How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 243 severe cases involving insects and arachnids over the last decade. The vast majority of these incidents result in effects of poison, toxic, or allergenic exposure, which can escalate quickly into life-threatening medical emergencies.
Because these reactions often trigger systemic responses like anaphylaxis, you may require immediate hospitalization and ongoing medical monitoring.
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Check My BenefitsHow these injuries happen
Every reported case in this category stems from being bitten or stung by an animal. These incidents often occur when you are performing outdoor tasks, landscaping, or accessing remote areas of a worksite where nests or habitats are disturbed. The sudden nature of these attacks leaves little time for defense, leading to severe allergic reactions that require urgent medical intervention.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitten or stung by animal | 243 |
Where injuries happen most
Administrative services account for 14% of these incidents, often involving you working in outdoor or poorly maintained facility environments. Manufacturing and transportation sectors also see significant numbers, as you frequently interact with exterior loading docks or storage areas where insect populations are common.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you performing routine duties like landscaping, walking through remote site locations, or working near machinery and windows when you are suddenly attacked. These incidents often lead to immediate hospitalization due to the severity of the allergic reaction. 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 | RI | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was walking through a remote location on the worksite looking for spare parts. The employee was stung by a bee, suffered a severe reaction, and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | OH | Accommodation & Food Services | "On July 10, 2025, an employee was stung by a bee while working at a drive-through window. She suffered an allergic reaction and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | IL | Administrative Services | "An employee was landscaping when he was stung by three bees on his back and was hospitalized with an allergic reaction." | |
| 2025 | TN | Public Administration | "An employee was cutting brush and shrubs. A bee stung the employee on the base of their neck. The employee sustained an allergic reaction and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | OK | Transportation & Warehousing | "While working near a cotton baler, an employee sustained a spider bite that resulted in swelling and required hospitalization." | |
| 2025 | FL | Professional Services | "An employee was opening a metal gate and went to open the lock when a wasp stung her hand. The employee sustained an allergic reaction." | |
| 2025 | WV | Utilities | "An employee was stung by a bee while working in the field. The employee suffered an allergic reaction and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Administrative Services | "An employee was driving a truck when a wasp flew in through the open window and stung him on the face. He suffered an allergic reaction." | |
| 2025 | IL | Information | "An employee was putting on gloves when an insect stung his right middle finger. He developed swelling and was hospitalized." | |
| 2024 | TX | Mining | "An employee was bitten by a spider on the job site. The employee was hospitalized." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.