How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 268 severe cases involving structural barriers over the last decade. Amputations are the most frequent injury type, occurring in 42% of these incidents, while fractures follow at 31%. These injuries often result from sudden structural failures that leave you with little time to react.
Fingers are the most vulnerable body part, accounting for 48% of all reported cases. When a gate dislodges or a wall gives way, the force involved frequently leads to permanent tissue loss or complex fractures that require extensive surgical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
How these injuries happen
Injuries from structural barriers typically occur when equipment fails during routine operation. Being struck by a swinging or suspended object is the leading cause, representing 38% of all reported incidents. You are often caught between moving gates and tracks or suffer falls from elevated retaining walls when structural integrity is compromised.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by suspended or swinging object | 98 |
| 2 | Struck by falling object | 39 |
| 3 | Other fall to lower level | 36 |
| 4 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 20 |
| 5 | Struck by running powered equipment— unspecified | 9 |
| 6 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 9 |
| 7 | Caught or wedged between objects— nonrunning | 8 |
| 8 | Direct exposure to electricity | 6 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing leads all sectors with 16% of reported incidents, as high-traffic facility gates and heavy industrial fencing are in constant use. Construction follows at 14%, where temporary barriers and retaining walls are frequently exposed to heavy machinery and environmental stress, increasing the risk of sudden collapse.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents involve gates dislodging from tracks during manual operation or you falling from improperly guarded retaining walls. These reports highlight a recurring failure to maintain track rollers and secure structural perimeters. 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 | LA | Real Estate | "An employee was closing the store for the night. While closing the gate to the parking area, the gate dislodged from the tracks. The employee proceeded to lift the gate back onto the tracks and caught their right ring finger between the gate and the tracks, resulting in amputation of the fingertip." | |
| 2025 | MO | Administrative Services | "An employee stepped off a stand-up lawn mower and they fell off a 10.5 foot retaining wall and landed on the concrete surface below. The employee lost consciousness and sustained fractures to both wrists, their left knee, left eye, and jaw. The employee was hospitalized and later suffered partial vision loss to their left eye." | |
| 2025 | OH | Health Care | "An employee was walking along a retainer wall. The employee fell from the wall to the ground, suffering a broken L1 vertebra, a broken shoulder blade, and a lacerated spleen." | |
| 2025 | IL | Manufacturing | "An employee was opening a manual gate on the property. The gate reached the end of the track and fell off the rail. The employee then went to lift the panel back onto the track and the tip of their left thumb was pinched between the rail and the roller resulting in amputation of soft tissue from the top of the thumb." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee was closing the gate on a fence at the jobsite when their finger became caught in the track roller on the gate. The employee sustained an amputation." | |
| 2025 | FL | Agriculture | "An employee was removing a pin from a metal gate to let cows out of a parlor. The gate moved and his left middle finger was caught in the pin hole. The employee's finger was partially amputated." | |
| 2025 | WI | Wholesale Trade | "At the business storage yard on 6/25/2025, at 8:00 AM, an employee was helping to manually push a chain link security gate open. The gate came off it's roller track supports and struck the employee's back. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured L3 vertebra and a hematoma to the lower back." | |
| 2025 | FL | Agriculture | "An employee was sorting cows in a pen when a cow struck a gate the employee was standing behind. The gate subsequently struck the employee, causing him to fall backward and hit his head. The employee suffered a closed head injury that required hospitalization." | |
| 2025 | DC | Construction | "An employee jumped over a fence and broke his ankle." | |
| 2025 | GA | Administrative Services | "On May 22, 2025, an employee was pulling weeds when his right hand contacted an electric fence and he was electrocuted." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, your employer is required to maintain all walking and working surfaces, including gates and retaining walls, in a safe condition under OSHA standards. Failure to perform routine inspections or repair damaged tracks can constitute negligence. An attorney can help you determine if your employer failed to meet these safety obligations.
Seek immediate medical attention and ensure the incident is documented by your supervisor. Amputations are serious injuries that often qualify for specific Workers' Compensation benefits beyond standard medical coverage. An attorney can help you navigate the claims process to ensure your long-term needs are addressed.
If you were performing work duties when you fell, you are generally eligible for Workers' Compensation regardless of who was at fault. These claims cover medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs. An attorney can evaluate your case to ensure you receive the full benefits you are entitled to under the law.
OSHA regulations require that equipment be maintained to prevent hazards like falling gates or collapsing structures. If your employer ignored known defects or failed to provide proper training, they may be liable for additional damages. An attorney can help you investigate the maintenance records and safety history of the equipment involved in your injury.