Amputations Stats and Facts

Amputations are some of the most serious and debilitating workplace injuries. They are widespread and involve a variety of activities and equipment.

Amputations occur most often when workers operate unguarded or inadequately safeguarded mechanical power presses, power press brakes, powered and non-powered conveyors, and printing presses, roll-forming and roll bending machines, food slicers, meat grinders, meat cutting band saws, drill presses, and milling machines as well as shears, grinders, and slitters.
These injuries also happen during materials handling activities and when using forklifts and doors as well as trash compactors and powered and non-powered hand tools.
Besides normal operation, the following activities involving stationary machines also expose workers to potential amputation hazards: setting up, threading, preparing, adjusting, cleaning, lubricating, and maintaining machines as well as clearing jams.

2017 data shows that amputation related to workplace injury affected approximately 0.5 out of every 10,000 U.S. workers (or 1 in every 20,000 workers):

Manufacturing (2.1 amputations per every 10,000 workers)
Construction (1.4 amputations for every 10,000 workers)
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (1.4 amputations for every 10,000 workers)
Amputations happen on average twice a week, according to the data. There were 270 incidents in a 31-month period spanning 2015 to 2017, according to the OSHA figures. Most of the incidents involved the amputation of fingers or fingertips, but there were recordings of lost hands, arms or toes. During the period there were a total of 550 serious injuries which cover 22 of the 50 states so the true total for the USA would be substantially higher.