How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,459 cases involving you being struck by swinging or suspended objects over the past decade. These incidents frequently result in amputations, which account for 50% of all reported cases.
Fingers are the most affected body part in 55% of all incidents. When heavy equipment or structural components shift unexpectedly, the resulting force often causes crushing injuries that require immediate surgical intervention and extensive rehabilitation.
Common injuries
These injuries typically occur when heavy objects or machinery components move in ways that are not properly controlled or guarded. Doors that are structurally attached are the leading source of these incidents, accounting for 39% of all reported cases. You are often injured when you attempt to maneuver, catch, or guide swinging doors, cranes, or heavy pipes that shift unexpectedly during operation.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 719 |
| 2 | Fractures | 355 |
| 3 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 130 |
| 4 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 76 |
| 5 | Intracranial Injuries | 49 |
| 6 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 32 |
| 7 | Injuries to internal organs and major blood vessels | 27 |
| 8 | Bruises, contusions | 16 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 28% of all reported incidents, largely due to the constant movement of heavy materials and the use of complex machinery. In these environments, your proximity to automated lines and heavy equipment creates a risk for entanglement or crushing injuries when safety protocols fail.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents involve you attempting to stabilize shifting loads or interacting with heavy doors that close with significant force. Whether it is a crane load shifting during a maintenance procedure or a door slamming shut on your hand, these events frequently stem from mechanical failures or a lack of adequate safety barriers. 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 | Manufacturing | "A drive chain broke at the wave feeder on the log line infeed. The injured employee came to help move logs with a remote-controlled hoist so they could reach the chain sprocket. He connected the log grapple to a log and started to lift the log with the hoist. The log rolled and pinned his left leg against another log, fracturing his leg. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "A subcontracted engineer was advising maintenance how to make a modification to the embossing roll system on a new line. Maintenance was bringing the motor and gearbox down with a crane. The load shifted when it was a few inches from the ground. The engineer went to catch/maneuver the gearbox and the fingers on his left hand were crushed between the I-beam base of the gearbox and the concrete floor. A finger was amputated." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was entering a building and reached out to catch a closing door. The door closed on the employee's finger, resulting in the partial amputation of the fingertip and nailbed." | |
| 2025 | VA | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was getting out of a postal vehicle when the door shut on his right ring finger, severing his fingertip. The employee's right ring fingertip was amputated." | |
| 2025 | FL | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee's hand was on a door frame when the door slammed shut. Her left little finger was amputated at the first joint." | |
| 2025 | WI | Administrative Services | "An employee was opening a door to a semi trailer at the facility and his hand was caught between the door and another parked semi. The employee's left index finger was fractured and thumb muscles were injured. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery. " | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was operating an overhead crane using a remote control. They went to control the movement of a suspended load and their hand became caught between the suspended load and other objects. The employee sustained amputation of their left little finger." | |
| 2025 | WV | Manufacturing | "An employee was moving a 4x4 box jacket with an overhead crane. The employee hooked a chain to the jacket and put tension on it. It spun awkwardly, striking the employee and knocking him over. The employee fell on the same level and sustained a fractured rib and lacerations to his lower left abdomen and backside." | |
| 2025 | OK | Agriculture | "An employee was making rounds to the barns to take care of cattle. The employee was stepping out of a van and the sliding door closed on their little finger. The employee's fingertip was amputated." | |
| 2025 | ID | Agriculture | "An employee was working in a holding pen, using a crowd gate to herd cows into milking stalls. She was moving to beat the crowd gate to a manhole, but the gate moved and struck the employee. The employee was hospitalized with two fractured processes in her lower vertebrae." |
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 to stabilize your injury and prevent further complications. Once you are stable, document the scene and report the incident to your employer to ensure a formal record is created. An attorney can help you understand your rights and ensure your medical and disability benefits are properly calculated.
Employers are required to maintain a safe work environment and ensure that equipment is properly guarded and maintained. If a failure in safety protocols or equipment maintenance led to your injury, your employer may be held accountable through the Workers' Compensation system. An attorney can help you determine if safety violations contributed to your accident.
Yes, Workers' Compensation is designed to cover your medical expenses and lost wages for injuries sustained during the course of employment. This applies regardless of who was at fault for the accident in most cases. An attorney can assist you in navigating the claims process to ensure you receive the full benefits you are entitled to.
OSHA enforces strict regulations regarding the handling of materials and the guarding of machinery to prevent these types of accidents. Your employer must comply with standards such as 29 CFR 1910.176 for material handling and 29 CFR 1910.212 for machine guarding. If your employer failed to meet these standards, an attorney can help you leverage that information in your claim.