Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Custer Gun Range, CUSTER, WASHINGTON 98240
on — Gunshot wounds, affecting the leg(s), unspecified.
Final narrative
A border patrol officer was at the gun range working on his annual weapon qualifications. The officer was drawing and firing his gun from the holster. The weapon discharged as he pulled it out, hitting him in the leg and striking a bone. The officer was admitted to the hospital where they performed surgery.
HospitalizedLeg(s), unspecifiedPerson-injured or ill worker, n.e.c.
More severe injuries at U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
An employee was using a snowmobile to access a remote site when a change in the terrain caused the snowmobile to roll over onto the employee. The employee was hospitalized with a compound leg fracture.
An employee was sitting at an egress booth and fell off a chair striking his head. The employee lacerated his head requiring four staples and suffered a mild concussion and minor bleeding on the brain.
An employee was at a firearm range for security training. As she was unloading a firearm inside a vehicle, the weapon discharged. The employee sustained a gunshot wound to the left medial knee.
An employee was test firing a 50-caliber rifle when the bullet ricocheted off a steel plate that was part of the frame for the rubber-coated bullet trap. The bullet struck the employee in the center of his neck, creating a 1/4 inch entry wound. Bullet fragments damaged the employee's trachea and the employee ingested the remaining fragments.
Employees were in a parking lot waiting to board a crew boat. An employee showed his co-workers a pistol and as he was putting it back in his truck, the gun fired. The employee sustained gunshot wounds to the right ring and little fingers.
At about 12:15 p.m. on August 31, 2022, an employee was shooting at a gun range when his handgun fired into his right upper leg, entering above the knee and exiting at the calf.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 928110)
An employee was activating the sprinkler system at a sports complex following recent maintenance to repair leaky pumps. When the system was activated, a section of newly installed 3-inch schedule 80 PVC pipe struck the employee, who lost consciousness. The employee suffered a broken jaw and a concussion.
An employee was ascending a flight of stairs after exiting their vehicle in an adjacent employee parking lot. The employee stepped to the right to avoid another employee on the left who was descending the stairs. The employee lost their balance and fell on the stairs. They were hospitalized with a laceration/abrasion to their chin, a fractured left humerus, and bruising to their left knee.
At about 3:10 p.m. on October 3, 2025, an employee was inspecting a car. Two dogs that had been in another car were leashed and tethered to a bollard. As the employee inspected the first car along with a narcotics detection dog, one of the other dogs came loose and attacked the narcotics dog. The employee was separating the dogs when the other dog bit his left ring finger. The last joint of the finger was injured and part of it was bitten off.
An employee was climbing a fixed ladder to perform maintenance in an attic. While unlocking the attic entry, the employee fell from the ladder more than 10 feet to the concrete below. The employee suffered a fractured hip, pelvis, tail bone, arm, and elbow, resulting in hospitalization and surgery.
An employee was drilling a hole into the sealed hold of a vessel so a marine chemist could test its atmosphere. Upon drilling the hole, a gas that was under pressure was released and caught fire at the drill motor, where the employee was holding it. The employee was burned.
An employee was performing restoration activities outside a 45-gallon condensation tank of a boiler system. As they were performing post-maintenance activities after repairing one of the two discharge pumps, one of the discharge valves would not open. The employee closed the intake pump to cool off the system and open the discharge valve. Two employees opened the inlet valve to return the tank to service. After they cracked open the inlet valve, a side wall of the tank blew out, causing the injured employee to suffer steam burns to half their body.
An employee was testing and troubleshooting the gang cylinder valve located in the gang area of the sawmill. The employee's fingertip was amputated by the gang cylinder valve.
An employee was unlocking containers on deck. The employee was de-lashing while standing on the edge of the lid. The lashing bar he was holding came off the cone, causing him to turn 90 degrees and strike a railing behind him. The employee sustained four fractured ribs.
An employee parked a side-by-side on the fixed internal ramp aboard a cargo ship. They exited the side-by-side and went to inspect the cargo below. The side-by-side rolled toward the employee and struck them as they were walking toward the edge of the ramp. The employee was knocked off the ramp and landed on the lower deck approximately 8 feet below. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured shoulder.