Danger score versus ER volume
Danger score versus ER volume
According to CPSC NEISS 2005-2024, Hair Clippers And Trimmers ranks #622 of 838 by danger score (31/100) at ER-volume #481 of 838 (1,410/yr). They are not the same ranking.
- #622
- danger rank of 838
- #481
- ER-volume rank of 838
- 31/100
- danger score
- 1,410/yr
- estimated ER visits (avg)
Danger score combines injury volume, hospitalization, fatality, and five-year trend. ER volume is the average annual NEISS estimate alone. Rank 1 is highest on each list.
Where this category's danger score sits nationally
Danger score (31/100) across 838 scored CPSC product categories
31 Lower than most lower than 74% of 838 product categories
scored CPSC product categories, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more product categories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source CPSC NEISS, PlainSafety danger-score model · 2024
Composite verdict
Composite Safety Score: 36/100
One verdict blending 4 independently-sourced dimensions from two separate CPSC systems, each benchmarked against all 838 scored product categories by percentile rather than raw value, so no single huge-volume category can dominate the scale.
| Dimension | Value | National percentile | Weight applied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injury severity (hospitalization + fatality blend) | 2 | 14th | 35% | CPSC NEISS 20-year severity index |
| Annual ER injury volume | 1,410 | 39th | 30% | CPSC NEISS estimated annual ER-treated injuries |
| 5-year injury trend | -16% | 42nd | 15% | CPSC NEISS 5-year % change in ER-treated injuries |
| Consumer incident reports | 36 | 65th | 20% | CPSC SaferProducts.gov public incident report count |
Methodology: each dimension is ranked against the full population's p10/p25/p50/p75/p90 breakpoints and interpolated to a 0-100 percentile; the composite is the weighted average of available percentiles. See methodology for the full benchmark table.
Where 28,192 estimated ER injuries land on the body
Body-part shares from the same CPSC NEISS injury_types extract for product code 1683. Segments sum to 28,192 - a body-map mix, not a danger score or ER-volume rank.
Two danger lenses
Same-group peer scores and this product's dial
The bars compare PlainSafety danger scores inside the Personal Care & Safety Products group (same CPSC NEISS extract). The dial is this product's score alone on the Low/Moderate/High bands. Do not read a peer bar as an ER-visit count.
Personal Care & Safety Products danger scores
How this 31/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for hair clippers and trimmers - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume 1,410 ER visits/yr Below median volume
- Severity (hospitalization rate) 2.0% Low admission rate
- Fatality rate 0.00% No recorded fatalities
- 5-year trend-16%
Band labels compare this category against the corpus of 838 scored CPSC product categories, see the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Across the 20-year NEISS window from 2005 to 2024, injury counts for hair clippers and trimmers are declining by about 16% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2018 (2,446 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2006 (565 estimated visits). The single most common ER diagnosis is other to the head, accounting for approximately 2,647 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by other to the face (2,538 cases). The 25-34 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 5,591 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 2.0% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 36 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how hair clippers and trimmers fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,507 | 693 | |
| 5-14 | 1,980 | 328 | |
| 15-24 | 2,602 | 736 | |
| 25-34 | 4,845 | 746 | |
| 35-44 | 4,195 | 718 | |
| 45-54 | 3,012 | 896 | |
| 55-64 | 1,816 | 742 | |
| 65-74 | 1,810 | 332 | |
| 75+ | 914 | 315 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Other | |
| Face | Other | |
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Ear | Laceration | |
| Head | Derma/conjunct | |
| Neck | Derma/conjunct | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Pubic Region | Laceration | |
| Neck | Other | |
| Head | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Face | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Toe | Laceration | |
| Pubic Region | Other | |
| Hand | Laceration |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
67YOM CUT THE TIP OF HIS LEFT MIDDLE FINGER ON A TRIMMER AT HOME. DX: LACERATION OF LEFT MIDDLE FINGER
48YOM USING FACIAL CLIPPERS ON FACE AND C/O ABSCESS INCREASING IN SIZE ON FACE. SEEN AT URGENT CAREDX FACIAL ABSCESS
43 YOM USED CLIPPERS TO SHAVE FACE DEVELOPED A RASH ON FACE DX FOCILUTIS FACE
2YOM MOM WAS CUTTING HIS HAIR WHEN THE PATIENT TURNED HIS HEAD AND MOM ACCIDENTLY CUT THE BUTTOM OF HIS EARLOBE DX: LACERATION OF LEFT EAR
38YOM C/O ABSCESS. PATIENT HAS BEEN SHAVING PUBIC AREA WITH CLIPPERS. NOW WITH INGROWN HAIR AND ABSCESS. DX: CUTANEOUS ABSCESS OF GROIN
31 YOM WITH BOILS TO HIS FACE AFTER GETTING HIS HAIR CUT WITH CLIPPERS 4 DAYS PTA. DX ABSCESS
54 YOF WAS TRIMMING HER PUBIC HAIR TODAY AND CUT AN INCH TO THE RIGHT OF HER LOWER RIGHT LABIA MAJORA. DX PUNCTURE WOUND
34YOM P/W AFTER BEING STRUCK W/ ELECTRIC HAIR CLIPPERS TO HAND, C/O HAND PAIN, DX:ABRASION OF HAND, HAND PAIN, SHOULDER JOINT PAIN
75YOM WAS TRIMMING NOSE HAIR AND GOT NOSE BLEED PT LEFT ED DX: EPISTAXIS
3YOM WAS GETTING A HAIRCUT FROM HIS DAD WITH HAIR CLIPPERS AND SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO RIGHT EAR DX: LACERATION TO EAR
39 YOM LIVING IN A HALF-WAY HOUSE USED ANOTHER PERSON'S BEARD TRIMMER AND CLIPPED HIS RIGHT EARLOBE. NOW WITH REDNESS AND SWELLING DX CELLULITIS OF RIGHT EARLOBE
37 YOM STATES HE THINKS HE HAS AN ABSCESS THAT DEVELOPED AFTER CUTTING HIS HAIR WITH CLIPPERS RECENTLY. DX: SCALP ABSCESS
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
I bought a product called Manscaped, I thought it would be safe because of safety features like guards and a plastic cutting blade!
While using the Conair Girlbomb Nose Hair Trimmer following product instructions, the skin inside my right nostril was cut, causing pain and bleeding for several minutes. The product claims to trim nose hair without "nicks, or cuts."
On 09/02/2018 I purchased a new product called the Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Removal. This product indicated it was safe for use on eyebrows. After using this product my eyes began swell shut and abrasions were present. I sought emergency care at the hospital and was discharged with medications.
I made a purchase $2.99 on 08/26/2024 From "BLADEVIP.COM" for a hair trimmer. I received the item on 09/03/2024 When I opened the product, added a battery, and began to use it, I noticed that it was not doing what it was supposed to do. Instead of trimming hair, it was just pulling hair (quite painfully)! I had to stop before blood was drawn! I also noticed that with the slightest pressure on the device, the motor would slightly "give-out" (weak motor). When I contacted the seller via email, I had noticed on the bottom of their webpage that they state they have a no return policy within 30 days if the product has been "used". There would be NO way for me to KNOW if the product works, without at least being "used" once. It is a battery operated hair trimmer. I sent an email stating that it did not do what it was supposed to do. It was just painful, and I mentioned how upset I was that there was a no return policy if the item was "used". THEIR EMAIL REST WAS: "Hi [REDACTED], Unfortunately, you've used the item and acknowledged that it's non-returnable. If you proceed with a chargeback, we will dispute it. Best, [REDACTED] - Blade VIP"
I used a Wahl nose hair clipper. Model No 5546S/.The guard came of the blades and cut the inside of my nose and the skin adjacent to my nostril as I removed the device. I have no permanent injury. You should be aware of this incident
06/15/2017 (Approximate) - The consumer indicates that he had just turned on the hair removal system when a few seconds later sparks shot out about six inches. The consumer instinctively dropped the unit to the floor. The consumer unplugged the device from the wall, noticing that smoke was coming out of it; burn marks were also evident. 07/05/2017 (Approximate) - The consumer contacted the Manufacturer and explained the situation. The representative he spoke to informed him that the warranty does not cover the retailer he purchased it at so there was no assistance they could provide. The consumer indicates that the product was used, on average, two to four times per month for approximately ten minutes each use prior to the day of the incident. The consumer plans on keeping his hair removal system for at least the next thirty days in case an investigation ensues.
CONAIR 15 piece pro style kit Model HC242T shorted out when in use due to the wiring cracking open near the base. It set a spark flying which put a small hole/burn in my shirt but did not result in personal injury.
A battery powered hair trimmer (Wahl Professional 5 Star Series Magic Clip Cordless Hair Clipper) had spontaneously turned on and could not be turned off. The unit reached high operating temperature raising concern of overheating and fire.
Showing 8 of 36 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to hair clippers and trimmers on the CPSC website.
Compare beyond Personal Care & Safety Products
Nationwide peers by danger score, ER volume & hospitalization
Three PlainSafety-derived comparison paths for Hair Clippers And Trimmers: cross-group products nearest on danger score (31/100), estimated annual ER visits (1,410/yr), and hospitalization share (2.0%). Same-group neighbours stay in Related Products above.
Similar danger score
Nearest cross-group products by PlainSafety danger score (100-point scale).
Similar ER visit volume
Nearest cross-group products by NEISS estimated annual ER visits.
- Power Sanders Home Communication & Entertainment 1,417/yr
- Scuba Diving (activity, Apparel Or Equipment) Sports & Recreation Equipment 1,418/yr
- Doll Houses And Other Play Scenes Swimming, Water & Beach Equipment 1,425/yr
- Power Pruning Or Trimming Equipment, Not Specified Lawn & Garden Equipment 1,427/yr
Similar hospitalization rate
Nearest cross-group products by % of NEISS ER visits resulting in hospital admission.
- Soccer (activity, Apparel Or Equipment) Sports & Recreation Equipment 2.0%admitted
- Hockey (activity, Apparel Or Equipment), Not Specified Sports Protective Equipment & Gear 2.0%admitted
- Pliers, Wire Cutters Or Wrenches Home Communication & Entertainment 1.9%admitted
- Wrestling (activity, Apparel Or Equipment) Sports & Recreation Equipment 1.9%admitted
Related Products in Personal Care & Safety Products
Read with this product
About this data
CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports form the basis of this page. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments.
According to PlainSafety's CPSC NEISS corpus ranking, Hair Clippers And Trimmers ranks #622 of 838 scored CPSC product categories by PlainSafety danger score and #481 of 838 by 20-year estimated ER injury volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does hair clippers and trimmers rank on danger score versus ER volume?
Among 838 scored CPSC product categories, hair clippers and trimmers ranks #622 by PlainSafety danger score (31/100) and #481 by 20-year estimated ER injury volume (1,410/yr). The two rankings come from the same NEISS extract and are not the same order.
What are the most common injuries from hair clippers and trimmers?
The most common injury is other to the head, accounting for approximately 2,647 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from hair clippers and trimmers increasing or decreasing?
Down 16% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for hair clippers and trimmers injuries?
The 25-34 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 5,591 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by hair clippers and trimmers?
Of all ER visits involving hair clippers and trimmers, approximately 2.0% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (98.0%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with hair clippers and trimmers?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
PlainSafety is rendered directly from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall and incident records, no number is typed in by an editor. Product recall timelines and hazard labels are drawn from CPSC recall records for this product. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.