Upper Arms at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Upper Arms at Work
Severe upper arm injuries are rising rapidly
OSHA recorded 497 severe incidents involving the upper arm, with fractures accounting for 54.1 percent of these cases. These injuries often involve significant trauma to the humerus or surrounding muscle tissue, frequently requiring surgery and extended recovery periods.
The upper arm is essential for lifting, pulling, and maintaining the stability required for most manual labor. When this body part is compromised, workers often face a temporary or permanent loss of the strength and range of motion necessary to perform their core job functions.
What's Driving the Trend?
The 81.1 percent increase in reported cases over the last ten years highlights a growing safety gap in high-risk environments. Falls on the same level remain the primary driver, accounting for 29.7 percent of all incidents, while entanglement in powered equipment continues to cause severe, life-altering trauma.
Manufacturing leads all sectors with 35.2 percent of incidents, followed by construction at 13.7 percent and health care at 12.7 percent. These industries rely heavily on physical exertion and machinery, creating environments where a single lapse in safety protocols can lead to a catastrophic upper arm injury.
How Upper Arms Injuries Happen
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Most upper arm injuries stem from preventable hazards involving falls and machinery. Nearly 30 percent of these incidents occur when a worker slips or trips on a constructed surface, while another 14.3 percent result from being caught or entangled in running powered equipment during normal operations.
| 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 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to mitigate these risks under 29 CFR 1910.22, which mandates that walking and working surfaces be kept clean and dry. Furthermore, 29 CFR 1910.212 requires adequate machine guarding to prevent workers from coming into contact with moving parts that cause severe arm trauma.
Industries with Most Upper Arms
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Manufacturing accounts for 35.2 percent of all upper arm injuries, largely due to the high density of conveyors and powered equipment. Construction and health care also report high numbers, as workers in these fields frequently navigate uneven surfaces or handle heavy objects that place immense strain on the upper extremities.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
Under 29 CFR 1910.147, employers must implement strict lockout and tagout procedures to ensure machinery is de-energized during maintenance. Additionally, 29 CFR 1926.501 requires fall protection in construction settings to prevent the types of drops that frequently result in humerus fractures.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
The incident reports reveal a recurring pattern of workers falling from elevated platforms or loading docks while transitioning between tasks. Many injuries also occur when employees attempt to clear jams in conveyors or handle heavy equipment without proper machine guarding or lockout procedures in place.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"An employee fell off a 5-gallon bucket and an exposed pipe lacerated his bicep. The employee was hospitalized."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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. "
Common Questions About Upper Arms 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.