How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 370 severe cases involving CO-worker violence over the last decade. These incidents frequently result in fractures, which account for 32% of all recorded injuries, often requiring extensive medical intervention and time away from work.
The severity of these encounters is reflected in the frequency of intracranial injuries, which account for 13% of recorded cases.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries involving CO-workers stem from direct physical aggression, including hitting, kicking, and beating, which account for 61% of incidents. Another 29% of incidents are classified as unspecified violent acts by other persons. You may also face risks from shootings (2%), stabbings (2%), or other forms of intentional violence.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hitting, kicking, beating by other person | 225 |
| 2 | Violent acts by other person— unspecified | 106 |
| 3 | Shooting by other person | 8 |
| 4 | Contact with other person, nonviolent or intent unknown— n.e.c. | 7 |
| 5 | Stabbing, cutting, slashing by other person | 7 |
| 6 | Intentional violence by other person— n.e.c. | 6 |
| 7 | Struck by falling object | 3 |
| 8 | Contact with other person, equipment during sports or physical training | 3 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 24% of all reported violence incidents. Retail trade follows at 13%, construction at 11%, and accommodation and food services at 9%.
Real cases like yours
Reports often describe sudden escalations where verbal disagreements turn into physical attacks, including blunt force trauma and the use of weapons. These incidents frequently occur in common areas like parking lots or break rooms where supervision is limited. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your case.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "The injured employee was working from the cab of the debarker when a former employee approached. There was an argument and the former employee struck the injured employee in the head. The injured employee ended up on the ground as the former employee continued to hit him. The injured employee was bleeding from his head, had internal bleeding, and sustained a concussion." | |
| 2025 | AL | Manufacturing | "Two employees engaged in a verbal altercation. The injured employee was punched in the face and fell, hitting their head on the concrete floor. The employee sustained a brain bleed and blunt force trauma to the face." | |
| 2025 | IL | Wholesale Trade | "The injured employee was told to get the rotisseries and then a verbal argument with a co-worker occurred. The injured employee walked out to get her jacket, and as soon as she came back, the co-worker stabbed her neck and shoulder area with a knife. She sustained injury to her diaphragm that required surgery." | |
| 2025 | IL | Accommodation & Food Services | "The injured employee had been conducting food service activities. He was stabbed twice in the chest and three times in the back by another employee using a pocket knife. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | AL | Manufacturing | "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." | |
| 2025 | MS | Health Care | "An employee was walking through the parking lot when a former employee attacked them and stabbed them in the abdomen with a knife. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | LA | Manufacturing | "An employee was in a physical altercation with another employee and he was hospitalized with an orbital fracture and bleeding behind the eye." | |
| 2025 | FL | Retail Trade | "The injured employee was in the receiving area when a former associate entered the room and had a verbal altercation with the injured employee. The former associate fired a gun approximately four times, striking the injured employee once or twice. The injured employee was hospitalized with gunshot wounds to the arm and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee used a hammer to attack the injured employee, striking him several times on and about the head. The injured employee was hospitalized with lacerations to the head and bruising to the face." | |
| 2025 | AL | Wholesale Trade | "On April 29, 2025, at approximately 11:45 a.m., an employee shot another employee who was sitting at his desk in his office. The employee was hospitalized for a gunshot wound to the lower back. " |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, injuries sustained during a physical altercation at work are generally covered by Workers' Compensation, provided the incident occurred within the scope of your employment. Even if the violence was intentional, your resulting medical bills and lost wages are typically compensable. An attorney can help you determine if your specific situation qualifies for a claim.
Your first priority is to seek immediate medical attention for your injuries and report the incident to your supervisor and human resources department. Ensure you document the event, including the names of witnesses and any security footage that may exist. Speaking with an attorney early can help you preserve this evidence and protect your rights throughout the claims process.
While Workers' Compensation is usually the primary remedy, there are specific circumstances where an employer may be held liable for failing to provide a safe workplace. If your employer ignored known threats or failed to implement necessary security measures, you might have additional legal options. An attorney can evaluate whether your employer's actions or negligence contributed to the incident.
Injuries from physical violence, such as fractures and intracranial trauma, often require long-term medical care and physical therapy. Beyond physical recovery, you may experience significant emotional distress that can also be compensable under Workers' Compensation. An attorney can help you account for these long-term needs when pursuing your benefits.