How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 153 severe cases involving running powered equipment that kicked back or moved irregularly. These incidents frequently result in cuts, lacerations, and punctures, which account for 39% of all reported cases.
The severity of these events is clear in the high rate of permanent damage. Amputations and avulsions make up 37% of these injuries, with fingers being the most commonly affected body part in 50% of all recorded incidents.
Common injuries
These injuries typically occur when handheld cutting tools or stationary sawing machinery encounter unexpected resistance. When a blade or bit strikes embedded material like rebar or catches on a cable, the energy transfers instantly back to you. This sudden, violent movement often overcomes your grip, leading to contact with the tool's cutting edge.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 59 |
| 2 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 57 |
| 3 | Fractures | 23 |
| 4 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 5 |
| 5 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 3 |
| 6 | Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries | 2 |
| 7 | Bruises, contusions | 1 |
| 8 | Nonfatal 'crushing' injuries | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction accounts for 47% of these severe incidents, largely due to the frequent use of handheld concrete saws and drills in unpredictable field conditions. Manufacturing follows at 32%, where stationary sawing machinery and grinding disks present constant risks when you handle materials that may shift or bind during processing.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports show a recurring failure to account for material density or equipment stability before starting a cut. You are often injured when a tool strikes hidden obstructions or jumps during operation, causing immediate contact with your hands or face. 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 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was operating a core drill to bore through concrete at an active construction site. The equipment struck embedded rebar in the concrete, causing the handle to kick back and strike the employee's ribs. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured rib and a punctured lung." | |
| 2025 | OH | Manufacturing | "An employee was cutting a piece of plastic molding with a handheld router when the router kicked out and contacted the employee's right thumb. The employee was hospitalized with hand injuries that required repair." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was cutting down the front of a concrete panel when the concrete saw kicked back and lacerated his neck. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | WI | Construction | "An employee was sawing cable on the ground using a handheld concrete saw. The saw blade caught on the cable and jumped, striking and lacerating the employee's left calf." | |
| 2025 | MA | Manufacturing | "An employee was grinding a part when the grinding disk got caught on the part and jumped outward, contacting the employee's left forearm. The employee suffered a gash and severed artery that required hospitalization and surgery." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was conducting abatement operations using a floor grinder. The grinder came in contact with the plastic cord of a window blind, causing the grinder's handle to strike the employee near the right eye. The employee suffered a fracture near the eye socket, along with a laceration near the eye." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was scoring a concrete slab with an angle grinder. The slab fractured prematurely and caused the spinning blade of the angle grinder to become jammed and then lacerate the employee's left upper leg above the knee area. The employee sustained a 3-inch laceration." | |
| 2025 | AL | Construction | "An employee was using a saw to cut a bathroom block when the saw kicked back. The employee's thumb was amputated." | |
| 2025 | IL | Construction | "On July 7, 2025, an employee was cutting concrete pipe for a storm sewer when the concrete saw bound up and kicked back, cutting the employee on the right side of their face. The employee was hospitalized and required over 200 stitches." | |
| 2025 | RI | Construction | "An employee was cutting a piece of concrete curb with a cut-off saw when it kicked back and lacerated their left arm." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Seek immediate medical attention for any laceration or amputation, as these injuries require specialized care to prevent long-term loss of function. Once you are stable, report the incident to your supervisor in writing to ensure an official record exists. An attorney can help you document the equipment failure and ensure your Workers' Compensation claim is filed correctly.
Employers are required to provide equipment that is properly maintained and equipped with necessary safety guards to prevent unexpected movement. If a tool lacked required safety features or was improperly serviced, your employer may be liable for the resulting injury. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer violated safety standards and how that impacts your claim.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical expenses and lost wages for injuries sustained on the job, including those involving power tools. Even if the injury was accidental, you are generally entitled to benefits for the treatment and recovery period. An attorney can help you verify that your benefits are calculated accurately based on the severity of your injury.
OSHA mandates that employers ensure all machinery and hand tools are used according to manufacturer specifications and are equipped with appropriate guards. Regulations such as 29 CFR 1910.212 require that machines be guarded to protect you from hazards like kickback. An attorney can help you determine if a violation of these standards contributed to your injury and strengthen your case for compensation.