Struck by Objects at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Struck by Objects at Work
Severe struck-by incidents are trending upward
OSHA has recorded 2,515 severe cases involving workers struck by propelled objects or substances. These incidents frequently result in cuts, lacerations, and punctures, which account for 41.7 percent of all reported cases.
The impact of these events is often life-altering, with 22 percent of victims suffering from fractures and 6 percent experiencing traumatic amputations. Fingers and eyes are the most frequently injured body parts, highlighting the extreme vulnerability of workers to high-velocity debris.
What's Driving the Trend?
Over the last decade, the frequency of these incidents has risen by 5.2 percent, with a sharp 32 percent increase observed in the last five years alone. Fasteners and flying chips or particles remain the primary sources of injury, indicating persistent failures in containment and machine guarding.
Manufacturing and construction industries account for nearly 60 percent of all reported cases. These environments often involve high-pressure systems and heavy machinery where the risk of projectile release is constant and requires rigorous safety protocols.
Injury Types from Struck by Objects
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Struck-by injuries typically occur when kinetic energy is released unexpectedly from tools or materials. Common scenarios involve fasteners ejecting from nail guns, metal shards or chips flying from cutting equipment, and hydraulic couplings failing under pressure. These events often happen in seconds, leaving workers with little time to react to the sudden release of debris or heavy components.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 1,040 |
| 2 | Fractures | 548 |
| 3 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 328 |
| 4 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 149 |
| 5 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 80 |
| 6 | Injuries to internal organs and major blood vessels | 78 |
| 7 | Intracranial Injuries | 74 |
| 8 | Surface and flesh wounds— unspecified | 38 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to mitigate these risks under 29 CFR 1910.132, which mandates the use of personal protective equipment, and 29 CFR 1910.212, which requires adequate machine guarding. When an employer fails to maintain equipment or provide proper shielding, they may be in direct violation of these federal safety standards.
Industries with Most Struck by Objects
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Manufacturing and construction represent the highest risk, with these two sectors accounting for 59.6 percent of all reported struck-by incidents. The prevalence of high-speed assembly lines and heavy-duty demolition work creates an environment where flying debris is a constant, foreseeable hazard.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
In these high-risk sectors, employers must adhere to 29 CFR 1910.212 for machine guarding and 29 CFR 1926.300 for the safe operation of hand and power tools. These regulations dictate that all hazardous moving parts must be shielded to prevent objects from being thrown at operators.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
Reported incidents reveal a pattern of sudden mechanical failure, such as hydraulic hoses bursting or jammed equipment releasing stored kinetic energy. Workers are frequently injured while performing routine maintenance or operating high-pressure tools, often because safety guards were bypassed or equipment was not properly depressurized before inspection.
"An employee was operating equipment to cut a copper pipe (20 feet in length, 2 inches in diameter) when a jam occurred between the revolver assembly and the pinch roller assembly. He assessed the jam and determined that the copper pipe needed to be cut using a battery-powered reciprocating saw. He made two cuts on the pipe with the reciprocating saw. When the second cut was finished, kinetic energy stored within the pipe due to the jam released, and the pipe struck the employee's left hand. The employee's index fingertip was partially amputated before the first knuckle without bone loss."
"An employee was hammering a pin into an engine. When he struck the pin with the hammer, the pin shattered and a small piece entered the employee's leg. He was hospitalized and required surgery to remove the shard."
"An employee was preparing to replace links in the track of a dozer. As he was setting up a hydraulic press tool and working to get it in the right position, a coupling on a hydraulic hose gave way. The coupling struck the employee's right arm, resulting in lacerations and a fracture."
"An employee had been performing abrasive blasting operations in the sonar dome of a submarine. The employee completed replacing the outer blast glass layer on their blast hood and, while kneeling, the dead-man switch on their blast hose was actuated. High pressure (125-130 psi) air and blast media struck and injured their left forearm and hand. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery."
"An employee was undercutting a tree that was lying on a cable when the tree broke and flipped onto them. The employee was hospitalized with fractures to their pelvis, ribs, and back."
"An employee was putting dishes into a cabinet when a drinking glass fell out. The glass hit the counter and broke, cutting the back side of the employee's wrist. The employee sustained a laceration and tendon damage to their right wrist."
"An employee was hammering a metal collar on a piece of equipment when a small piece of metal broke off and entered their arm and hand. The employee was hospitalized."
"On July 22, 2025, an employee was cutting/torching a large piece of metal when a piece of the material broke loose, struck him mid-stomach, and knocked him to the ground. The employee was hospitalized with an umbilical hernia and fractures to his right femur and left fibula."
"Two employees were using a stationary shear to cut scrap metal material into pieces. The injured employee was working as the "picker," standing at the shaker table to remove any garbage or wood from the cut material. Employee 2 was loading material onto the shear for processing. A piece of metal was ejected from the shear and struck the injured employee. He was hospitalized with a laceration to his abdomen. The shear was not guarded at the time."
"An employee was pressure washing a bulldozer to clean off trash and dirt when his hand was lacerated by the high-pressure stream of water. The employee required surgery."
Common Questions About Struck by Objects Claims
The ClaimsBoost Research Team aggregates official government data to help workers understand workplace injury trends and their coverage options.
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