Caught Between Objects at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Caught Between Objects at Work
Incidents of crushing injuries are rising sharply
OSHA recorded 485 severe cases involving workers caught or wedged between objects over the last decade. These incidents most frequently result in amputations, avulsions, and enucleations, which account for 79.8 percent of all reported cases.
The danger of these events is concentrated on the hands and fingers, which are involved in 87.8 percent of all reported injuries. These crushing events often lead to permanent loss of function and require extensive surgical intervention.
What's Driving the Trend?
The frequency of these incidents has increased by 1056.5 percent over the last ten years, signaling a significant failure in workplace safety protocols. Vehicle and machine attachments remain the primary sources of these injuries, contributing to nearly 9 percent of all reported cases.
Manufacturing and construction industries account for 59 percent of all incidents, reflecting the high-risk nature of heavy equipment operation. These environments often lack the necessary safeguards to prevent workers from being pinned by structural elements or industrial vehicles.
Injury Types from Caught Between Objects
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Caught between incidents occur when a worker is pinned between two objects, such as a trailer and a truck, or trapped within a gate or machinery component. Common scenarios involve hitching trailers, servicing battery compartments, or clearing jams in industrial equipment. These events frequently involve pipes, ducts, and structural beams that shift unexpectedly during routine maintenance or material handling.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 386 |
| 2 | Fractures | 43 |
| 3 | Nonfatal 'crushing' injuries | 19 |
| 4 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 11 |
| 5 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 9 |
| 6 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 8 |
| 7 | Bruises, contusions | 2 |
| 8 | Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries | 2 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to identify and eliminate pinch points under 29 CFR 1910.212, which mandates machine guarding to protect operators from hazards. Failure to provide adequate training or physical barriers to prevent workers from entering hazardous zones often constitutes a violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. When an employer neglects these safety standards, they may be held liable for the resulting severe injuries.
Industries with Most Caught Between Objects
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Manufacturing leads all sectors with 40 percent of reported caught between incidents, followed by construction at 19 percent. These industries rely heavily on powered industrial vehicles and complex machinery, creating constant exposure to pinch point hazards during assembly, transport, and maintenance tasks.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
In manufacturing and construction, employers must adhere to 29 CFR 1910.178 for powered industrial trucks and 29 CFR 1926.1400 for crane and rigging safety. These regulations require strict lockout and tagout procedures to ensure that equipment remains stationary during service. Employers must also implement clear communication protocols to prevent accidental movement of machinery while workers are in close proximity.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
Reported incidents frequently reveal a pattern of workers being caught while performing routine tasks like hitching trailers or servicing equipment. These narratives highlight how minor lapses in equipment stability or communication can lead to life-altering finger amputations. Recurring themes include unexpected movement of vehicle attachments and the failure of safety latches on heavy machinery.
"On July 28, 2025, an employee was connecting a trailer to the hitch on a truck when the trailer tongue slipped. The employee's left little fingertip was crushed between the trailer tongue and the ball hitch. The employee sustained an amputation."
"An employee was assisting water treatment plant personnel with changing a flange when their finger got caught between the two pieces. The employee sustained a finger amputation."
"An employee was closing the store for the night. While closing the gate to the parking area, the gate dislodged from the tracks. The employee proceeded to lift the gate back onto the tracks and caught their right ring finger between the gate and the tracks, resulting in amputation of the fingertip."
"An employee had just serviced a battery and was reinstalling it in a forklift using a battery extractor. The employee was trying to pull the battery out of the battery compartment when the extractor moved, causing the battery to shift on the rollers. The employee's right hand was crushed between the top of the battery and the battery compartment."
"The injured employee was assisting with hitching a trailer to a truck. The employee was working to engage the lunette ring on the trailer with the pintle hook on the truck. A mini-excavator began driving onto the rear of the trailer. The added weight caused the rear of the trailer to lower and the front to rise, creating a pinch point between the trailer and the truck. The employee s left thumb was caught in the latch mechanism of the pintle hook. The thumb tip was partially amputated and required surgery."
"An employee had utilized a forklift to move a metal recycling bin into position to empty the bin. The employee exited the forklift to empty the chips manually. The employee pushed the lever on the bin to dump the chips and their finger got pinched between the bin and the forklift. The employee's fingertip was partially amputated without loss of bone."
"Two employees were removing a wooden pallet from a stack of pallets. One employee's left little finger was pinched between two pallets, causing a fingertip amputation without bone loss."
"An employee was on the roof of the facility working on a kitchen exhaust fan hood to identify the source of a vibration. He manually moved the propeller and shaft to check for play in the bearings. His left hand slipped and his little finger became caught between the motor pulley and belt. The employee's weight shifted onto the propeller and caused the pulley to rotate, resulting in partial amputation of the distal phalanx of his little finger."
"An employee was reversing a transport truck out of a parking space when the side mirror of the truck contacted another tractor and it folded inward. The employee went to fold the mirror back out and their left ring finger slipped into a recessed area of the adjusting mechanism, causing the mirror base to amputate his left ring finger."
"An employee was dumping a hopper of scrap lids into a dumpster. The hopper rolled forward and then back. The employee's little finger became caught between the hopper and the support frame of the hopper. The employee's finger was partially amputated."
Common Questions About Caught Between Objects 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.