How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 170 severe incidents involving mechanical parts and engines over the last decade. These accidents frequently result in amputations, which account for 49% of all reported cases, followed by fractures.
The severity of these injuries is underscored by the fact that 56% of all cases involve damage to your fingers. These injuries often lead to permanent impairment and require extensive medical intervention, including multiple surgeries.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving mechanical parts are often caused by being struck by falling objects, which accounts for 42% of incidents. You are also frequently compressed between running equipment and other objects, or suffer injuries when components like pulleys and belts fail during maintenance or normal operation.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by falling object | 68 |
| 2 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 33 |
| 3 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 14 |
| 4 | Caught or wedged between objects— nonrunning | 9 |
| 5 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 8 |
| 6 | Struck by suspended or swinging object | 6 |
| 7 | Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object— unspecified | 4 |
| 8 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 4 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 36% of these severe injuries, as you interact daily with high-torque motors and complex mechanical systems. Transportation and warehousing also see high rates of injury due to the constant use of conveyors and heavy loading equipment that require frequent mechanical adjustments.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents include maintenance tasks where you get caught in pinch points, components failing during testing, or heavy parts shifting unexpectedly during installation. 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 | TX | Manufacturing | "A subcontracted engineer was advising maintenance how to make a modification to the embossing roll system on a new line. Maintenance was bringing the motor and gearbox down with a crane. The load shifted when it was a few inches from the ground. The engineer went to catch/maneuver the gearbox and the fingers on his left hand were crushed between the I-beam base of the gearbox and the concrete floor. A finger was amputated." | |
| 2025 | MN | Transportation & Warehousing | "Employees were performing maintenance operations on a railroad line when the machine experienced a load conveyor motor failure. While clearing the machine to allow for repairs, an employee pinned the left side of the swing conveyor. The operator on the right side then requested a slight bump to the left to align the right side for pinning. Once the swing was in position, the operator went to pin the right side and the chain tensioner failed, resulting in an abrupt release of the swing chain. The chain snapped back and struck the operator s right hand, resulting in a 1-inch laceration and a fractured fifth metacarpal. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery on the hand." | |
| 2025 | TX | Health Care | "An employee was on the roof of the facility working on a kitchen exhaust fan hood to identify the source of a vibration. He manually moved the propeller and shaft to check for play in the bearings. His left hand slipped and his little finger became caught between the motor pulley and belt. The employee's weight shifted onto the propeller and caused the pulley to rotate, resulting in partial amputation of the distal phalanx of his little finger." | |
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "During maintenance of an annular blowout preventer, air pressure was applied to dislodge a stuck internal piston. The piston ejected and struck an employee's left bicep, causing a laceration and a fracture." | |
| 2025 | OH | Construction | "An employee was lifting a hydraulic trailer gate for an asphalt roller when a spring in the lift mechanism broke and struck the employee's chest. The employee sustained blunt force trauma to the chest requiring hospitalization." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "A maintenance employee was changing a shaft on a piece of equipment that had been isolated for repair. While positioning the shaft into place, the shaft fell approximately two feet and pinched the employee's left index finger. The employee suffered a partial amputation of the fingertip without bone loss." | |
| 2025 | ND | Manufacturing | "An employee was loading a motor onto a trailer when he struck his left elbow against the radiator. His elbow was lacerated and became infected, resulting in hospitalization." | |
| 2025 | OK | Retail Trade | "An employee was on a lift, helping a technician with an overhead pull-up door. The spring was being loosened, and when the tension was released, the spring came out and struck the employee on both arms. The employee sustained a compound fracture, bruising to both arms, and a laceration to his right forearm. The employee required hospitalization and surgery." | |
| 2025 | IL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was removing a power assembly from a locomotive engine using an overhead crane. The power assembly became stuck, and two 1-inch lifting bolts failed as the crane continued to apply lifting pressure. This cause the power assembly to come back down and crush the employee's right hand against the engine housing. He suffered two broken bones in the hand, as well as tissue and ligament damage, and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | VA | Professional Services | "An employee lifted a gearbox from one shipping container to another. The employee sustained a ruptured hernia and required surgery." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Seek immediate medical attention and ensure the incident is documented by your employer. Amputations are high-priority OSHA reportable events, and you may be entitled to specific Workers' Compensation benefits for permanent impairment. An attorney can help you navigate the complex claims process to ensure you receive the full compensation you are owed.
Employers are required to maintain equipment in safe working order and provide adequate guarding to prevent contact with moving parts. If a failure occurred due to lack of maintenance or missing safety guards, you may have a valid claim for benefits beyond standard Workers' Compensation. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer violated safety standards.
Yes, injuries to your fingers sustained while operating or maintaining mechanical equipment are covered under Workers' Compensation. Because these injuries often result in long-term loss of function, it is important to have your medical records reviewed by a professional. An attorney can help you understand the value of your claim based on the severity of the injury.
OSHA enforces strict regulations regarding machine guarding and energy control, such as lockout-tagout procedures, to protect you from moving parts. If your employer failed to implement these required safety measures, it may strengthen your case for benefits. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your workplace was in compliance with federal safety regulations.