THE FATAL FOUR 

The Fatal Four consist of falls, electrical exposure, struck-by and caught-in/between situations, and resulted in 545 worker fatalities in the United States in FY 2016. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimate that 631 workers’ lives would be saved in America every year by eliminating the Fatal Four.

FALL HAZARDS

Importance of Fall Protection

Falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injury and/or deaths. Falling from overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and/or walls can be prevented when an employer provides the proper equipment and training to their employees.

Reduce Workplace Falls

Working at elevations exceeding four feet in general industry, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations, OSHA requires that fall protection be provided to workers. In addition, OSHA requires fall protection for any worker engaged in work activities that are above dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.

COMMON ELECTRICAL HAZARDS ON THE JOB SITE

• Overhead Power Lines
• Damaged Tools and Equipment
• Overloaded Circuits & Improper Wiring
• Exposed Electrical Parts
• Improper Grounding
• Damaged Insulation
• Wet Conditions

SAFE WORK PRACTICES FOR LIVE ELECTRICAL WORK ON THE JOBSITE: 

• Locate and identify utilities before starting work.

• Look for overhead power lines when operating any equipment.

• Maintain a safe distance away from power lines.

• Do not operate portable electric tools unless they are grounded or double insulated.

• Use ground-fault surge protectors.

• Be alert to electrical hazards when working with ladders, scaffolds or other platforms.

Caught-in-Between 

OSHA defines caught-in/between hazards as: Injuries resulting from a person being squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched, or compressed between two or more objects, or between parts of an object. Two examples of caught-in/between incidents include excavation cave-ins and being pulled into moving equipment such as a conveyor.

The Difference

Making a determination between a Caught event and a Struck event comes down to one key factor, whether the impact of the object alone caused the injury. When the injury is created more as a result of crushing injuries between objects, the event should be recorded as Caught. The event should be recorded as Struck when the impact of the object alone creates the injury.

STRUCK BY HAZARDS

Struck-by Flying Objects

When something has been thrown, hurled or is being propelled across space, a flying object hazard exists. Instances resulting in injuries or fatalities can happen when material separates from a tool, machine or other equipment, striking a worker. An object can also be ejected under power by a tool such as a nail gun.

Struck-by Falling Objects

A worker can be crushed, pinned or caught under an object that fell from elevation to a lower level. There are many situations that relate to this hazard and it’s difficult to prepare for all the possibilities.

Struck-by Swinging Objects

Swinging objects can result from a load being mechanically lifted around a worker. When loads are lifted, they have a tendency to twist and swing; especially in windy conditions. This movement can catch a worker off guard and they could be hit by a swinging load. In addition, swinging loads can result in improper rigging techniques; loads must always be properly rigged to prevent slippage.

Struck-by Rolling Objects 

An object that is rolling, moving or sliding on the same level as the worker can cause a struck-by rolling object incident. This can include situations in which a worker is struck by a moving vehicle without being caught under it. This can also result from a worker being struck-by a sliding object or equipment on the same level.

FINAL WORD

This was a quick overview and examples of the fatal four hazards in the construction industry. It is important that construction workers understand that these types of hazards are responsible for the majority of injuries and fatalities in their field of work. Evaluate your work tasks and work area for these hazards.