How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 509 severe incidents involving light earth-moving machinery over the past decade. Fractures are the most common injury, representing 52% of all reports, often requiring extensive medical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
These incidents frequently result in severe damage to fingers and legs. The physical nature of operating compact equipment means that even minor mechanical failures or operator errors can lead to life-altering trauma for you.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving this equipment often occur when you are struck by vehicles in nonroadway areas, which accounts for 27% of all reported incidents. You are also frequently caught between running equipment and other objects or suffer falls when the machinery moves unexpectedly during operation.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 135 |
| 2 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 80 |
| 3 | Other fall to lower level | 64 |
| 4 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 61 |
| 5 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 31 |
| 6 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 28 |
| 7 | Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle | 25 |
| 8 | Pedestrian incidents involving motorized land vehicles, n.e.c. | 10 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all sectors with 40% of reported incidents, as the high-paced environment and constant proximity between heavy equipment and ground crews create significant hazards. Manufacturing and administrative services also see high injury rates due to the frequent use of compact loaders for material handling and site maintenance.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you being pinned by tracks, caught in closing equipment doors, or falling from machinery during routine tasks like loading or grading. These incidents often stem from equipment malfunctions or communication gaps between operators and ground personnel. 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 | OH | Utilities | "On July 2, 2025, at approximately 8:45 AM, an employee was loading a spool of fence material into a dispensing attachment on a skid steer when the doors of the equipment closed. The employee's jaw/cheeks were caught in the closing doors, resulting in hospitalization with fractures to the jaw and cheek." | |
| 2025 | MA | Construction | "An employee was operating a compact loader to move concrete guardrail post(s) from the side of the road onto a truck. The compact loader struck a grade change while moving from the grass shoulder area onto the road. He fell from the back plate he was riding on and struck his head and face on the pavement. He lost consciousness and sustained multiple fractures and contusions from his face to his ribs, including fractures to his scapula, clavicle, ribs, nose, and cheekbone." | |
| 2025 | TX | Retail Trade | "An employee was working on a mini-excavator with a stuck ignition. He was shutting down the mini-excavator engine when he suffered an amputation of the left middle fingertip." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "On May 23, 2025, at approximately 10:50 a.m. the injured employee was assisting the operator of a mini excavator to ensure the grade/depth of an excavation. He crossed a trench that is 14" wide with a grade stick (2" x 2") in his hand and ended up on the ground behind the mini excavator. Simultaneously, the mini excavator moved backward and the base of the grading stick was caught by the tracks of the excavator, causing the employee to fall to the ground and become pinned underneath the excavator track. The employee sustained fractures to his right and left femurs, his pelvis, and his right ankle." | |
| 2025 | TX | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was replacing a hydraulic cylinder on a mini-excavator. The employee was positioning the machine while it was in a trailer when their right leg became pinned between a track and the trailer, resulting in severe lacerations to the lower leg." | |
| 2025 | NE | Other Services | "Two employees were troubleshooting a compact track loader that would not start. The cab had been tilted to diagnose the issue. The employees were working to lower the cab back down; the injured employee was releasing the latch and the other employee was lowering the cab. The injured employee's lower arm/hand became caught in a pinch point. He was hospitalized with fractures to the lower arm/hand." | |
| 2025 | OH | Construction | "An employee was operating a skid steer. He was loading sand into the large hopper when he brought the bucket down and his foot was pinched between the arms of the crossbar and the frame of the cab. As the arms continued to come down, they pulled his foot and ankle over the edge of the cab, resulting in a broken leg." | |
| 2025 | MO | Utilities | "A skid steer was being used to transport crate brackets for staging onto installed piles. An employee approached a crate to get two brackets. He picked up the brackets and turned left to walk and place the brackets on a pile. The skid steer traversed forward, making contact with the employee's right boot and causing him to fall on the ground. The skid steer continued to move forward, driving over the employee's right leg just above the knee. The employee sustained a broken leg." | |
| 2025 | GA | Construction | "An employee was climbing into a skid steer after picking up debris when his left foot got caught on the bucket release. He was removing himself from the bucket release when the skid steer ran over both of his feet, resulting in fractured feet and dislocated ankles." | |
| 2025 | PA | Administrative Services | "An employee was driving a mini sub-compact wheel loader, using it to move tree branches from a residential property onto the street in front of the property. After branches were unloaded onto the street, the empty loader (with its arms still raised) tipped over in the street. The employee suffered broken fingers in the left hand." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Fractures are the most frequent injury, occurring in 52% of all reported cases. Amputations and severe lacerations also occur, particularly when you are caught in moving parts or pinned between equipment tracks and other surfaces. An attorney can help you document the full extent of your injuries for your claim.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that all machinery is properly maintained and that operators are adequately trained. If your injury resulted from a failure to follow safety protocols or maintain equipment, you may have a valid Workers' Compensation claim. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer met these safety obligations.
OSHA requires employers to provide a safe workplace, which includes enforcing strict separation between pedestrians and heavy machinery in nonroadway areas. Employers must also ensure that equipment is inspected regularly and that safety guards are functional. An attorney can help you determine if your employer violated these federal safety standards.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical expenses and lost wages for you if you are injured on the job, regardless of who was at fault. If you were injured while operating or working near earth-moving equipment, you are likely entitled to benefits. An attorney can help you ensure your claim is filed correctly and that you receive the full compensation you are owed.