Cuts and Lacerations at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Cuts and Lacerations at Work
Severe laceration incidents are trending downward
OSHA has documented 6,313 severe cases of cuts and lacerations, with fingers and hands accounting for nearly 30 percent of all incidents. These injuries often occur suddenly, turning routine tasks into medical emergencies that require immediate hospitalization.
Beyond the initial pain, these wounds carry a high risk of long-term functional impairment. Damage to tendons, nerves, and arteries in the hand or forearm can lead to permanent loss of dexterity and chronic pain, directly impacting a worker's ability to perform their job duties.
What's Driving the Trend?
Over the last decade, reported severe lacerations have decreased by 17.8 percent, reflecting a broader shift in workplace safety standards. Despite this decline, the persistence of incidents involving hand tools and stationary machinery suggests that gaps in safety protocols remain a significant threat.
Manufacturing and construction sectors dominate the data, representing over 50 percent of all severe cases. These environments rely heavily on high-speed equipment and manual cutting tools, where a momentary lapse in focus or a failure in equipment maintenance can result in life-altering trauma.
How Cuts and Lacerations Happen at Work
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Most severe lacerations stem from the predictable failure of safety measures during daily operations. Workers are most frequently injured by objects they are currently handling, or by propelled debris and materials that strike them with enough force to penetrate skin and tissue.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Injured by object handled by person | 1,073 |
| 2 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 1,040 |
| 3 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 644 |
| 4 | Struck by falling object | 394 |
| 5 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 369 |
| 6 | Other fall to lower level | 301 |
| 7 | Fall on same level | 299 |
| 8 | Bitten or stung by animal | 293 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally obligated to prevent these injuries under 29 CFR 1910.212, which mandates machine guarding to protect workers from hazards like rotating parts and flying chips. Furthermore, 29 CFR 1910.132 requires employers to assess the workplace for hazards and provide appropriate personal protective equipment, such as cut-resistant gloves, to mitigate risks when engineering controls are insufficient.
Industries with Most Cuts and Lacerations
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Manufacturing accounts for 32.5 percent of all severe laceration cases, followed closely by construction at 22.3 percent. These industries involve the constant use of saws, pneumatic tools, and heavy machinery, where the margin for error is razor-thin and the consequences of a mechanical failure are immediate.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
Employers in these high-risk sectors must strictly adhere to 29 CFR 1910.147, the lockout and tagout standard, to ensure machinery is de-energized during maintenance. Additionally, 29 CFR 1926.300 requires that all hand and power tools be maintained in a safe condition, and employers must ensure that guards are never removed or bypassed during operation.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
The incident reports reveal a recurring pattern where common tools like box cutters, hammers, and tow equipment cause severe, unexpected trauma. Many of these injuries occur during routine tasks, highlighting how quickly a standard procedure can turn into a hospitalization when equipment fails or safety protocols are ignored.
"A veterinarian was listening to a cat's heart when the cat bit their left thumb. The employee was hospitalized for treatment. "
"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 carrying a compressor when he dropped it on his hand, resulting in a laceration to a finger. The employee was hospitalized."
"An employee was cutting boxes using a box cutting tool and lacerated an artery in their wrist. The employee was hospitalized."
"At 5:46 PM, on July 26, 2025, an Evergreen Caissons bulldozer operator was towing a water truck on a sandy job site. The tow hook failed and the shackle and D-ring on the nylon tow rope snapped back and went through the back window of the dozer, and struck the operator. The employee sustained a gash under their right armpit. The employee was hospitalized."
"An employee was climbing off the back of a dump truck when he slipped and fell. His right leg struck a piece of scrap metal resulting in a severe laceration to the lower leg. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery."
"An employee was cleaning underneath the prep table in the kitchen. When he got up, he slipped on an onion on the floor and fell backward, striking the back of his head on the corner of the table. The employee suffered an open laceration and was hospitalized."
"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."
"An employee was using a pressure washer to rinse down a manhole on a sanitary sewer. When they released the pressurized hose, the employee was struck in the face and neck, resulting in lacerations to their face under the left eye and their neck."
"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."
Common Questions About Cuts and Lacerations 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.