How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,046 severe cases involving elevators, hoists, and lifts over the last decade. These incidents frequently result in fractures, which account for 46% of all reported injury types, often requiring extensive medical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
The severity of these accidents is underscored by the high frequency of amputations and intracranial injuries. You may suffer damage to your fingers, leading to life-altering physical limitations that extend far beyond the initial incident.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving lifts typically occur when you operate equipment that is poorly maintained or used on unstable surfaces. The most common cause is a fall to a lower level, often triggered by mechanical failure or the tipping of a scissor or boom lift. You are also frequently injured when caught between running equipment or struck by falling components, highlighting the critical need for rigorous safety protocols during operation.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 356 |
| 2 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 134 |
| 3 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 90 |
| 4 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 78 |
| 5 | Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment | 72 |
| 6 | Struck by running powered equipment— unspecified | 47 |
| 7 | Struck by falling object | 35 |
| 8 | Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle | 34 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction accounts for 40% of all lift-related injuries, primarily due to the constant use of aerial work platforms. Manufacturing follows as the second most common industry, where stationary hoists and freight elevators are essential to your daily production but often lack the necessary maintenance or guarding to prevent severe harm.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve equipment tipping over on uneven ground, mechanical connection points snapping during operation, or you striking overhead structures while moving a lift. These incidents demonstrate that even experienced operators can be victims of equipment failure or inadequate site safety. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | PA | Construction | "An employee was moving an aerial lift across the mechanical room when he struck a hanging duct structure. The employee sustained lacerations to the face and a fractured jaw." | |
| 2025 | NY | Information | "An employee was working from a raised scissor lift to fix an overhead garage door. The lift tipped over and the employee fell to the concrete floor about 18-20 feet below. The employee suffered a head injury, broken ribs, and a broken pelvis." | |
| 2025 | FL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was offloading a new boom lift from a transporter truck. As the boom lift s rear wheels reached the tail lift of the truck, the tail lift broke, causing the boom lift to fall. As a result of the sudden drop, the employee was lifted into the air, striking several objects. The employee was hospitalized due to a fractured back and a left leg injury that required stitches." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "On 7/17/2025, at around 1:30 PM, two employees were working in an aerial lift installing sheet metal to the side of a building. One of the connection points between the aerial lift basket and the aerial lift boom broke, causing the employees to fall from the collapsing basket. The employees fell 24 feet to the concrete surface, resulting in multiple fractures and blunt force trauma injuries to the head and body of both employees. Both employees were hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Real Estate | "An employee was unloading a boom from a rollback truck when the boom drove off the truck and landed on the ground. The employee was hospitalized with fractured ankles." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "Employees were loading a scissor lift onto a rollback truck when the scissor lift turned and slid down the rollback truck. The scissor lift fell over sideways and it's guardrails struck an employee, fracturing their hip. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | AL | Other Services | "On July 25, 2025, an employee was lowering a vehicle on a lift. The employee's right index finger was caught in the lift and partially amputated." | |
| 2025 | TX | Real Estate | "A driver pulled into the facility yard and backed their truck up to a dock. He was unloading an 85-foot articulating boom lift when the boom lift fell. He was slung out of the bucket of the boom lift and his self-retracting lifeline (SRL) broke. He impacted the outside of the bucket. The employee sustained a fracture to his heel plate and toes on his right foot." | |
| 2025 | ID | Manufacturing | "An employee was cleaning the area under a mobile elevated work platform. The platform lowered and struck the employee, resulting in a fractured right femur. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | NY | Other Services | "An employee was operating a hoist and receiving the rope as it came into the hoist. Tape on a rope splice caught her glove and pulled her right hand into the capstan. The employee sustained crushing injuries resulting in amputations of the ring and little fingertips to the first knuckle." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
If a lift malfunctioned, your first priority is seeking medical attention and reporting the incident to your employer. Document the equipment involved, the conditions at the time of the accident, and any witnesses present. An attorney can help you determine if the failure resulted from poor maintenance or a defect, which may strengthen your Workers' Compensation claim.
Fractures are the most frequent injury type reported in lift accidents, occurring in 46% of cases. These injuries often result from falls or being crushed by heavy equipment, frequently requiring surgery and prolonged recovery periods. An attorney can help you ensure your medical expenses and lost wages are fully accounted for in your claim.
Employers are legally required to provide safe equipment, proper training, and regular inspections for all lifts and hoists. If your employer failed to meet these standards, they may be held accountable for your injuries. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer violated specific safety regulations and help you pursue the benefits you deserve.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical costs and lost wages for injuries you sustain on the job, including falls from lifts. Because these accidents often involve severe trauma, the claims process can be complex and may require detailed evidence of the incident. An attorney can help you guide you through the process to ensure your rights are protected throughout your recovery.