Rail Vehicle Struck-By Injuries at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Rail Vehicle Struck-By Injuries at Work
Severe rail incidents are trending upward
OSHA recorded 28 severe incidents involving non-passenger rail vehicle strikes over the last decade. These events frequently result in catastrophic outcomes, with 57.7 percent of cases involving amputations and 26.9 percent involving fractures.
The physical toll of these incidents is concentrated on the lower extremities, with lower legs and feet accounting for over 25 percent of all reported injuries. These injuries often require extensive surgical intervention and long-term rehabilitation due to the crushing force of heavy rail equipment.
What's Driving the Trend?
The frequency of these incidents has risen by 40 percent over the past ten years, with a notable 133.3 percent increase in the last five years alone. This upward trajectory is driven primarily by heavy rail vehicles, which remain the leading source of injury in rail-adjacent work environments.
Manufacturing and transportation sectors bear the highest burden, collectively accounting for nearly 79 percent of all recorded cases. These industries often involve complex railcar switching and coupling operations that create high-risk environments for workers on foot.
Injury Types from Rail Vehicle Struck-By Injuries
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Rail vehicle injuries typically occur during high-stakes operations like coupling, uncoupling, or staging railcars. Workers are often caught between moving railcars or struck when a vehicle shifts unexpectedly during a switch. These incidents frequently happen when a worker is positioned between cars or near the tracks while equipment is in motion, leaving little room for error when a railcar rolls or reverses.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 15 |
| 2 | Fractures | 7 |
| 3 | Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries | 1 |
| 4 | Sprains, strains, tears | 1 |
| 5 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 1 |
| 6 | Injuries to internal organs and major blood vessels | 1 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to maintain safe operating procedures for rail equipment under 29 CFR 1910.176, which mandates that material handling equipment be operated safely. Failure to provide adequate signaling, enforce stop-work authority during coupling, or maintain clear walkways near tracks often constitutes a violation of general duty requirements to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards.
Industries with Most Rail Vehicle Struck-By Injuries
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Manufacturing facilities and transportation hubs account for 78.6 percent of all reported rail-related struck-by injuries. In these environments, the pressure to maintain production schedules often leads to railcar movement while employees are still performing manual tasks on or near the tracks.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
Employers in these sectors must adhere to strict safety protocols, including 29 CFR 1910.178 for powered industrial trucks and broader OSHA standards regarding the protection of workers from moving machinery. Compliance requires rigorous training on railcar movement, the use of proper signaling, and the enforcement of physical barriers or lockout procedures to prevent accidental movement during maintenance or coupling.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
The documented incident reports reveal a recurring pattern of workers being caught between railcars or run over while performing manual coupling and switching tasks. These narratives consistently show that injuries occur when railcars are moved without sufficient verification that personnel are clear of the tracks or the coupling mechanism.
"An employee was working the switchboard for a train to move through the plant. He gave the all clear signal, and the train began reversing on the tracks. The employee went to get onto the train as it was moving toward him when he missed the railing and fell underneath the train. The last railcar ran over both of his legs, amputating the legs above the knees."
"On April 27, 2025, employees were performing a railcar switch. When the train began to shift back, the injured employee's right arm got crushed between the knuckles of two railcars. The employee was hospitalized with fractures to their forearm."
"An employee was working to couple two railcars together, holding the lever with one hand and the coupler with the other hand. The locomotive then backed up and his left arm got caught in the coupler, resulting in a broken arm and a broken little finger."
"An employee was uncoupling railcars while the cars were in motion and a car ran over her left lower leg, resulting in crush injuries and amputation below the knee. The employee was hospitalized."
"On October 5, 2024, a crew was staging the last string of railcars to be loaded when the injured employee stepped forward and tripped on a railroad tie, causing his right foot to be on the rail. A staged railcar rolled forward and caught his foot between the wheel and the rail. The employee was hospitalized for amputations to toes."
"An employee in the rail yard was struck by the corner of a slow-moving railcar and lost their balance. The employee grabbed onto the side of the railcar to regain their balance and sustained an avulsion injury to the left thigh and a broken right ankle."
"On December 4, 2023, an employee was helping to move a hopper car. He was climbing the stairs to go to the other side of the hopper car when he slipped. His right foot went under the hopper car's wheel and a toe was amputated."
"An employee was working between railcars on an active railroad track to connect the airbrake. Another employee moved the railcars, striking and running over the employee resulting in amputation of both legs."
"On March 25, 2022, an employee had just detached a string of empty rail cars away from some loaded cars. The string of detached cars was being taken ahead, and the employee began pulling the knuckle of a rail car into the open position. The string of detached cars then momentarily came back, and the employee was pinched between two cars. The employee suffered a broken right hip and was hospitalized."
"At about 8:40 p.m., two employees (a groundsman and a switchman) were working in a rail yard, setting rail cars to be released from the site. The groundsman was watching the switchman connect an end-of-train device on the string of rail cars. While he was on the adjacent track, a locomotive on that track moved forward and struck him, knocking him over, injuring his right foot, and amputating his left leg above the knee."
Common Questions About Rail Vehicle Struck-By Injuries 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.