How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 262 severe cases involving boring handtools over the last decade. Amputations, avulsions, and enucleations are the most common injury types, accounting for 69 percent of all reported incidents.
These injuries are particularly severe because they frequently involve your fingers. The high rate of permanent tissue loss often leads to long-term disability and significant medical expenses for you.
How these injuries happen
Injuries from boring handtools most often occur when you are struck by an object handled by a person, which accounts for 69 percent of incidents. This frequently happens when a drill bit binds or a router kicks back, pulling your hand into the path of the tool or causing the tool to strike your body.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Injured by object handled by person | 177 |
| 2 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 23 |
| 3 | Struck by running powered equipment— n.e.c. | 21 |
| 4 | Struck by falling object | 9 |
| 5 | Struck by running powered equipment— irregular movement, kick back | 7 |
| 6 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 6 |
| 7 | Indirect exposure to electricity | 4 |
| 8 | Entangled in non-running object | 3 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all sectors with 45 percent of reported incidents. The high volume of drilling and boring tasks on active job sites creates constant exposure to kickback risks and entanglement hazards.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include tools binding on materials like concrete or metal, leading to sudden, violent movement that traps your fingers or punctures your body. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine if employer negligence played a role.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was operating a core drill to bore through concrete at an active construction site. The equipment struck embedded rebar in the concrete, causing the handle to kick back and strike the employee's ribs. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured rib and a punctured lung." | |
| 2025 | OH | Manufacturing | "An employee was cutting a piece of plastic molding with a handheld router when the router kicked out and contacted the employee's right thumb. The employee was hospitalized with hand injuries that required repair." | |
| 2025 | OH | Manufacturing | "On July 16, 2025, at around 2:20 PM, an employee was drilling a hole in a metal bracket. One end of the bracket was secured in a vise. When drilling, the bracket twisted and wrapped around the employee's left index finger. The employee's fingertip was amputated near the top joint." | |
| 2025 | IL | Construction | "At about 3:40 p.m. on July 9, 2025, an electrician was instructing an apprentice when a cordless hammer drill was knocked from an 8-foot ladder. The drill bit (a 3/16", 6-inch-long masonry bit) punctured the employee's throat. The incident took place during a training activity." | |
| 2025 | MA | Real Estate | "Employees were cleaning out a vacuum pipe system using a motorized drain snake. The snake bound on an obstruction in the pipe, twisted upon itself, and wrapped around an employee's gloved right little finger. The employee suffered a partial amputation to the finger just below the nailbed, above the first joint." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "On 6/17/2025, an employee was working as a sub-contractor at a site. He was using a power drill to create holes in a stainless-steel hanger strap for an exhaust duct. He was holding down the strap with his left hand when the drill spun out. The strap wrapped around the drill and caught his right thumb. The employee's thumb was partially amputated at the first knuckle and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | LA | Professional Services | "An employee was operating a perimeter router. He reached to move the router out of the way so he could advance a panel when he suffered the amputation of the distal phalanx on his left index finger." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee was using a magnetic drill to drill a hole on an elevator door. His left glove became entangled with the drill bit, which partially amputated his left thumb below the last knuckle and removed several inches of a tendon. The employee's left middle finger was also severely lacerated. He was hospitalized and received stitches." | |
| 2025 | GA | Manufacturing | "An employee was cleaning the barrel of an extruder using a brush mounted on a handheld electric drill. The employee's gloves became entangled in the rotating shaft of the drill, and the last joint of the employee's left ring finger was amputated." | |
| 2025 | WI | Information | "An employee was winding up string to blow fiber through conduit using a drill when the poly line (fiber cable) came back up and wrapped around his left index finger. The employee sustained a partial amputation of the finger." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, finger amputations are the most frequent injury type associated with these tools. The high torque of drills and routers can cause them to twist or bind, pulling your fingers into the mechanism in a split second. An attorney can help you understand how these specific injury patterns relate to your Workers' Compensation claim.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that tools are properly maintained and that you receive adequate training for the specific equipment you operate. If a tool was defective or if you were not provided with the necessary safety guards, your employer may be liable for your injuries. An attorney can help you identify if safety protocols were ignored.
Workers' Compensation typically covers medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of your lost wages for hand injuries. Because these injuries often result in permanent impairment, you may also be entitled to additional benefits for loss of use. An attorney can help you ensure your claim accurately reflects the long-term impact of your injury.
While you can file a claim on your own, these cases often involve complex questions regarding equipment maintenance and safety compliance. An attorney can help you gather evidence, such as maintenance logs or training records, to strengthen your case. They can also ensure you are not pressured into a settlement that does not cover your full recovery needs.