Toolboxes Or Tool Kits
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Home Communication & Entertainment · CPSC Code 835
Down 20% over 5 years
The verdict
Toolboxes Or Tool Kits carry a danger score of 35/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 7,512 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 20% over the last five years.
- 35/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 7,512
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 3.5%
- end in hospital admission
- 25-34
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 835 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 35/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for toolboxes or tool kits - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume7,512 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)3.5%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-20%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Toolboxes Or Tool Kits (CPSC product code 835, in the Home Communication & Entertainment category) generate an estimated 7,512 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 150,243 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 35/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 20% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2010 (8,732 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2022 (5,597 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for toolboxes or tool kits is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 12,926 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by strain, sprain to the lower trunk (10,026 cases). The 25-34 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 29,750 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 3.5% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 3 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how toolboxes or tool kits 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 CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 4,771 | 1,801 | |
| 5-14 | 5,405 | 1,809 | |
| 15-24 | 12,979 | 4,842 | |
| 25-34 | 21,730 | 8,020 | |
| 35-44 | 21,738 | 6,759 | |
| 45-54 | 17,653 | 5,370 | |
| 55-64 | 12,990 | 4,789 | |
| 65-74 | 7,919 | 3,469 | |
| 75+ | 5,381 | 2,805 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Foot | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Hand | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Head | Laceration | |
| Toe | Fracture | |
| Lower Leg | Laceration | |
| Upper Trunk | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Shoulder | Strain, Sprain | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Finger | Fracture |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
14YOM C/O ANKLE PAIN, DUE TO DROPPING A TOOLBOX ON HIS LEFT ANKLE AND HEEL AREA. DX: LACERATION TO THE LEFT HEEL, CONTUSION LEFT FOOT
27YOM STS WALKING OUTSIDE TRIPPED & FELL DOWN HIT CHEST ON TOOLBOX DX RIB FRACTURE
21MOM HERE FOR HEAD INJURY. HE HIT HIS HEAD ON A METAL TOOLBOX. BRUISING AND HEMATOMA TO THE FOREHEAD. DX: CONTUSION TO FORHEAD, HEMATOMA TO FOREHEAD, HEAD INJURY
24YOM WAS LIFTING A TOOLBOX INTO HIS TRUCK WHEN HE FELT HIS BACK POP RESULTING IN BACK PAIN. DX: THORACOLUMBAR BACK PAIN;
68YOM PT STATES WORKING ON A TOOL BOX AND CUT RIGHT THUMB. DX: LACERATION OF RIGHT THUMB.
44 YOM WAS PICKING UP HIS TOOL BOX WHILE HE WAS IN THE BACK OF HIS TRUCK AND HE FELL, C/O LEFT HIP, KNEE AND RIB PAIN. DX: GROIN STRAIN, RIB CONTUSION, FALL
52YOM PATIENT WAS THE RESTRAINED PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A MINIVAN TRAVELING ROUGHLY 70 MILES AN HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE WHICH DROVE OVER A TOOLBOX, MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH DX: STRAIN OF THORACIC BACK REGION
53YOF PATIENT WAS THE RESTRAINED PASSENGER IN A VEHICLE THAT RAN OVER A TOOL BOX ON THE INTERSTATE, SHOULDER PAIN, AND UPPER BACK PAIN DX: SPRAIN OF LEFT SHOULDER, MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT
83YOF PATIENT WAS THE RESTRAINED PASSENGER OF A VEHLCE THAT WAS TRAVELING ROUGHLY 70 MILES PER HOUR THAT RAN OVER A TOOL BOX ON THE INTERSTATE, MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH DX: MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, ACUTE LEFT HIP PAIN
23YOM WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING IN HIS TOOL BOX, TRIPPED AND FELL, FELT PAIN TO FINGERS, LIKE FB IN HAND, DX FB TO HAND
56YOM HAD A MECHANICAL FALL OFF OF A PICKUP TRUCK TODAY LANDING ONTO A METAL TOOLBOX THEN HITTING THE GROUND DX: CONTUSION OF CHEST WALL; THORACIC COMPRESSION FRACTURE
64YOF PT C/O SHOULDER PAIN AFTER LIFTING A HEAVY TOOL BOX LAST WEEK, ABOUT 60 LBS, PUTTING IT INTO BROTHER'S TRUCK. PAIN WORSE BY SHOVELING SNOW DX: CALCIFIC TENDINITIS LEFT SHOULDER, LEFT SHOULDER STRAIN
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
I have the Lowes Kobalt tool chest with the attached tool box on top, there big stainless steel one. its a safety hazard as when the Bottom drawer is full of heavy items and open half way to fully open, and you open any other drawer it will tip over on you. its vary top heavy and mine just tipped over smashing me between my car and tool box. causing bodily injury and property damage. the tool box is heavy even empty.
using the right side door my finger was lacerated while pulling it back out. The flange is VERY sharp.
Caller is reporting that the open toolbox latch caused laceration to her right lower leg when she stepped back, there was profuse bleeding because she is in blood thinners, and a vein was knicked. She was seen at urgent care and received stitches, however, the next day she noticed the wound was infected, and she went to her PCP. It wasn't until later that the PCP decided to put her on antibiotics. She stated that the latches are razor sharp which are extremely unsafe. She stated that she purchased the toolbox approximately 15 years ago this was the first incident. Caller stated that the manufacturer was not contacted as yet. Caller feels that this product is a safety hazard and should be reported. Report update 12/12/22: I contacted Craftsman after making this report, and Craftsman took a report. Pictures of tool box are attached to this email. Update: As of 12-2-22, when I last saw my PCP, I was still fighting infection and swelling. My PCP stated the laceration may be abscessed, and told me to keep an eye on the injury for the next two weeks. [REDACTED]
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to toolboxes or tool kits on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are toolboxes or tool kits?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, toolboxes or tool kits have a danger score of 35/100 (low risk). An estimated 7,512 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from toolboxes or tool kits?
The most common injury is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 12,926 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from toolboxes or tool kits increasing or decreasing?
Down 20% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for toolboxes or tool kits injuries?
The 25-34 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 29,750 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by toolboxes or tool kits?
Of all ER visits involving toolboxes or tool kits, approximately 3.5% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (96.5%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with toolboxes or tool kits?
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.
Related Products in Home Communication & Entertainment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 35/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 25-34 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
