FACTS

1. Equipment Pinch Points: Workers can get hands, fingers, or limbs caught in moving parts of machinery such as rollers, gears, or excavators.
2. Caught Between Vehicles and Structures: Workers operating or walking near heavy equipment may be pinned between machines and walls, barriers, or other vehicles.
3. Trench or Excavation Collapse: Improperly shored trenches can collapse, trapping or crushing workers beneath soil or debris.
4. Material Shifting or Rolling: Unsecured pipes, lumber, or heavy materials can roll or shift unexpectedly, pinning workers against fixed objects.
5. Improper Lockout/Tagout: Servicing equipment without isolating power sources may cause sudden movement or activation, trapping workers in mechanical parts.
6. Falling Structural Components: During demolition or framing, unsecured walls or beams can fall onto workers, causing crush injuries.
7. Improper Use of Lifting Devices: Workers caught between suspended loads and fixed surfaces can suffer serious compression injuries if rigging fails or movement is uncontrolled.

STATS

• In 2024, OSHA recorded 5,190 workplace fatalities, with ~5% (~260) from caught-between hazards, including trench collapses (30%), machinery incidents (25%), and vehicle pinning (20%), per NIOSH.
• In 2024, PPE violations (29 CFR 1910.132) ranked 6th (1,876 citations), including inadequate hard hats or HVSA. Excavation violations (29 CFR 1926.652) ranked 8th (1,500 citations), often for missing trench protection.
• A 2022 NIOSH study found that proper PPE and engineering controls (e.g., trench boxes, machine guards) reduced caught-between injuries by 25%, but 30% of workers lacked proper PPE compliance or training.
• WorkSafeBC reported 25–30 annual fatalities in British Columbia (2020–2023), with ~10% (~3) from caught-between hazards, often trench or machinery-related.
• CCOHS 2023 data showed that proper PPE and controls (e.g., shoring, guards) reduced caught-between injuries by 22%.
• Ontario’s 2024 fines (up to $500,000) target OHS violations, including failure to provide PPE or ensure trench safety.