Struck by Swinging Objects at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Struck by Swinging Objects at Work
A decade of rising incident reports
OSHA recorded 1,459 severe incidents involving workers struck by swinging or suspended objects over the last decade. These events frequently result in life-altering injuries, with amputations and avulsions accounting for 49.6 percent of all reported cases.
The physical impact of these incidents is concentrated on the extremities, as fingers are involved in 55 percent of all reported cases. These injuries often lead to permanent disability, requiring extensive medical intervention and long-term rehabilitation for the affected workers.
What's Driving the Trend?
The frequency of these incidents has increased by 87.8 percent over the last ten years, signaling a persistent failure in workplace safety protocols. Structurally attached doors are the primary source of these injuries, appearing in 39 percent of all reported cases.
Manufacturing and construction industries bear the highest burden, collectively accounting for nearly 45 percent of all incidents. These environments often involve heavy machinery and high-traffic entry points that, when improperly maintained, create immediate hazards for employees.
Injury Types from Struck by Swinging Objects
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
These incidents typically occur when workers are caught in the path of heavy, moving equipment or structural components. Doors that slam shut unexpectedly, crane loads that shift during transport, and structural barriers that lack proper clearance are the most common sources of injury. Workers are often struck while attempting to maneuver equipment or simply navigating high-traffic zones where moving parts are not adequately guarded or controlled.
| 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 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally obligated to maintain a safe environment under 29 CFR 1910.212, which mandates that machines and moving parts be guarded to prevent contact. Furthermore, 29 CFR 1910.179 requires strict adherence to safety protocols for overhead and gantry cranes to prevent load shifting. Failure to implement these safeguards or provide adequate training on moving equipment often constitutes a direct violation of federal safety regulations.
Industries with Most Struck by Swinging Objects
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Manufacturing leads all sectors with 27.8 percent of reported cases, followed by construction at 17.1 percent. In these industries, the combination of high-speed production lines and heavy lifting equipment creates a constant risk of entanglement or impact injuries.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
In manufacturing and construction, employers must comply with 29 CFR 1910.147 regarding the control of hazardous energy to ensure equipment does not move unexpectedly. Additionally, 29 CFR 1926.1400 provides specific requirements for crane operations to prevent struck-by incidents. Employers are responsible for conducting regular hazard assessments to identify and mitigate risks associated with swinging or suspended loads.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
The reported incidents reveal a recurring pattern of workers being caught between moving objects and stationary surfaces during routine tasks. Whether it is a hand caught in a closing door or a limb pinned by a shifting crane load, these narratives highlight how quickly a momentary lapse in equipment safety can lead to a permanent injury.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"An employee's hand was on a door frame when the door slammed shut. Her left little finger was amputated at the first joint."
"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. "
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
Common Questions About Struck by Swinging Objects 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.