Gunshot wounds at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Gunshot wounds at Work
A decade of increasing workplace violence
OSHA has documented 355 severe gunshot wounds incidents, with an average of 33 cases reported annually. These injuries most frequently impact multiple body parts, the internal organs, and the thighs, often resulting in complex trauma that requires immediate surgical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
Beyond the immediate physical damage, these wounds carry a high risk of permanent functional impairment and chronic pain. The severity of these injuries often necessitates extended time away from work and can lead to significant, life-altering limitations in mobility and physical capability.
What's Driving the Trend?
The 152.6 percent increase in reported cases over the past ten years highlights a growing safety crisis in the workplace. While year-over-year data shows a slight decline, the long-term trajectory remains upward, driven largely by violent acts from external sources and criminal assailants.
Retail trade and accommodation services account for nearly 40 percent of all reported incidents, reflecting the high exposure of customer-facing staff to external threats. These environments often lack the necessary security infrastructure to protect employees from the unpredictable actions of clients or intruders.
How Gunshot wounds Happen at Work
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
The vast majority of these injuries, approximately 71.7 percent, stem from physical assaults, including hitting, kicking, beating by other person, which escalate into firearm-related violence. Accidental discharges and unspecified violent acts by third parties account for the remainder of these severe, often life-threatening events.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hitting, kicking, beating by other person | 226 |
| 2 | Shooting by other person | 42 |
| 3 | Violent acts by other person— unspecified | 34 |
| 4 | Gun discharge— accidental or intent unknown | 12 |
| 5 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 1 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are required to maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards under the OSHA Inspection and Enforcement General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, Section 5(a)(1). When violence is a known risk, failing to implement adequate security measures, access controls, or emergency response protocols may constitute a violation of these federal safety obligations.
Industries with Most Gunshot wounds
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Retail trade leads all sectors with 27.3 percent of incidents, followed by accommodation and food services at 11.8 percent. These industries rely on open-access environments where employees are frequently exposed to the public, creating a high-risk landscape for workplace violence.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
Employers in high-risk sectors must adhere to OSHA guidelines for preventing workplace violence, which emphasize the importance of hazard assessments and security training. Failure to implement basic safety measures, such as restricted access points or panic alarms, may leave an employer liable for failing to protect their staff from foreseeable criminal threats.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
The documented incident reports reveal a pattern of vulnerability where employees are caught in the crossfire of external violence or suffer from negligent handling of firearms. These cases frequently involve security personnel or staff in public-facing roles who are struck while attempting to de-escalate volatile situations or during unexpected encounters with armed individuals.
"The injured employee was performing a one-on-one watch of a patient who had been brought to the emergency room. The patient became agitated while in the patient room. Security personnel provided assistance to de-escalate the patient s behavior. The patient lunged for a security guard s handgun and a struggle ensued between the patient and two security guards. The patient was able to place his hand on the weapon and it fired while still inside its holster. The injured employee was struck in the abdomen by a bullet while standing at the door opening. The employee was hospitalized."
"On June 25, 2025, a security employee was walking into a facility ahead of their shift when their firearm discharged. The employee suffered a gunshot wound to the right leg."
"An employee had been managing the site when an unknown individual came onto the site and shot them with a gun. The employee was hospitalized."
"At 4:30 a.m. on June 20, 2025, an employee suffered a gunshot wound during a verbal altercation in a parking lot. The employee was hospitalized."
"An employee was showing a handgun to co-worker when it discharged and a bullet struck the co-worker's leg."
"An employee was towing away a vehicle for reposession. When the vehicle was on a lift, he was held at gunpoint and then shot. He was hospitalized."
"Two employees got into a physical altercation in the parking lot and one employee was shot. The injured employee was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to their lower extremity."
"An employee was called to the emergency department to assist with de-escalating a patient. During the incident, the patient pulled a firearm out of their bag and began shooting. The employee was shot in the torso. They were hospitalized and required surgery."
"An employee and two volunteers were constructing a fence at a jobsite when they were victims of an armed robbery. The employee suffered bullet wounds to the his right forearm, left little and ring fingers, lower abdomen, chest, neck, and cheek, resulting in hospitalization and multiple surgeries. One of the volunteers also suffered gunshot injuries and was treated and released."
"An employee was on break in her car in the parking lot when an individual came out of a nearby store and began yelling at her. The employee was shot by this person three times in her torso/chest. The employee was hospitalized."
Common Questions About Gunshot wounds 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.