How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 2,149 severe cases involving stationary sawing machinery over the last decade. Amputations account for 81% of these incidents, representing some of the most life-altering injuries reported to federal regulators.
The severity of these accidents is concentrated in the fingers, which account for 87% of all recorded injuries. These incidents often lead to permanent disability and require extensive medical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving stationary saws primarily occur when you are struck by rolling or shifting objects during the loading process, accounting for 51% of reported cases. You are also frequently caught in running equipment during normal operation, where inadequate machine guarding or safety interlocks fail to prevent contact with the blade.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 1,085 |
| 2 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 790 |
| 3 | Struck by running powered equipment— n.e.c. | 81 |
| 4 | Struck by running powered equipment— unspecified | 42 |
| 5 | Struck by running powered equipment— during maintenance, cleaning, testing | 41 |
| 6 | Struck by running powered equipment— irregular movement, kick back | 35 |
| 7 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 29 |
| 8 | Struck against stationary object | 9 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 67% of all stationary saw injuries, as high-volume production environments often prioritize speed over the rigorous maintenance of safety guards. Construction sites also see frequent incidents, where the portable nature of some stationary saws leads to improper setup and the bypass of essential safety features.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you performing routine tasks like loading material into a vise or clearing scrap when the blade engages unexpectedly. These incidents frequently highlight failures in machine guarding or the absence of proper lockout-tagout procedures during maintenance. 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 | Manufacturing | "On July 30, 2025, an employee was cutting wood with a radial arm saw when the saw amputated their left middle and ring fingers." | |
| 2025 | GA | Manufacturing | "An employee was working to lay a part in the vise of the band saw in preparation for cutting. The left vise closed, pinching his fingertips against the part. The employee's middle and ring fingertips were amputated and they sustained a laceration to the index finger requiring stitches." | |
| 2025 | MO | Manufacturing | "An upcut saw activated and the blade caused an amputation to an employee's finger." | |
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was using a saw machine and sustained a partial traumatic transphalangeal amputation of his right index finger." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "An employee was using a table saw to cut a small bundle of vinyl material. The saw blade lacerated the employee's left index finger. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Administrative Services | "A temporary employee was cleaning plastic welding irons and cutting them using a table saw. The saw blade contacted his left middle and ring fingers, resulting in a partial amputation of his left ring finger and an avulsion to his left middle finger." | |
| 2025 | CT | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was cutting wood on a table saw when his thumb contacted the saw blade. The employee's thumb was partially amputated." | |
| 2025 | MO | Wholesale Trade | "An employee was operating a band saw to cut materials and lacerated their right ring finger to the bone. The employee sustained an amputation and required surgery. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | LA | Construction | "An employee was cutting a plastic pipe with a miter cut-off saw. The saw blade became stuck, bounced back, and lacerated the employee's face." | |
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was operating a stationary masonry saw, cutting faces from bricks for sample boards. The saw blade lacerated the employee's right forearm and the employee was hospitalized, requiring surgery." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical expenses and lost wages for injuries you sustain during the course of employment, including severe saw-related amputations. Because these injuries are often permanent, you may be entitled to additional benefits for permanent partial disability. An attorney can help you calculate the full value of your claim.
Employers are legally required under OSHA standards to provide adequate machine guarding to protect you from moving parts. If a missing or broken guard caused your injury, this may serve as critical evidence of employer negligence. An attorney can help you document these safety failures to support your claim.
In most cases, Workers' Compensation is the exclusive remedy for your workplace injuries, meaning you cannot sue your employer directly for negligence. However, if a third-party manufacturer provided a defective saw or safety device, you may have a separate personal injury claim against them. An attorney can evaluate whether a third-party claim is possible in your situation.
Proving a claim often involves gathering maintenance logs, witness statements, and photos of the machine's safety guards at the time of your accident. OSHA inspection reports can also provide official documentation of safety violations. An attorney can assist in gathering this evidence to ensure your claim is as strong as possible.