How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 497 severe upper arm injuries over the last decade. Fractures are the most common nature of injury, representing 54% of all reported incidents.
Your upper arm is essential for lifting, reaching, and maintaining balance. A fracture or severe laceration to this area often requires surgery and extended recovery, directly impacting your ability to perform physical labor and earn a living.
How these injuries happen
Falls are the primary driver of upper arm trauma, with falls on the same level accounting for 30% of all reported incidents. Whether you slip on a wet floor or fall from a platform, the instinct to catch yourself often results in a fractured humerus or torn bicep.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall on same level | 145 |
| 2 | Other fall to lower level | 73 |
| 3 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 70 |
| 4 | Injured by object handled by person | 39 |
| 5 | Struck by falling object | 30 |
| 6 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 29 |
| 7 | Struck by running powered equipment— during maintenance, cleaning, testing | 9 |
| 8 | Contact with hot objects or substances | 7 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 35% of all severe upper arm injuries. You face constant exposure to heavy machinery and conveyor systems in this sector, where a single moment of inattention or a failure in lockout procedures can lead to catastrophic arm trauma.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you falling from heights or becoming entangled in moving equipment during maintenance. If you were injured because a machine lacked proper guarding or a floor hole was left unmarked, these details are critical for your claim. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TX | Other Services | "In the flight line area, an employee was on a work stand platform conducting repairs to an aircraft. While transitioning to another location, he stepped over another employee and lost his balance. The employee reached for the railing to catch themselves, fell, and tore his right bicep. The employee was hospitalized for surgery." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was walking on the second floor of a residential construction site when they fell through a hole in the floor to the concrete flooring on the first floor, resulting in a broken right upper arm." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "Two employees were hammering railroad spikes onto railroad ties when shrapnel splintered off the metal head of the spike maul. A metal fragment pierced the injured employee's upper left arm." | |
| 2025 | IL | Manufacturing | "Candy fell inside a conveyor and caused a jam. An employee was clearing the jam when his right bicep was lacerated and he was hospitalized. The machine was not locked out/tagged out at the time." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was cutting the seal on a delivery truck for an inventory delivery. He fell from the loading dock to the concrete below, fracturing his humerus." | |
| 2025 | NY | Construction | "An employee fell off a 5-gallon bucket and an exposed pipe lacerated his bicep. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was inspecting a casted part that weighed 330 pounds. The part fell from a lift assist onto the employee, striking his upper right arm and head. He suffered burns to the upper right arm and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | OH | Manufacturing | "An employee was running a high-pressure water cabinet waterblast unit. When the employee released the wand, it propelled itself out of the blast cabinet. The wand whipped around and the high-pressure water stream lacerated the employee's upper right arm." | |
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "During maintenance of an annular blowout preventer, air pressure was applied to dislodge a stuck internal piston. The piston ejected and struck an employee's left bicep, causing a laceration and a fracture." | |
| 2025 | WV | Health Care | "An employee tripped and fell while walking to the main lobby. She sustained a fractured left humerus and a hematoma on her forehead. The employee was hospitalized. " |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Recovery time depends on the severity of your fracture and whether surgery was required to stabilize the bone. You may face months of physical therapy before regaining full range of motion, which can keep you out of the workforce for an extended period. An attorney can help you understand how to document these recovery timelines for your Workers' Compensation claim.
Yes, if your injury occurred while performing work-related duties, you are generally eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits. This includes coverage for medical bills, surgery, and a portion of your lost wages while you are unable to work. An attorney can help ensure your claim accurately reflects the full extent of your injury and recovery needs.
Workers' Compensation is a no-fault system, meaning you are typically entitled to benefits regardless of who caused the accident. Even if your employer suggests you were negligent, you may still have a valid claim for medical coverage and disability payments. An attorney can help you navigate these disputes and protect your rights to benefits.
OSHA mandates specific safety protocols, such as 29 CFR 1910.212 for machine guarding and 29 CFR 1910.22 for walking-working surfaces. When your employer fails to maintain these standards, they may be held accountable for your injuries. An attorney can investigate whether a violation of these regulations contributed to your accident.