How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 431 severe cases involving violence against you, with traumatic injuries and fractures being the most common outcomes. These incidents often result in significant physical harm that requires immediate medical intervention and extended time away from work.
The brain is the most frequently injured body part, followed by the lumbar region of the back. These injuries often lead to long-term complications, including concussions and permanent musculoskeletal damage, which can alter your ability to perform your job duties.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries occur when you are physically struck, kicked, or beaten by patients or students. These violent acts often happen during routine care or when you attempt to redirect individuals, leading to sudden, forceful contact that causes fractures and traumatic brain injuries.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hitting, kicking, beating by other person | 206 |
| 2 | Violent acts by other person— unspecified | 93 |
| 3 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 59 |
| 4 | Overexertion while moving or manipulating external object(s)— unspecified | 29 |
| 5 | Overexertion while providing medical or custodial care | 18 |
| 6 | Contact with other person while providing medical or custodial care | 9 |
| 7 | Multiple types of overexertion while moving or manipulating external object(s) | 5 |
| 8 | Shooting by other person | 3 |
Where injuries happen most
The health care industry accounts for 94 percent of these severe incidents. The nature of patient care creates a high risk for physical altercations that your employer is legally obligated to mitigate through proper safety protocols.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you being blindsided by sudden physical attacks while performing routine tasks like repositioning patients or redirecting individuals. These incidents frequently result in severe head trauma, broken bones, and internal injuries. 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 legal options.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | MO | Health Care | "An employee was on the phone with his supervisor when a patient walked up and punched him. The employee was knocked to the floor and the patient kicked him multiple times causing injuries to his head, left cheek, left eye, mouth, and right hand. The employee sustained a traumatic brain injury/concussion and a left periorbital edema." | |
| 2025 | TX | Health Care | "An employee assisted with repositioning a patient in bed using a drawsheet. After repositioning the patient, the employee felt lower back pain and had weakness in her legs. The employee sustained a herniated disc." | |
| 2025 | GA | Health Care | "An employee was providing care to patients when another patient attempted to enter the room and attacked the employee. She was kicked, punched, and thrown to the ground. The employee sustained a concussion and was knocked unconscious. The employee was hospitalized for injuries that included a broken collar bone, broken ribs, and a punctured lung." | |
| 2025 | TX | Health Care | "An employee was working to redirect a patient back to their bed when the patient punched the right side of the employee's head/eye area with a closed fist. The employee sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Health Care | "An employee was struck by a patient in the chest and fell to the floor, with the patient falling onto them. The employee suffered a head injury." | |
| 2025 | GA | Health Care | "An employee was providing a therapeutic escort for an agitated patient. The patient began fighting and bit off the employee's fingertip, resulting in a fingertip amputation." | |
| 2025 | OH | Health Care | "The injured employee was performing a one-on-one watch of a patient who had been brought to the emergency room. The patient became agitated while in the patient room. Security personnel provided assistance to de-escalate the patient s behavior. The patient lunged for a security guard s handgun and a struggle ensued between the patient and two security guards. The patient was able to place his hand on the weapon and it fired while still inside its holster. The injured employee was struck in the abdomen by a bullet while standing at the door opening. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | WV | Health Care | "An employee was getting up off a couch as a client was aggressive. The client kicked the employee, causing him to fall over the arm of the couch and land on the floor. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured left hip." | |
| 2025 | ME | Administrative Services | "A temporary employee was walking a patient down the stairs when the patient pushed her and she fell down two steps to the floor. The employee was hospitalized with an endplate fracture of her L2 vertebra." | |
| 2025 | CO | Health Care | "An employee was sitting while observing a patient. The patient became agitated and struck the employee about the abdomen and chest causing internal bleeding. The employee 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 during the course of employment are generally covered by Workers' Compensation, regardless of whether the injury was caused by a patient or student. You are entitled to benefits for medical expenses and lost wages if you were hurt while performing your job duties. An attorney can help you navigate the claims process to ensure your rights are protected.
Your employer has a legal duty to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards, which includes implementing safety measures to protect you from foreseeable violence. This may include adequate staffing, proper training, and secure facility design. If your employer failed to provide a safe environment, an attorney can help you evaluate if you have additional grounds for a claim.
Seek immediate medical attention and ensure the incident is documented thoroughly in your employer's records and your medical files. Traumatic brain injuries require specialized care and can have long-term impacts on your health and career. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to support your claim for ongoing medical treatment and disability benefits.
While there is no single federal OSHA standard specifically for workplace violence, the General Duty Clause requires employers to protect you from recognized hazards that cause death or serious physical harm. Employers must assess their facilities for violence risks and implement effective prevention programs. An attorney can help you determine if your employer failed to meet these safety obligations.