How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 577 severe cases of joint dislocations over the past decade. Shoulder injuries are the most frequent outcome, often leaving you unable to perform the basic lifting or reaching tasks required for your job.
These injuries are rarely minor, as they frequently involve torn ligaments and long-term joint instability. You may face months of physical therapy or surgical intervention, which can permanently limit your range of motion and reduce your future earning capacity.
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Free Benefits ReviewWhat causes Dislocations
Falls on the same level are the leading cause of joint dislocations, accounting for 25% of all severe incidents. When you slip or trip, the sudden impact or your body's reflexive attempt to catch itself often forces a joint out of its socket. Other common scenarios include falling from heights like ladders or overexertion while handling heavy materials by hand.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall on same level | 138 |
| 2 | Other fall to lower level | 136 |
| 3 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 61 |
| 4 | Struck by falling object | 29 |
| 5 | Twisting, reaching, bending | 25 |
| 6 | Slip, trip, stumble on same level— without fall | 16 |
| 7 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 15 |
| 8 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 15 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all sectors with 20% of severe dislocation cases, largely due to the prevalence of uneven walking surfaces and work at heights. Manufacturing follows closely at 20%, where you often face risks from repetitive motions and the physical demands of operating heavy machinery.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you losing your footing on unstable surfaces or being struck by falling objects that force a joint into an unnatural position. These incidents often occur during routine tasks like climbing ladders, handling equipment, or navigating floor openings. If your injury resulted from a similar hazard or an employer's failure to maintain a safe environment, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your claim.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was working on pipes in the ceiling. He was climbing down a ladder when he slipped and fell, twisting his ankle. The employee's ankle was dislocated." | |
| 2025 | FL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was preparing the aft cargo door of an aircraft for painting, while standing on a ladder. The employee was using a grinder and wearing a half-mask respirator when he fell to the hangar floor. The employee sustained a dislocated elbow requiring surgery." | |
| 2025 | NY | Manufacturing | "An employee's leg went through a part of the floor that was missing a floor tile and he sustained a dislocated shoulder while catching himself." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee had been spotting for a mini-excavator. The employee was working to relocate a water pump to give the mini-excavator an adequate area for the spoil pile. The employee retrieved the water pump located beside a 24'' metal manhole cover. As he started walking, his right foot stepped on the edge of the manhole cover and his right leg went into the opening up to his knee. His left leg and foot remained on the ground and twisted as he lost balance and fell to the ground. The employee sustained a closed dislocation of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the left foot and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | AL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was stacking cases of product, each weighing approximately 10 - 20 pounds, onto a pallet inside a railcar. A pallet that was stored on an upper level dislodged and fell, striking the employee from behind. The employee sustained a dislocated left hip." | |
| 2025 | IL | Retail Trade | "An employee dropped a piece of clothing on the sales floor. She bent over to pick it up and her hip dislocated. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | IL | Construction | "An employee was climbing down from a roof using a 20-foot fixed ladder. He was about 14 to 16 feet up the ladder, closing the roof hatch, when the hatch failed and he slipped and fell. He landed on the concrete floor, dislocated his left shoulder, and suffered injuries to his left elbow and right wrist." | |
| 2025 | OH | Manufacturing | "An employee was working on a cutting line that utilized a machine to pull material through the line. The employee was turning a roller to feed material into the machine when their left hand was caught between the rollers, resulting in abrasions and a dislocated thumb. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery on the thumb." | |
| 2025 | NY | Construction | "An employee was setting a water pump to dewater in a small trench when a piece of clay broke off and struck him in the side. The employee sustained a hip dislocation." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee walked to their work truck to put a delivery receipt in it. While walking back to the jobsite area, the employee was walking over a sandy area and tripped, putting their right hand out to catch themself. Their right little finger was dislocated. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.