Fractures at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Fractures at Work
Fracture incidents are trending upward annually
OSHA has recorded 33,729 severe fracture incidents over the last decade, with the pelvic region and legs suffering the most frequent damage. These injuries often require extensive surgical intervention and long-term rehabilitation to restore basic mobility.
Beyond the immediate pain, fractures frequently lead to permanent functional limitations that can prevent a return to previous job duties. The loss of earning capacity and the potential for chronic orthopedic issues make these injuries among the most consequential workplace events.
What's Driving the Trend?
The 43.6 percent increase in reported fractures over the last ten years indicates a persistent failure in workplace safety protocols. While annual numbers fluctuate, the steady climb toward a projected 3,429 cases in 2025 highlights an urgent need for better hazard mitigation.
Manufacturing and construction remain the primary drivers of these trends, accounting for over 43 percent of all severe cases. These industries rely on heavy machinery and elevated work surfaces, which frequently lead to high-impact accidents when safety standards are ignored.
How Fractures Happen at Work
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Falls are the leading cause of severe fractures, accounting for 56 percent of all reported incidents. Whether falling from a ladder or tripping on a level surface, the force of impact against constructed surfaces like concrete or steel is the primary mechanism for bone breakage.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 9,899 |
| 2 | Fall on same level | 8,593 |
| 3 | Struck by falling object | 3,000 |
| 4 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 1,661 |
| 5 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 1,466 |
| 6 | Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle | 1,035 |
| 7 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 835 |
| 8 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 736 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to prevent these falls under 29 CFR 1926.501, which mandates fall protection systems for work at heights. When fractures occur due to unguarded machinery, employers may be in violation of 29 CFR 1910.212, which requires physical barriers to protect workers from moving parts.
Industries with Most Fractures
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Manufacturing and construction dominate the injury data, together responsible for nearly half of all severe fractures. These environments involve constant interaction with heavy industrial vehicles and elevated platforms, creating a high-risk landscape where a single misstep or equipment failure results in a broken bone.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
In these high-risk sectors, employers must strictly adhere to 29 CFR 1910.147 for lockout and tagout procedures to prevent accidental machine activation. Additionally, 29 CFR 1926.451 sets the mandatory safety standards for scaffolds and staging, which are frequent sources of severe falls.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
These incident reports reveal a recurring pattern of failures during routine tasks, such as clearing jams in machinery or accessing elevated work platforms. Inadequate safety equipment and poor site maintenance are common factors that turn standard work duties into life-altering fracture events.
"On 7/31/2025, an employee was training to ride an ATV when it went into a draw and she went over the front of the ATV, landing on the ground. The employee sustained a fractured arm."
"An employee was climbing an A-frame ladder to clear a jam in an overhead conveyance. The employee fell from the ladder to the plant floor and sustained fractured ribs."
"An employee accessed a fixed (permanent) platform and a support beam failed causing him to fall through the grating approximately 8 feet to the ground level. Part of the platform structure also fell. The employee sustained fractures to his ribs and pelvis."
"An employee was picking up litter on the perimeter of the complex. He was outside the facility grounds by the railroad tracks when he tripped in the rocks and fell, striking his head and knees. The employee sustained a fractured knee."
"An employee was airing up a trailer tire in the gas station parking lot. When he stepped backward, he tripped over an elevated fuel riser and suffered a fractured right femur."
"An employee had been performing administrative duties in the office at the front of the store. She was opening the office door for a co-worker when she stumbled backward and fell on the floor. The employee sustained a fractured left hip."
"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."
"An employee was working to assemble a rotator head onto a landing joint. The rotator head fell onto the employee's leg and fractured it."
"On July 31, 2025, an employee was walking when they fell on the concrete floor. The employee sustained a fractured right femur."
"An employee was standing on the edge of the dumpster while pulling out cribbage. The employee fell to the ground, sustaining a fractured elbow and hip. The employee was hospitalized."
Common Questions About Fractures 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.