How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 132 severe scalp injury cases over the last decade, with cuts and lacerations representing 62% of all incidents. These injuries often involve significant blood loss and require emergency medical intervention.
A scalp injury can disrupt your ability to perform physical tasks and may lead to long-term scarring or chronic pain. Because your scalp is highly vascular, even minor-appearing wounds can result in severe blood loss and require immediate hospital care.
Scalp injury at work? Check what benefits you may be owed.
Free Benefits ReviewHow these injuries happen
Falls to lower levels are the leading cause of scalp injuries, accounting for 24% of all reported cases. Whether you slip on a wet surface or lose your balance on a ladder, these incidents often result in your head striking hard objects like table corners, metal brackets, or concrete floors.
| 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 accounts for 39% of all severe scalp injuries, largely due to your proximity to heavy machinery and powered equipment. In these environments, failure to maintain proper clearance or secure overhead racks creates a risk for scalp lacerations and avulsions.
Real cases like yours
Many reported incidents involve you striking your head on stationary objects or being hit by falling materials during routine maintenance or cleaning tasks. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you understand your legal options.
| 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.