How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,637 severe cases involving cutting handtools over the last decade. Cuts, lacerations, and punctures account for 48% of all reported injuries.
The severity of these incidents is high, as 47% of cases involve amputations or avulsions. Finger injuries are the most common outcome, representing 55% of all reported trauma from these tools.
Cut by a tool at work? Check what benefits you may be owed.
Check My BenefitsHow these injuries happen
Most injuries occur when you are struck by or cut by an object you are currently handling, which accounts for 86% of all recorded incidents. These accidents often happen when a blade slips during a routine cut, or when a powered saw experiences unexpected kickback or irregular movement. When tools are not properly maintained or when you lack adequate protective equipment, these routine tasks can quickly lead to life-altering injuries.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Injured by object handled by person | 1,393 |
| 2 | Struck by running powered equipment— n.e.c. | 54 |
| 3 | Struck by running powered equipment— irregular movement, kick back | 53 |
| 4 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 33 |
| 5 | Struck by falling object | 28 |
| 6 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 18 |
| 7 | Struck against stationary object | 15 |
| 8 | Indirect exposure to electricity | 8 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all sectors with 37% of recorded incidents, followed by manufacturing at 21%. In these environments, the constant use of handheld saws and utility knives creates a high-frequency risk. Employers in these industries are required to provide appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure that all cutting tools are properly guarded and maintained to prevent these predictable injuries.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you using handheld saws or box cutters that slip or jump during operation, leading to immediate and severe trauma. Many incidents involve the loss of digits or deep lacerations to the hands and wrists that require emergency hospitalization. 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 | AL | Construction | "On July 30, 2025, an employee was utilizing a circular saw to cut plastic into strips that would be used as shims. The blade of the saw amputated his left little finger to the second knuckle." | |
| 2025 | FL | Information | "An employee was cutting boxes using a box cutting tool and lacerated an artery in their wrist. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | OH | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was cutting cooked chicken with a kitchen knife when the tip of their left thumb, including the nail, was cut, resulting in an amputation." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was cutting down the front of a concrete panel when the concrete saw kicked back and lacerated his neck. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | WI | Construction | "An employee was sawing cable on the ground using a handheld concrete saw. The saw blade caught on the cable and jumped, striking and lacerating the employee's left calf." | |
| 2025 | ID | Public Administration | "A Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employee was assisting a fire crew with clearing a forest trail. The employee was struck in the left leg by a fire-rated chainsaw. The chainsaw struck the employee underneath their chaps and above their boot. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee was scraping dough off a plastic dough auger using a utility knife when the knife slipped and lacerated their left forearm. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Retail Trade | "An employee was cutting watermelon with a knife and lacerated her little finger. She was hospitalized and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | NY | Administrative Services | "On July 21, 2025, an employee was operating a hedge trimmer when the trimmer became unstable and slipped, resulting in lacerations to his left hand that required hospitalization and surgery. The lacerations included a partial amputation of the little fingertip, a fractured ring fingertip, and severe lacerations to the middle and ring fingers that required stitches." | |
| 2025 | OK | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was slicing tomatoes with a chef's knife when the knife contacted their little finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.