How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 810 severe incidents involving animal bites and stings over the last decade. The most frequent injury types are poisoning and asphyxia, which account for 40% of all reported cases. These injuries often require immediate medical intervention and hospitalization to manage systemic reactions.
When an animal attack occurs, the potential for severe tissue damage or allergic shock is significant. You may face long-term health complications following these traumatic exposures.
Bitten or stung at work? Check what benefits you may be owed.
Free Benefits ReviewCommon injuries
Workplace animal injuries typically stem from direct contact with mammals, which account for 47% of all reported sources. These incidents often occur when you interact with animals during professional duties or encounter wildlife while performing tasks in remote or outdoor locations. Whether you are a veterinary technician handling a distressed animal or a field worker surprised by a venomous reptile, the lack of proper containment or safety protocols is a primary factor.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Effects of poison, toxic, or allergenic exposure— unspecified | 319 |
| 2 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 293 |
| 3 | Surface and flesh wounds— unspecified | 59 |
| 4 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 45 |
| 5 | Fractures | 18 |
| 6 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 16 |
| 7 | Multiple surface and flesh wounds | 13 |
| 8 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 8 |
Where injuries happen most
Transportation and warehousing industries account for 22% of these severe incidents, largely due to the nature of delivery work and site inspections. You may enter unfamiliar environments where animal hazards are present. Professional services follow closely, as veterinary staff and animal handlers face constant exposure to unpredictable animal behavior during routine care.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include sudden attacks during routine animal handling or unexpected encounters with wildlife in remote work areas. Many incidents involve severe reactions to stings or deep puncture wounds from bites that necessitate emergency care. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine your eligibility for benefits.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | MO | Professional Services | "A veterinarian was listening to a cat's heart when the cat bit their left thumb. The employee was hospitalized for treatment. " | |
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "An employee was monitoring a screen in the PLC room when he was bitten by a rattlesnake on the back of his right calf." | |
| 2025 | RI | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was walking through a remote location on the worksite looking for spare parts. The employee was stung by a bee, suffered a severe reaction, and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was getting out of a car when a rattlesnake bit him below the right knee." | |
| 2025 | FL | Professional Services | "An employee was entering an exam room to perform a veterinary exam on a dog when the dog bit her face, resulting in hospitalization for a puncture injury." | |
| 2025 | OH | Accommodation & Food Services | "On July 10, 2025, an employee was stung by a bee while working at a drive-through window. She suffered an allergic reaction and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | CO | Construction | "An employee was performing mowing operations while operating a skid steer at a worksite. The employee noticed several flat panels lying on the ground and went to move them with the skid steer. The panels began to shift on the forks as they were lifted. He exited the skid steer to readjust the panels and was bitten on his left thumb by a rattlesnake that had been pinned beneath the load." | |
| 2025 | IL | Administrative Services | "An employee was landscaping when he was stung by three bees on his back and was hospitalized with an allergic reaction." | |
| 2025 | MO | Other Services | "An employee was participating in playtime with a cat. She was petting the cat when the cat bit her right hand. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | TX | Professional Services | "An employee was restraining a cat so a sterile urine sample could be obtained. The cat bit the employee's left middle finger. The wound had to be debrided and the employee was later hospitalized with an infection in the joint." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.