How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 76 severe cases involving earth and stone materials over the last decade. Fractures account for 34% of these incidents, often resulting from the weight and density of shifting materials. These injuries frequently require surgery and extended recovery periods.
The severity of these accidents is reflected in the frequency of lower leg injuries. When you are struck by heavy, shifting materials, the impact often causes traumatic injuries that require immediate hospitalization.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving earth and stone materials typically occur when loose or unstable substances shift unexpectedly. Being struck by propelled or falling objects accounts for 48% of these cases, often during excavation or material transport. Whether a large clod of clay breaks off a trench wall or a pile of dirt collapses, these incidents happen when site conditions are not properly secured or stabilized.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 21 |
| 2 | Struck by falling object | 15 |
| 3 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 12 |
| 4 | Other fall to lower level | 4 |
| 5 | Contact with hot objects or substances | 3 |
| 6 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 3 |
| 7 | Rubbed or abraded by non-running object | 2 |
| 8 | Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object— unspecified | 2 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction accounts for 45% of all reported incidents involving earth and stone materials. This rate stems from the constant movement of heavy soil and rock in trenches and at job sites. Manufacturing follows as the second most common industry, where you face similar risks of being struck by shifting piles while handling raw materials in storage areas.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you being struck by dislodged material during excavation or while navigating storage areas. Many incidents occur when spoil piles collapse or when large pieces of clay break off during trench work. If your injury occurred while working near unstable earth or stone, an attorney can help you review the specific circumstances of your site conditions.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | AR | Manufacturing | "On July 2, 2025, an employee was walking to a building through a shed used to store dirt and went to climb a 45-inch pile of loose clay material when they tripped and fell forward. The employee sustained a dislocated right ankle, torn ligaments, a fractured tibia, and sprains to the right ankle and leg. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | WI | Professional Services | "An employee fell approximately 4 feet through a pile of loose dirt to the ground below, resulting in a fractured lower leg." | |
| 2025 | NY | Construction | "An employee was setting a water pump to dewater in a small trench when a piece of clay broke off and struck him in the side. The employee sustained a hip dislocation." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was performing excavation work to expose a 12-foot water pipe. A large clod of dirt estimated to be 3 to 4 feet in size dislodged from a spoil pile and fell, striking his right leg. The impact caused the employee to lose consciousness momentarily. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured tibia and fibula and required surgery." | |
| 2024 | OK | Manufacturing | "An employee was sandblasting metal and dropped the sandblasting gun, causing sand to strike their left triceps." | |
| 2024 | PA | Administrative Services | "An employee was assisting in the placement of a boulder in a flower bed using a tractor when the boulder shifted and struck him in the left ankle, fracturing it." | |
| 2024 | MA | Administrative Services | "After unloading a truckload of firewood, an employee was using spray paint to indicate on the logs the date they arrived at the tree service's yard. The employee stood on a 12-inch rock to paint a date and his feet slipped, causing him to fall on his back. The employee lost consciousness and fractured a lower vertebra. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2024 | CO | Administrative Services | "Employees were using equipment to move large boulders when a boulder (weighing 0.5 ton) slipped and landed on the injured employee's foot, resulting in a fracture that requires surgery." | |
| 2024 | CO | Construction | "An employee was holding a 2x4 at the end of the utility pipe when a frozen dirt clod rolled down the slope of a 10-foot excavation and struck the employee's leg, fracturing it." | |
| 2023 | WI | Construction | "An employee was tying piano wire to measure and gauge the thickness of the wall pour/shoring needed. A rock weighing approximately 30 pounds was moved by a bulldozer. The rock struck the employee while they were inside the excavation. The employee was hospitalized with fractures to the head/skull." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, fractures caused by workplace accidents are generally covered by Workers' Compensation regardless of who was at fault. This coverage includes medical expenses, surgery, and a portion of lost wages during your recovery. An attorney can help you ensure your claim accurately reflects the severity of your injury.
Employers are required to maintain safe working conditions, which includes shoring up trenches and securing spoil piles to prevent material from shifting. Failure to follow these safety protocols can be a critical factor in your claim. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer met these safety standards.
In most cases, Workers' Compensation is the primary remedy for workplace injuries, which prevents you from suing your employer directly. However, if a third party was responsible for the site safety or equipment failure, you may have grounds for a separate personal injury claim. An attorney can help you evaluate all potential avenues for your recovery.
Proving your claim involves gathering evidence like incident reports, witness statements, and photos of the site conditions at the time of the accident. OSHA records and safety logs are also vital pieces of documentation. An attorney can help you collect this evidence to build a strong case for your benefits.