How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 28 severe cases involving firearms and air-powered guns over the last decade. Gunshot wounds represent 43% of these incidents, often resulting in physical trauma that requires immediate hospitalization and long-term medical care.
Injuries from these weapons frequently target your fingers, leading to high rates of permanent impairment. The severity of these wounds often necessitates surgical intervention, including amputations, which significantly impacts your ability to return to your previous role.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving firearms and air-powered guns primarily stem from accidental discharges, which account for 43% of reported cases. These incidents often occur during routine handling, cleaning, or training exercises where safety protocols are bypassed. Additionally, explosions account for 36% of cases, frequently involving mechanical failures during testing or operation.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gun discharge— accidental or intent unknown | 12 |
| 2 | Explosion— n.e.c. | 10 |
| 3 | Explosion of nonpressurized vapors, gases, or liquids | 2 |
| 4 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 1 |
| 5 | Struck by running powered equipment— n.e.c. | 1 |
| 6 | Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire | 1 |
| 7 | Explosion— unspecified | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Public administration leads with 32% of reported incidents, largely due to the frequent use of service weapons by law enforcement and security personnel. Manufacturing follows at 21%, where you may face risks from testing tactical equipment or high-pressure pneumatic tools that can fail during operation.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include accidental discharges during weapon cleaning, improper handling while showing equipment to coworkers, and mechanical failures during high-pressure testing. These incidents frequently occur when safety protocols are overlooked or equipment is not properly maintained. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you evaluate your claim and ensure you receive the support you need.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | IL | Administrative Services | "On June 25, 2025, a security employee was walking into a facility ahead of their shift when their firearm discharged. The employee suffered a gunshot wound to the right leg." | |
| 2025 | AR | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was showing a handgun to co-worker when it discharged and a bullet struck the co-worker's leg." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee was testing a 40mm single-shot tactical launcher with the launcher mounted on her right shoulder and the barrel stabilized with her left hand. After the trigger was pulled, the 40mm barrel tore apart radially and she sustained injuries to her left extremity including the bicep, forearm, index finger, middle finger, and thumb." | |
| 2025 | NH | Administrative Services | "An employee was training at a shooting range. Their weapon discharged and the employee sustained a gunshot wound to the foot. A toe was surgically amputated." | |
| 2025 | VA | Public Administration | "An employee was cleaning a handgun when it discharged a round into their left hand below their little finger. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | CA | Public Administration | "On March 18, 2025, an employee was participating in routine firearms training at a shooting range. An accidental discharge occurred while the employee was holstering his pistol. The discharged round struck the employee's right upper thigh and exited through a lower portion of their right thigh. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | AZ | Public Administration | "An employee sustained a gunshot wound to the right leg while conducting drills at a shooting range." | |
| 2025 | GA | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee was evaluating a customer's gun and discharged a bullet into his left hand." | |
| 2024 | FL | Public Administration | "An employee was participating in firearms training when she sustained a gunshot to her left hand from a pistol, fracturing her index finger." | |
| 2024 | PA | Administrative Services | "An employee was working as a security guard. He reached into a bag to retrieve something and a gun discharged. The employee sustained a gunshot wound to the palm of the hand and a leg." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Workers' Compensation generally covers injuries that occur during the course and scope of your employment. If you were injured by a firearm while performing your job duties, you are likely entitled to medical benefits and wage replacement. An attorney can help you navigate the filing process to ensure your claim is properly documented.
Employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe workplace, which includes mandatory training for any equipment that poses a risk of injury. If a lack of training or inadequate safety protocols led to your injury, your employer may be held accountable. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer neglected their duty to protect you.
Yes, injuries caused by air-powered guns are treated similarly to other workplace equipment injuries under Workers' Compensation laws. Because these devices can cause severe lacerations or amputations, they are subject to the same reporting requirements as other dangerous tools. An attorney can help you determine the best path forward for securing your benefits.
If a weapon or tactical launcher malfunctioned, you may have a claim against the manufacturer in addition to your Workers' Compensation claim. Documenting the condition of the equipment and preserving any evidence is critical for establishing a product liability case. An attorney can help you identify all potential sources of recovery for your injuries.