OSHA’s Job Site Fatal Four
Naturally, construction safety is the primary focus during Construction Safety Week (May 3 – 7). This weeklong occasion emphasizes the importance of keeping yourself and your workers on and around the job site safe.
Construction Safety Is a Big Job Site Concern
Unfortunately, the construction sector remains one of the top 10 most dangerous workplaces. In 2019, it ranked among the top 5 for the highest incidence of workplace injuries. For this reason and many others, Construction Safety Week is a yearly reminder to:
- Refresh what you know about safety best practices
- Make sure your existing safety equipment is in good shape
- Check out new safety equipment
But remember, if you’re serious about reducing the number of injuries on your worksite, you must keep safety at the forefront every single day—not just one week out of the year. To help you with this, our article discusses in-depth the four most common types of job site accidents, known as the fatal four.
Job Site Safety and the “Fatal Four”
Nearly every single construction job site accident you hear of or read about is preventable! To increase safety, you and your crew need to be aware of dangerous scenarios and behavior.
Let’s first see if you can remember what OSHA defines as the top “fatal four” accidents:
- Falls
- Caught-in or -between
- Struck-by
- Electrocution
Falls Are the Most Common Job Site Accident
We’re listing this first because construction falls contribute to more fatalities each year than all other Fatal Four hazards combined. This section deals with falls from different heights (as opposed to falling from a slip or trip.)
An injury from a fall can occur when working at a height of four feet or more. Areas to watch out for include:
- Edges of roofs and stories
- Floor openings (stairwells and skylights)
- Makeshift scaffolds
- Portable ladders
The best protection for workers is an awareness of where they are at all times. Every day, inform your workers of new areas around which to use caution.
The next level of protection is with job site safety gear and equipment. Workers can use harnesses, lifelines, anchors, and lanyards. Also, improve job site safety by marking dangerous edges with safety netting and perimeter warning lines.
Caught-In or -Between Job Site Accidents
The caught-in or -between accidents are not as obvious to spot and prevent as falls. These types of accidents occur when a person:
- Is buried in a hole (or trench)
- Is trapped between two objects (a wall and equipment)
- Gets clothing or body parts caught in a piece of machinery or equipment
Job site areas to watch out for include:
- Gaps between equipment and stationary objects (walls or other equipment)
- Unsupported holes and trenches
- Pinch points on machinery (running belts, unguarded saws, rotating parts)
Struck-By Involves Dropped or Collapsing Objects
Struck-by accidents occur when an object strikes a person. The object can be a construction tool or debris that falls onto a person. With a struck-by accident, even walls made of concrete or masonry blocks can fall on a worker.
What’s the difference?
This type of accident is different from the caught-in and -between accident because the person is not trapped between a moving object and a stationary one (or between two moving objects). Instead, something falls onto them.
To reduce struck-by accidents, use caution in the scenarios:
- Near heavy machinery or equipment on inclines
- Beneath overhead work or large loads of material
- Near an edge while using tools and equipment
- Around block walls that are actively being built
To reduce the potential for injury, all workers should wear hardhats to avoid being struck in the head. To further improve job site safety, use debris nets to catch falling objects. Even better, use toe boards and guardrails at the edges to catch objects before they fall.
Electrical Accidents Cause Burns, Shocks, and Worse
Electrical hazards put workers at risk for electrocution, burns, shocks, fire, explosions, and arc flashes and blasts.
Electrocution
A lethal dose of electricity to the human body causes a fatality.
Burns
Serious burns can come from the shock itself, an arch/flash, or thermal contact.
Shocks
Although an electrical shock might not be lethal, the shock can cause the worker to fall from a height.
Fire
Sparks from electrical equipment can start a job site fire.
Explosions
Explosions can occur when a dangerous mix of material is in the air and a spark of electricity sets it off.
Arc Flashes and Blasts
These happen when electrical energy is suddenly released through the air. It gives off an extreme level of heat and intense, bright light that can cause burns.
To avoid electrical accidents, watch out for:
- Overhead and buried power lines
- Energized equipment or machinery with damaged/bare wires
- Buildup of conductive dust/corrosion
- Old wiring (or “fixed” wiring) and problems with plugs, receptacles, and switches
- Power and extension cords used improperly
Construction Safety Is an Ongoing Choice
With so much happening on the job site, it takes extra effort to remain aware of the dangers. Being fully prepared on the job site is an everyday concern that ensures you and your workers will return home safe and sound at the end of the day.
Pro Tool is eager to help you make the right choices when it comes to the proper signage and protective equipment. Don’t wait for Construction Safety Week to ensure your job site’s safety.
To ensure you’re never short on the right kind of safety equipment, check out our list of 9 safety products to always have on hand. Also, we invite you to see how seriously we take safety at Pro Tool & Supply, as well as our full inventory of safety equipment.