How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 293 severe incidents involving mowing and brush removal machinery over the past decade. These accidents frequently result in amputations, which account for 48% of all reported cases, often leaving you with permanent physical limitations.
The severity of these injuries is underscored by the high frequency of finger and foot trauma. Because these machines operate with high-speed blades and heavy mechanical components, even minor operational errors can lead to life-altering injuries that require extensive medical intervention and long-term recovery.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving mowing equipment often stem from nonroadway noncollision incidents, which account for 26% of all reported cases. You are frequently harmed when machines tip over on slopes, blades strike bystanders, or limbs become entangled in running equipment during clearing or refueling. These incidents often occur when safety features are bypassed or when equipment is operated on unstable terrain.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 74 |
| 2 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 60 |
| 3 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 43 |
| 4 | Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle | 30 |
| 5 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 19 |
| 6 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 9 |
| 7 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 8 |
| 8 | Struck by running powered equipment— unspecified | 7 |
Where injuries happen most
Administrative services, which includes landscaping and grounds maintenance, accounts for 51% of all reported mowing injuries. This high volume is driven by the constant use of commercial-grade mowers in varied environments, where tight schedules and difficult terrain increase the risk of operator error and equipment failure.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include operators being struck by blades while clearing jams, limbs being caught in drive mechanisms, and severe burns during refueling. Many incidents involve equipment tipping on slopes or you being struck by passing mowers in busy work zones. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine your options.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | FL | Administrative Services | "The injured employee was stepping onto a riding lawn mower when the wheel of the mower was turned by the operator and it caught the injured employee's foot, causing his left ankle to twist. He sustained a sprained left foot and a laceration on his left big toe. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | MS | Public Administration | "An employee was cutting grass on the grounds when grass became stuck under the mower. He was struck by the rotating mower blades while clearing the jam, resulting in lacerations to his right index and middle fingers." | |
| 2025 | OH | Administrative Services | "On July 1, 2025, an employee was mowing on a hill when the mower tipped over and ran over his arm. The employee sustained a fractured arm and a thumb amputation." | |
| 2025 | IL | Administrative Services | "An employee was refueling a commercial-grade riding lawn mower. As he was refilling the tank, the gasoline splashed onto the muffler, which sparked and caught fire. The employee suffered burns to both thighs and the left side of his abdomen." | |
| 2025 | TX | Administrative Services | "An employee was operating a handheld string trimmer at the top of a slope near a road. He slipped on wet grass and fell down the slope. A passing zero-turn lawn mower ran over his left foot, amputating it. The employee was hospitalized for surgery." | |
| 2025 | MT | Administrative Services | "An employee was standing on a standup mower and reversing it when the mower spun around. The employee jumped off the mower and it struck and ran over his right foot, amputating his third, fourth, and fifth toes." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Retail Trade | "An employee was helping a customer remove a lawn mower from the back of a vehicle. The employee suffered an amputation to their middle fingertip, caused by the lawn mower blades." | |
| 2025 | NE | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee was preparing to conduct maintenance on a riding lawn mower and lifted the mower deck upward to its vertical position with assistance from another employee. A third employee pulled a locking pin, causing the front wheel mount to move forward into the cab. The cab entrance hand hold crushed the little fingers on the injured employee's hands. The employee was hospitalized and required surgical amputation of the right little finger to the second joint, as well as debriding and stitches to the left little finger." | |
| 2025 | WI | Administrative Services | "An employee was using a push mower to cut grass. He went to remove a clump of grass from the mower. His right-hand fingers were struck by the mower blade, resulting in the amputation of two fingers and a laceration to the index finger." | |
| 2025 | AL | Administrative Services | "On April 29, 2025, an employee was cutting grass using a zero-turn riding lawnmower. His left arm became caught between a steel post for a pipeline and the rollbar of the mower. The employee was hospitalized with a compound fracture of his lower left arm." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Immediate medical attention is the priority, followed by ensuring the incident is reported to your employer and OSHA. Because amputations are severe, you may be entitled to specific Workers' Compensation benefits for permanent impairment. An attorney can help you document the incident and ensure your claim accounts for long-term medical needs.
Employers are required to maintain equipment according to manufacturer specifications and OSHA standards. If a machine was missing safety guards or was poorly maintained, this may constitute employer negligence. An attorney can help you investigate the maintenance records and equipment condition to build your case.
Most workplace injuries, including those involving heavy machinery, are covered by Workers' Compensation regardless of who was at fault. This system is designed to pay for your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages while you recover. A qualified attorney can help you navigate the claims process to ensure you receive the full benefits you are entitled to.
If a defect in the mower itself caused your injury, you might have a third-party claim against the manufacturer in addition to your Workers' Compensation claim. These cases are complex and require a thorough investigation of the equipment's history and design. An attorney can help you evaluate whether a product liability claim is appropriate for your situation.