How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 22 severe cases involving computer and media equipment over the last decade. Amputations represent 41% of these reported injuries.
These injuries frequently impact your fingers, which account for 36% of all cases. The severity of these incidents often results in permanent damage, requiring extensive medical intervention and long-term recovery for you.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving this equipment typically occur when heavy items like televisions or printers fall, strike, or crush you. You may be struck by falling objects during installation or maintenance, or your hands or fingers may become compressed between heavy hardware and other surfaces during routine handling.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by falling object | 7 |
| 2 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 4 |
| 3 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 2 |
| 4 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 2 |
| 5 | Direct exposure to electricity | 2 |
| 6 | Injured by object handled by person | 1 |
| 7 | Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object— unspecified | 1 |
| 8 | Overexertion while moving or manipulating external object(s)— unspecified | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Information, manufacturing, administrative services, and arts and entertainment each account for 14% of these severe cases. These industries frequently require you to install, move, or maintain heavy media hardware, creating risks where improper mounting or handling leads to preventable crush and impact injuries.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include you being struck by falling televisions during mounting or installation and your fingers becoming trapped in tripod legs or between heavy printers and door thresholds. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you evaluate your legal options and ensure you receive the benefits you are owed.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FL | Retail Trade | "An employee was walking past a pallet of televisions when the televisions fell on her head and injured her head, neck, and left shoulder." | |
| 2023 | PA | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was mounting a TV when they dropped it. The employee suffered a partial amputation of the left index finger." | |
| 2023 | FL | Arts & Entertainment | "The injured employee was standing at the base of a ladder assisting another employee install a TV on a wall. The TV was dropped, striking the employee. They sustained a head injury." | |
| 2023 | TX | Information | "An employee was taking down his camera and tripod to put it away. As the employee was collapsing the tripod, their right ring finger became caught in the tripod legs, resulting in a fingertip amputation." | |
| 2022 | FL | Construction | "Employees were moving a 397-pound plotter printer over a doorstop/threshold when the injured employee's hand became wedged between the bottom of the plotter and the doorstop. As the employee pulled his hand back, he sustained a partial amputation of the left middle finger." | |
| 2022 | FL | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was struck on the head by an overhead monitor, suffering a contusion." | |
| 2022 | NC | Public Administration | "A contractor was delivering an oversized item (AV equipment) weighing approximately 350 lbs. As the two delivery people were moving the item through the entrance of the building, they lost control of it and an employee moved forward to assist. The item fell on the employee's legs and knocked him to the ground. The employee sustained torn tendons (ACL) in both knees." | |
| 2022 | GA | Public Administration | "An employee was inspecting and testing an aircraft antenna gimbal. The employee was using a screwdriver to replicate a failure by tapping a wire bundle located under the head of the gimbal. The head of the gimbal rocked down, causing a laceration to his right middle finger. The employee's finger sustained a partial amputation." | |
| 2020 | FL | Administrative Services | "A temporary employee was working with a garbage collection truck. The employee's finger was cut by the edge of a television while picking it up. He sustained an amputation of the left ring finger, was hospitalized, and had surgery." | |
| 2018 | PA | Administrative Services | "An employee sustained a broken nose after being struck in the face by a tablet computer that fell from a residential roof." |
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 injuries that occur during the scope of your employment, including those caused by falling equipment. If you were injured while moving or installing hardware, you are generally entitled to medical coverage and wage replacement. An attorney can help you navigate the filing process to ensure your claim is properly documented.
Employers are responsible for providing safe tools and training for handling heavy media equipment. If a lack of proper equipment or safety protocols led to your injury, you may have grounds for a claim beyond standard Workers' Compensation. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your employer violated safety standards and help you pursue the benefits you deserve.
Amputations are a serious and documented risk when working with heavy computer and media hardware, representing 41% of severe cases reported to OSHA. These injuries often occur when your fingers are caught in pinch points or crushed by heavy devices. If you have suffered an amputation, an attorney can help you understand the long-term compensation available for permanent impairment.
OSHA requires your employer to maintain a safe workplace, which includes ensuring that heavy equipment is mounted, stored, and moved using safe practices. When your employer ignores these requirements, they put you at risk of severe impact or crush injuries. An attorney can help determine if your employer's failure to follow safety standards contributed to your accident.