-moving operation. As he was walking around the rear of the lift, he suffered a laceration to the back of the head. He was found on the floor bleeding and unconscious." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was bending over to pick fence pickets up off the ground. He contacted the tip of a nail gun while standing up, causing it to discharge a nail. The employee sustained a puncture to the head just above the ear." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was preparing windows to install trim and began descending their ladder when they fell 4 feet to the ground. The employee sustained a laceration on the back of their head. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | NH | Manufacturing | "An employee was operating a striker machine that puts friction strips on matchbooks when their hair wrapped around the shaft. The employee sustained scalping and facial injuries." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Workers' Compensation is designed to cover your medical expenses and lost wages for work-related injuries, including severe scalp lacerations. If your injury required hospitalization or stitches, you are likely entitled to benefits. An attorney can help you ensure your claim is filed correctly.
Falls are a primary cause of workplace scalp injuries and are often the result of unsafe working conditions, such as wet floors or lack of proper fall protection. Employers are required to maintain safe walking surfaces. An attorney can help you investigate whether a safety violation contributed to your fall.
Recovery time depends on the depth of the laceration and whether there were complications like infection or underlying tissue damage. You may require time off for wound care and monitoring for concussion symptoms. An attorney can help you document your recovery to ensure your benefits account for your full time away from work.
Any injury that requires hospitalization or significant medical intervention is serious and may qualify for Workers' Compensation. Because scalp injuries can involve complex healing processes, it is important to have your case reviewed by an attorney to ensure you are not settling for less than your medical needs require.