How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 28 severe cases involving plumbing fixtures over the last decade. The most frequent injury type is cuts, lacerations, and punctures, which account for 50% of all reported incidents.
These injuries are often severe because plumbing fixtures are heavy and prone to shattering. You may suffer damage to fingers and forearms, with many incidents resulting in permanent loss of tissue or function.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving plumbing fixtures typically occur during installation, removal, or transport. The most common cause is being injured by an object you are handling, accounting for 29% of cases. You are also frequently struck by falling fixtures or suffer crushing injuries when a heavy unit is pinched between equipment and a stationary surface.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Injured by object handled by person | 8 |
| 2 | Struck by falling object | 7 |
| 3 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 4 |
| 4 | Struck against stationary object | 2 |
| 5 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 2 |
| 6 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 2 |
| 7 | Other contact with non-running objects or equipment— n.e.c. | 1 |
| 8 | Fall on same level | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all sectors with 29% of reported incidents, as you handle heavy fixtures in fast-paced environments. Manufacturing and health care facilities also see significant injury rates, often occurring when you attempt to move or dispose of large, awkward units without proper mechanical assistance or adequate team support.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents include fixtures slipping during installation, porcelain shattering under pressure, and heavy units crushing fingers during manual transport. If your injury involved a fixture that was improperly secured, lacked adequate support, or caused a sudden laceration, an attorney can help you review the specific details of your claim.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | OH | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was lifting a toilet from a pallet and suffered a lower back injury. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2024 | TX | Construction | "Employees were installing a urinal. The injured employee was screwing a bolt onto the urinal while the other employee held the urinal. The urinal slipped and crushed the injured employee's left middle finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation." | |
| 2024 | FL | Construction | "An employee was assisting others in moving a large stainless steel sink when his right hand became pinched between the sink and the countertop. He sustained a partial amputation to a finger." | |
| 2024 | PA | Health Care | "An employee was disposing of a toilet into the dumpster. The toilet caught on the dumpster, fell back, and shattered on the employee, resulting in a laceration to their left wrist that required surgery." | |
| 2024 | FL | Construction | "An employee was installing a toilet. While seating the complete toilet, the tank broke and lacerated the employee's wrist." | |
| 2023 | WV | Retail Trade | "An employee was tossing a damaged toilet into a compactor. The toilet bounced off the compactor and lacerated the employee's right wrist, cutting an artery and tendon." | |
| 2023 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was standing on top of a sink basin feeding tubing through the ceiling to the front of the store to where the soda fountain was located. He fell three feet off the sink basin to the ground below, resulting in a fractured right leg." | |
| 2023 | WV | Education | "An employee was cleaning a bathroom. As the employee bent over, the corner of a sink hit the employee's right eyeball, causing an injury that required hospitalization and surgery." | |
| 2023 | IL | Manufacturing | "An employee was taking a molding frame from a shower base in preparation to be trimmed on the band saw. Another 42-pound shower/tub leaning on a rack to the right of him fell on his head, rendering the employee unconscious." | |
| 2022 | TX | Construction | "An employee was trying to throw a toilet into a dumpster. The toilet fell back and lacerated the employee's arm. He was hospitalized." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, injuries sustained while performing job duties are generally covered by workers' compensation. If a fixture shattered and caused a deep laceration, you are entitled to medical coverage and potential wage replacement. An attorney can help you ensure your claim accurately reflects the severity of your injury.
Seek immediate medical attention and notify your supervisor in writing as soon as possible. Because crushing injuries often lead to long-term complications or permanent damage, it is vital to document the incident thoroughly. An attorney can help you gather evidence to support your claim for necessary long-term care.
Employers are required to provide a safe work environment, which includes supplying proper tools or assistance for moving heavy objects. If you were injured because you were forced to lift a heavy fixture alone, your employer may have failed to meet safety standards. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your employer's negligence contributed to your injury.
Documentation is the most important factor in proving your claim, including incident reports, witness statements, and medical records from your initial treatment. If your employer disputes the claim, an attorney can help you collect the necessary evidence to demonstrate that the injury occurred during the scope of your employment.