How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,055 severe wrist injuries over the last decade, with fractures representing 71% of these incidents. These injuries often involve complex breaks that require surgery and extensive rehabilitation to restore basic function.
Your wrist is essential for grip, dexterity, and daily mobility. A serious injury here can prevent you from performing the repetitive motions or heavy lifting required by your trade, often leading to long-term limitations in your earning capacity.
How these injuries happen
Falls are the primary driver of these injuries, with other falls to a lower level accounting for 41% of all reported cases. Whether you slip on a wet floor or lose your balance on a ladder, the impact of a fall is frequently absorbed by your wrist, leading to immediate and severe trauma.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 421 |
| 2 | Fall on same level | 240 |
| 3 | Injured by object handled by person | 75 |
| 4 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 74 |
| 5 | Struck by falling object | 32 |
| 6 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 27 |
| 7 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 14 |
| 8 | Struck by running powered equipment— unspecified | 12 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction accounts for 25% of these injuries, where you are frequently exposed to height-related hazards and uneven terrain. Manufacturing follows closely at 23%, where the combination of fast-paced assembly and heavy equipment creates a high-risk environment for both falls and mechanical entanglement.
Real cases like yours
Many reported incidents involve simple tasks that turn dangerous due to environmental hazards or equipment failure. You may sustain fractures after tripping on debris, slipping on wet surfaces, or suffering lacerations from mishandled tools. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine if your employer failed to maintain a safe workplace.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | OH | Health Care | "An employee was walking down the hallway when they tripped and fell to the floor, fracturing their right wrist." | |
| 2023 | WV | Retail Trade | "An employee was tossing a damaged toilet into a compactor. The toilet bounced off the compactor and lacerated the employee's right wrist, cutting an artery and tendon." | |
| 2023 | AL | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was in the parking lot, leaving the job site, when they were shot in the left wrist." | |
| 2023 | TX | Administrative Services | "An employee was carrying packages to the car and went to open the trunk lid with their foot when they slipped and fell to the ground. The employee sustained a wrist fracture that required hospitalization." | |
| 2023 | MO | Retail Trade | "An employee was throwing plastic trash into a large trash bag when her foot got caught on the bag, causing her to trip and fall. The employee sustained a broken wrist and a mouth injury." | |
| 2023 | FL | Construction | "An employee was painting from an A-frame ladder. As she descended the ladder, she fell to the ground below, resulting in a fractured right wrist." | |
| 2023 | NJ | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was exiting his trailer after cleaning the inside of it. As he stepped off the back of the trailer, he fell to the ground and sustained a broken left wrist." | |
| 2023 | AR | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was packaging brick when a brick broke and became jammed between the back plate and the jig side. When the jig cycled, the broken brick caused the jig to buckle. As the employee was putting brick into the jig, his left wrist struck the outer side of the buckled jig, resulting in a contusion that required hospitalization." | |
| 2023 | PA | Administrative Services | "An employee was coming down a ladder after showing other members of the crew how to clean windows. Once he stepped on the second step from the ground level, he tripped and fell to the concrete floor. The employee sustained a fractured right wrist." | |
| 2023 | ID | Construction | "An employee was sheathing a subfloor from a 10-foot height. The wind picked up and a piece of sheathing struck the employee, causing him to fall 10 feet to the ground below. The employee was hospitalized with fractures to both wrists." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Recovery timelines for wrist fractures vary significantly based on the severity of the break and the need for surgical intervention. You may require months of physical therapy to regain your full range of motion, and you might experience permanent stiffness or chronic pain. An attorney can help you document these long-term medical needs to ensure your claim accounts for your future care.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover injuries that occur during the course of your employment, regardless of who was at fault for the fall. If your injury happened while you were performing your job duties, you are generally entitled to medical coverage and lost wage benefits. An attorney can assist you in filing your claim correctly to avoid common administrative denials.
Employers often attempt to shift blame to you to avoid liability, but Workers' Compensation is a no-fault system in most jurisdictions. Even if you made a mistake, you are likely still eligible for benefits for your medical bills and recovery time. A qualified attorney can help you gather evidence and protect your rights against employer pushback.
OSHA mandates strict safety requirements for walking and working surfaces, such as the use of guardrails and proper ladder maintenance, to prevent the falls that frequently cause wrist injuries. When your employer ignores these safety protocols, they may be held accountable for the resulting harm. An attorney can investigate whether a violation of safety regulations contributed to your injury.