How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 6,794 severe cases involving falling objects over the past decade. Fractures are the most common injury, accounting for 45% of all reported incidents, often requiring extensive medical intervention and long-term recovery.
These events are dangerous because they frequently impact your fingers, which account for 23% of all injuries in this category. The sudden nature of these impacts often leads to permanent damage, including amputations and severe trauma that can prevent you from returning to your previous role.
Common injuries
Injuries typically occur when raw metal materials or machine parts are improperly secured, stored, or moved. You are often struck when containers, pipes, or beams fall from elevated positions during assembly or transport. These incidents frequently stem from a failure to maintain stable storage systems or a lack of adequate overhead protection for you while working below.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fractures | 3,000 |
| 2 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 1,594 |
| 3 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 805 |
| 4 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 394 |
| 5 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 237 |
| 6 | Intracranial Injuries | 237 |
| 7 | Bruises, contusions | 102 |
| 8 | Injuries to internal organs and major blood vessels | 97 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 36% of all reported incidents, as the constant movement of heavy raw materials creates a high-risk environment for falling hazards. Construction sites follow closely, where the vertical nature of the work and the use of heavy pipes and beams frequently lead to severe struck-by events when safety protocols are bypassed.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you being pinned or struck while moving heavy equipment or performing maintenance on elevated systems. Many incidents occur when grip is lost during manual handling or when heavy components are not properly secured before being moved. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | GA | Construction | "Employees were removing a damaged uninterrupted power supply (UPS) from an audio/visual rack system. The injured employee was pulling from the front. Two other employees were pushing from the rear when they lost their grip. The UPS fell, pinching the injured employee s middle finger against the floor. The employee's fingertip was partially amputated without bone loss." | |
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "An employee was working to assemble a rotator head onto a landing joint. The rotator head fell onto the employee's leg and fractured it." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "A forklift was placing an elevated load onto a truck. The forklift tipped forward and fell on the injured employee who was standing nearby. The employee sustained fractures to their hip and ribs, as well as leg muscle injuries." | |
| 2025 | GA | Construction | "An employee was cutting a cast iron pipe when the pipe fell onto his right hand, resulting in amputation of the thumb. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | TX | Information | "An employee was closing a hand hole lid when the lid fell on the employee's fingers. The employee's left middle fingertip was partially amputated." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was retrieving a hose from a trailer. The employee tripped over a crossover sub and fell off the trailer. The crossover sub then rolled off the trailer and struck the employee's leg between the knee and ankle. The employee sustained a fracture." | |
| 2025 | NY | Retail Trade | "On July 30, 2025, at approximately 8:00 a.m., an employee was unloading a truck when three sliding patio door panels, which weighed approximately 450 pounds each, fell on his head and neck area, pinning him inside the truck and causing him to lose consciousness." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was repairing a compact track loader. He was removing supports from the lift arms when the lift arms fell and trapped him under the machine. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery for a broken leg. He also sustained twisted vertebrae, a crushed jugular vein, a fractured shoulder, fractured ribs, and required staples to his head." | |
| 2025 | IL | Health Care | "On July 29, 2025, an employee was moving a table to reset a classroom in the education center. The tabletop flipped and landed on the employee's left foot, crushing three of her toes. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery for lacerations and fractures to her foot and three toes." | |
| 2025 | WI | Professional Services | "On July 29, 2025, an employee was removing a bolt from a metal racking beam. The beam fell, and the employee's hand was crushed between the beam and a pallet of bricks. Two of the employee's fingers were amputated." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Fractures are the most frequent injury, followed by amputations and severe lacerations. These injuries often impact your hands and fingers, which are frequently in the path of falling materials. An attorney can help you document the full extent of your injuries to ensure your claim reflects the severity of your condition.
Employers are required to maintain a safe work environment, which includes securing materials and providing necessary protective equipment. If your injury resulted from a failure to follow safety standards, you may have a valid Workers' Compensation claim. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your employer's safety lapses contributed to your accident.
Report the incident to your supervisor immediately and seek medical attention for your injuries. Documenting the scene and obtaining witness statements can be vital for your claim. Speaking with an attorney early in the process helps ensure your rights are protected and your claim is filed correctly.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical expenses and lost wages for injuries sustained on the job, regardless of fault. If you were struck by a falling object while performing your duties, you are likely entitled to benefits. An attorney can help you verify that you are receiving the full compensation you are owed.