How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,129 severe cases involving pipes, ducts, and tubing over the last decade. Fractures account for 36% of these incidents, while amputations represent 33% of reported injuries.
These injuries frequently target your fingers, which are involved in 37% of all cases. The severity of these accidents often leads to long-term disability and significant medical expenses for you.
How these injuries happen
Injuries from pipes and tubing typically occur when these heavy objects become unstable or are mishandled. Being struck by a falling object is the most common event, accounting for 37% of cases, while being compressed between running equipment and the pipe causes 21% of injuries.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by falling object | 406 |
| 2 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 229 |
| 3 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 110 |
| 4 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 86 |
| 5 | Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object— unspecified | 69 |
| 6 | Struck by suspended or swinging object | 57 |
| 7 | Caught or wedged between objects— nonrunning | 20 |
| 8 | Injured by object handled by person | 19 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads with 34% of all reported incidents, as you frequently handle heavy materials. Manufacturing follows at 28%, where automated machinery and pinch points create dangerous conditions when you work with metal tubing or piping systems.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve kinetic energy releases during cutting, pipes falling during transport, or you getting caught in machinery jams. 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 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was operating equipment to cut a copper pipe (20 feet in length, 2 inches in diameter) when a jam occurred between the revolver assembly and the pinch roller assembly. He assessed the jam and determined that the copper pipe needed to be cut using a battery-powered reciprocating saw. He made two cuts on the pipe with the reciprocating saw. When the second cut was finished, kinetic energy stored within the pipe due to the jam released, and the pipe struck the employee's left hand. The employee's index fingertip was partially amputated before the first knuckle without bone loss." | |
| 2025 | GA | Construction | "An employee was cutting a cast iron pipe when the pipe fell onto his right hand, resulting in amputation of the thumb. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee was preparing bundles of 24-foot square metal tubing to be loaded onto a truck and cut the safety band for a bundle. While the employee was removing a piece of dunnage from a bundle, they bumped the bundle with their leg. The metal tubing then fell forward and struck the employee, causing a fractured left ankle." | |
| 2025 | MS | Manufacturing | "An employee was rolling pipe on a table to reposition it and finish grinding on the edge. Another pipe (weighing 4 tons) was moving down the same table and struck the employee. The employee was hospitalized with fractured ribs and a partial lung collapse on the right side." | |
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "An employee was helping load pipes on a trailer using a front-end loader. A 3,000-pound pipe came off and caused an open fracture to his right leg." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee of UPS Industrial Services, LLC, was helping offload 40-foot sections of 8-inch pipe (weighing 3,000 pounds each) from a forklift in the laydown yard. As he reached to remove a piece of dunnage from the forklift tines, a pipe began to roll toward him from the back of the forklift mast toward the front. The pipe then fell from the forklift forks, catching his left and right legs against another pipe on the ground. He suffered fractures to both lower legs and was hospitalized, requiring surgery." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was cutting 2-inch tubing off a fence panel at a job site. To access the opposite side for continued work, they used the forks of a front loader to flip the panel over. During this maneuver, the tubing pipe became dislodged from the panel. Upon hitting the ground, the pipe rebounded toward the employee, who was standing approximately 15 feet away. The dislodged pipe struck the employee's face, resulting in fractures to their nose and cheek bone, a dislocated jaw, and an injury to their left eye." | |
| 2025 | NY | Construction | "Employees were moving an electrical utility line and removing an electrical box. As they were preparing to lift a 4-inch conduit using an excavator, the conduit swung and struck the injured employee, causing lacerations, fracturing their left arm, and bruising their ribs. They were hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was changing batteries in a drill while a pressure test was being conducted on a pipe. The pipe flung loose under the pressure and struck the employee on the left side of their face. The employee sustained a fracture to the frontal bone above the eye, bruising, swelling, and bleeding." | |
| 2025 | WI | Manufacturing | "An employee was preparing a steel tube for shipping. The tube measured 3 inches in diameter and 7 feet long. The employee slid the tube inside another tube measuring 4 inches in diameter when their left little finger became pinched between the two pieces, resulting in a partial fingertip amputation including the lost of tissue and skin that required stitches." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
The most frequent injuries include fractures and traumatic amputations, particularly to your fingers and hands. These injuries often occur when heavy materials shift unexpectedly or get caught in pinch points. An attorney can help you understand how to document these specific injuries for your claim.
Employers are responsible for maintaining a safe environment, including proper storage, secure transport, and adequate guarding of machinery that processes pipes. If your injury resulted from a failure to follow these safety protocols, you may have a valid claim. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your employer met their legal safety obligations.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of your lost wages while you recover. It is intended to provide support regardless of fault, but navigating the process can be complex when severe injuries are involved. An attorney can help you ensure your benefits accurately reflect the severity of your condition.
Machine jams involving pipes often involve dangerous stored energy that can release unexpectedly. If you were injured while clearing a jam or working near equipment, it is vital to document the machine's maintenance history and safety features. An attorney can help you investigate whether the equipment was properly guarded and maintained according to safety standards.