How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 42 cases involving bodily motion or position over the last decade. Fractures account for 36 percent of these incidents, often resulting in significant time away from work and complex medical recovery.
These injuries frequently target your lower body, with knees and ankles representing 36 percent of all reported body part trauma. The sudden nature of these events often leads to long-term mobility challenges and chronic pain for you.
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These injuries occur when the natural act of walking or shifting your weight leads to sudden physical trauma. The primary source of these incidents is your own bodily motion or position, often exacerbated by uneven surfaces, protruding objects, or unstable terrain. Whether you are navigating a construction site or delivering a package, the failure to provide a safe walking surface or clear path frequently serves as the catalyst for these severe musculoskeletal injuries.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fractures | 15 |
| 2 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 8 |
| 3 | Sprains, strains, tears | 7 |
| 4 | Ischemic heart disease, including heart attack | 2 |
| 5 | Dislocations | 2 |
| 6 | Damage to prosthetic devices and aids | 1 |
| 7 | Multiple soft tissue injuries | 1 |
| 8 | Blisters | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Transportation and warehousing accounts for 21 percent of these cases, as you frequently navigate high-traffic areas and uneven loading docks. The physical demands of these environments, combined with the need for rapid movement, increase the likelihood of sudden ankle or knee injuries when surfaces are not properly maintained.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include you rolling your ankles on uneven ground, hyperextending your knees while setting up equipment, or fracturing bones during routine deliveries. These incidents often highlight a failure to identify or correct hazardous walking surfaces before an injury occurs. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine your legal options.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | PA | Other Services | "An employee was looking for a part in the back of their work van. Their foot landed on an uneven surface, and the employee shifted their weight backward and changed direction, resulting in a sprained right ankle. A metal pin protruding from the lid of a storage container also punctured their right ankle, resulting in a bacterial infection." | |
| 2025 | FL | Information | "An employee was about to install a cable at a residential site. While setting up a ladder, he stepped back on an uneven street surface and hyperextended his knee. He dislocated his knee and tore his patellar tendon." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was walking on the dirt ground at a construction site when he rolled his right ankle due to uneven ground, resulting in a torn ligament." | |
| 2025 | GA | Administrative Services | "An employee was walking up to a residential home to deliver a package. The employee pushed off his right foot, fracturing his right ankle. " | |
| 2025 | AR | Administrative Services | "An employee was walking on dirt terrain and rolled their right foot/ankle, breaking the ankle." | |
| 2024 | TX | Construction | "An employee was walking on level, grassy ground when he suffered a broken left knee at the distal end of the femur. He was hospitalized and required surgery." | |
| 2024 | FL | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was unloading boxes when they stepped back and fractured their knee." | |
| 2023 | LA | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was walking to deliver cylinders when his right knee gave out. He sustained a torn quadricep on the right knee." | |
| 2022 | CO | Public Administration | "An employee was walking up a jetway after exiting an aircraft when they felt a sharp pain in their lower back and they collapsed to the floor. The employee sustained a herniated disc that was compressing on the sciatic nerve." | |
| 2021 | GA | Administrative Services | "While climbing a hill, an employee collapsed and suffered a heart attack." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.