How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 263 severe incidents involving caps, lids, and covers over the last decade. These accidents frequently result in amputations, which account for 44% of all reported cases, alongside significant fractures and lacerations.
The severity of these injuries is often tied to the weight and force of the objects involved. Your fingers are the most common point of impact, suffering 46% of all recorded injuries, often leading to permanent damage or loss of function.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving lids and covers typically occur when these objects fall unexpectedly or strike you during routine handling. Many incidents involve you being struck by falling objects or having your hands compressed between a lid and the equipment frame, often during maintenance or access tasks.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 88 |
| 2 | Struck by falling object | 87 |
| 3 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 34 |
| 4 | Other fall to lower level | 8 |
| 5 | Injured by object handled by person | 6 |
| 6 | Struck by suspended or swinging object | 6 |
| 7 | Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object— unspecified | 5 |
| 8 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 4 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads with 36% of all reported incidents, as you frequently interact with heavy access covers and utility caps. Manufacturing follows at 27%, where repetitive tasks involving machine covers and equipment lids create constant exposure to pinch points and falling hazards.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include lids slipping during manual handling, covers dislodging under pressure, and overhead fixtures falling onto you. 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 contributed to your injury.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TX | Information | "An employee was closing a hand hole lid when the lid fell on the employee's fingers. The employee's left middle fingertip was partially amputated." | |
| 2025 | TX | Professional Services | "On 7/16/2025, an employee was working inside a communication wire pull-box with the lid partially removed. As the employee was standing up, they placed their hand on the pull-box lid. One end of the lid slipped into the pull-box. This caused the other end of the lid to strike the employee's mouth. The employee sustained a fractured jaw and three broken teeth." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was operating the water truck. While lifting up a cage lid with their left hand, the employee used their right hand to turn off the water truck pump. The cage lid slipped out of their hand and crushed their right hand, resulting in amputation of approximately a half inch of their right ring finger. " | |
| 2025 | NE | Construction | "An employee was removing an 8-inch water main cap when it dislodged under pressure and struck their legs. The employee was hospitalized with a laceration to the left leg and a contusion to the right leg." | |
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was capping bottles of skin therapy oil when the plastic cover for the light fixture fell and struck them on the head. The employee was hospitalized with a head contusion." | |
| 2025 | AR | Manufacturing | "An employee was replacing the exhaust fan above the scalding area when their finger became pinched in the exhaust fan shroud. The employee sustained amputation of the distal tuft of their right middle finger with bone loss." | |
| 2025 | NY | Construction | "An employee was installing a metal plug into a machine. He was using a wrench to turn the metal plug a quarter turn more when the round plug weighing approximately 2 pounds failed and blew off from pressure, striking the employee in the face. The employee sustained facial lacerations and a fractured jaw." | |
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "An employee was lifting a manhole cover. The cord being used broke and the cover fell on the employee's foot. The employee sustained fractured toes." | |
| 2025 | OH | Utilities | "On March 31, 2025, an employee fell 6 feet through a sump pump opening in the floor and they were hospitalized with fractures to their ribs and collarbone, as well as a lung puncture. The cover plate on the opening was not properly secured." | |
| 2025 | OH | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was lifting an access lid for a fuel access port prior to fueling when the lid closed on his right hand, catching the tip of his thumb. The employee suffered a laceration that required hospitalization and a surgical fingertip amputation including loss of bone." |
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 your medical expenses and lost wages for severe workplace injuries like amputations. Because these injuries often require surgery and long-term rehabilitation, an attorney can help you ensure your claim accurately reflects the full extent of your disability and future needs.
Employers are generally responsible for maintaining a safe work environment, which includes ensuring that equipment covers and lids are properly inspected and secured. If a failure to maintain or guard these items led to your injury, you may have a valid claim for benefits, and an attorney can help you investigate the safety protocols in place at your job site.
Seek immediate medical attention for any head injury, as symptoms of traumatic brain injury can be delayed. Once you are stable, document the incident, report it to your supervisor, and consult with an attorney to understand your rights regarding medical coverage and potential disability benefits.
OSHA requires employers to protect you from hazards associated with equipment and walking-working surfaces, which includes the proper guarding of openings and the maintenance of covers. If your employer failed to follow these safety requirements, an attorney can help you leverage those violations to support your Workers' Compensation claim.