How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,258 severe cases involving stamping and bending machinery over the last decade. These incidents most frequently result in amputations, which account for 79% of all reported injuries from this equipment.
The severity of these injuries is concentrated in the fingers, which represent 84% of all affected body parts. These life-altering injuries often lead to permanent disability and require extensive medical intervention.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries occur when you are caught or entangled in running powered equipment during normal operation, accounting for 83% of all recorded incidents. These accidents often happen when a machine cycles unexpectedly or when you reach into a pinch point to adjust material. Other incidents involve you being struck by equipment during maintenance or cleaning, or becoming compressed between moving parts and stationary objects.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 1,037 |
| 2 | Struck by running powered equipment— during maintenance, cleaning, testing | 94 |
| 3 | Struck by running powered equipment— unspecified | 50 |
| 4 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 14 |
| 5 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 10 |
| 6 | Struck by running powered equipment— n.e.c. | 8 |
| 7 | Struck by running powered equipment— irregular movement, kick back | 7 |
| 8 | Caught or wedged between objects— nonrunning | 7 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 79% of all severe machine injuries, as these facilities rely heavily on high-speed stamping and bending lines. Construction and wholesale trade also report significant injury counts, typically during the fabrication of metal components on-site or in distribution warehouses.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include machines cycling while you are loading material, pinch points catching fingers during routine riveting, and safety guards failing to prevent contact with moving clamps. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specific circumstances of your injury to determine if employer negligence played a role.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CT | Construction | "An employee was bending sheet metal on a brake press. The press actuated while he was adjusting a piece of sheet metal, resulting in a crushing injury to the left arm." | |
| 2025 | TX | Administrative Services | "On July 29, 2025, at approximately 8:30 AM, a temporary employee was performing the riveting process at her assigned station on the stamping line. Her left index fingertip became caught in a pinch point of a stamping machine. The employee's fingertip was partially amputated." | |
| 2025 | OH | Manufacturing | "An employee was loading pipe into a flare machine when a part clamp caught her right hand. The hand was lacerated and broken. A light curtain was in place at the time of the incident." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was pushing fabric into a wind-up. The wind-up caught the employee's arm, pulled it forward, and broke the forearm. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was setting up a test bend on metal tubing when the bender machine clamped onto their right index finger. The fingertip was partially amputated." | |
| 2025 | MO | Manufacturing | "An employee was at the brake press when the press was activated, causing the ram to move. Two fingertips on his right hand were crushed between the dies and partially amputated." | |
| 2025 | IL | Manufacturing | "An employee was adjusting an air line on a scroll shear when a rotating gear caught his right ring finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was positioning a piece of metal trim for a test bend in a single-fold bend machine. Their right middle fingertip was pinched by a clamp on the machine, resulting in a partial amputation." | |
| 2025 | MS | Manufacturing | "An employee was operating a pointer, which reduces the end of copper tubing and allows it to go through a smaller die set to reduce its diameter. It requires two plugs to be set in place to be inserted in the tubing before it can be reduced or pointed. When the machine cycled, the tip of the employee's left thumb was caught by the machine's entry point, severing the tip of the thumb. A partial amputation, which included a small section of bone, was required to repair the injury." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was loading a truss to be finished in a press when their clothing was caught on a plate and pulled into the finish press, causing a broken arm." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical expenses and lost wages for injuries sustained while performing your job duties. Even if the injury involved a machine you were trained to operate, you are generally entitled to benefits. An attorney can help you ensure your claim is filed correctly and that you receive the full compensation you are owed.
Employers are required to follow strict OSHA standards, such as 29 CFR 1910.212, which mandates that machines must be guarded to protect you from hazards like pinch points and rotating parts. If a guard was missing, disabled, or failed to function, your employer may be liable for safety violations. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer met these critical safety obligations.
Insurance companies often look for reasons to minimize payouts or deny claims, especially for high-cost injuries like amputations. If you feel your benefits are insufficient or your claim is being delayed, it is important to seek legal counsel. An attorney can help you review your medical records and the incident report to verify that your compensation reflects the true extent of your injury.
Amputations often require multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and long-term rehabilitation to manage pain and restore function. Many people face permanent limitations that affect their ability to perform their previous job duties or engage in daily activities. An attorney can help you understand how these long-term impacts should be factored into your Workers' Compensation settlement.