Friction and Abrasion Injuries at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Friction and Abrasion Injuries at Work
Persistent risks from daily workplace contact
OSHA recorded 21 severe incidents where workers suffered from friction or abrasion-related injuries. These events frequently result in painful blisters, which accounted for 25 percent of all reported cases, and deep lacerations that often require surgical intervention.
The severity of these injuries is underscored by the fact that they often lead to hospitalization due to secondary infections. Feet, toes, and fingers are the most frequently affected body parts, representing 30 percent of all severe reports.
What's Driving the Trend?
The data indicates a consistent pattern of injury where everyday items like clothing, ropes, and chains cause significant physical harm. Apparel and clothing are the leading sources of these injuries, contributing to over 31 percent of all documented severe cases.
Manufacturing and construction industries account for over 67 percent of these incidents. These environments involve repetitive tasks and heavy equipment that increase the likelihood of constant friction against a worker's skin or protective gear.
Injury Types from Friction and Abrasion Injuries
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
These injuries often occur when personal protective equipment or standard work clothing fails to fit correctly, causing constant rubbing against the skin. In other scenarios, workers are injured when ropes, chains, or raw materials like earth and stone create friction during manual handling tasks. These incidents are rarely accidental; they are frequently the result of inadequate equipment selection or failure to address known hazards in the workspace.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blisters | 5 |
| 2 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 4 |
| 3 | Abrasions | 4 |
| 4 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 3 |
| 5 | Other or multiple types of burns | 2 |
| 6 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 1 |
| 7 | Surface and flesh wounds— unspecified | 1 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to provide safe working conditions under the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act. When equipment or clothing causes severe injury, it may indicate a violation of 29 CFR 1910.132, which mandates that employers assess the workplace for hazards and ensure that necessary personal protective equipment is properly fitted and maintained.
Industries with Most Friction and Abrasion Injuries
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Manufacturing leads with 38.1 percent of all reported cases, followed closely by construction at 28.6 percent. In these sectors, the combination of repetitive motion and the requirement for specialized gear creates a high-risk environment for skin-related injuries that escalate into severe infections.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
Employers in these sectors must adhere to 29 CFR 1910.132 regarding the selection and maintenance of protective equipment. Furthermore, 29 CFR 1910.141 requires that workplaces be kept clean and sanitary, which is essential for preventing the infections that often follow these friction-based injuries.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
The documented incident reports reveal a recurring pattern where minor friction, such as from new boots or gloves, is ignored until it develops into a severe, hospitalized infection. Other cases demonstrate how high-tension materials like ropes and cables can cause immediate, traumatic lacerations when they catch on a worker's hand during routine operations.
"An employee developed an infection caused by constant friction on his leg from his work boot. The employee was hospitalized. "
"A crew of three employees was pulling electric cable through 1,200 feet of HDPE conduit. The rope pulling the cable was attached to the bucket of an excavator. The excavator was pulling it back in stages, between which the rope would be untied so the truck could move forward and the rope could be re-tied. When one of the employees untied the rope, the tension in it caused it to catch his right hand and lacerate his middle finger. He was hospitalized."
"An employee's new steel-toe boots rubbed on the skin of his calves, causing an abrasion on the left calf that became infected. The employee was hospitalized."
"An employee was cutting turkey heads with a kitchen knife while wearing gloves. The glove rubbed against the employee's right hand, resulting in a blister that required hospitalization."
"An employee was chipping ceramic tile when a small particulate landed in his eye. He rubbed his eye and felt pain. The employee sustained an injury to his eye that required surgery."
"An employee was hospitalized due to an infection of the left foot caused by tight boots."
"An employee was on his hands and knees laying tile in a client's bathroom. The friction from the floor caused a blister on his left knee, which became infected, requiring hospitalization."
"An employee had been wearing a surgical mask for extended periods of time which caused a cut into the back of the left ear that resulted in a bacterial infection. The employee was hospitalized."
"An employee knelt on a pebble while stocking bottom shelves. His left knee became infected."
"On May 3, 2019, a forklift was moving pallets when the forks struck and broke a pipe. The injured employee went to examine the broken pipe when a blast of air struck the employee causing a surface burn to their right arm and hand."
Common Questions About Friction and Abrasion 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.