The most hazardous occupation that is known to pose several risks for workers is Construction industry that is responsible for 20 percent of work-related deaths and several more, thousands of construction workers are injured on the job each year, many of whom will never be able to work again due to the severity of their injuries. The "fatal four" hazards in the construction world may be the industry’s leading causes of injury and death, therefore requires employers to execute appropriate, ongoing safety measures.
The following four fatal hazards seem to be a major concern point for all safety managers:
1. Falls: Fall hazards include unprotected sides or holes, improperly constructed walking or working surfaces, and failure to use proper fall protection.
Minimizing Fall Hazards
Fall hazards are present at most worksites because workers are at risk any time they are working at a height of four feet or more, OSHA generally requires that fall protection be provided for an employee working at a height of six feet. And regardless of the fall distance, fall protection must be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery.
To prevent falls, safety managers should make sure their employees always:
Wear and use personal fall arrest equipment.
Install and maintain perimeter protection.
Cover and secure floor openings and label floor opening covers.
Use ladders and scaffolds safely.
2. Object Strikes: These include falling objects due to rigging failure, loose or shifting materials, equipment malfunctions, and vehicle or equipment strikes.
Reducing Struck-By Injury Rates
Struck-by injuries typically involve flying, falling, swinging, or rolling objects. To better prevent struck-by incidents, employees should wear appropriate PPE, stay alert of heavy equipment, and stay clear of lifted or suspended loads.
Workers should also:
Check vehicles before each shift to ensure that all parts and accessories are in safe operating condition.
Never drive a vehicle in reverse gear with an obstructed rear view (unless that vehicle has an audible reverse alarm or another worker signals that it is safe).
Always properly secure loads with appropriate rigging.
Make sure that all tools and equipment are securely attached and/or tethered.
3. Electrocutions: These are caused by contact with overhead power lines or live circuits in panels, poorly maintained cords and tools, and lightning strikes.
Reducing the Chances of Electrocution
Electrocution has been a serious construction hazard for a very long time on construction work sites. Failure to avoid live overhead power lines and a lack of basic electrical safety knowledge are the major concerns. The proper protocol includes de-energizing and using lockout/Tagout procedures.
To prevent electrocutions, safety managers should make sure their workers:
Locate and identify utilities before starting any work.
Look for overhead power lines when operating any type of equipment.
Maintain a safe distance away from power lines.
Learn the safe distance requirements.
Avoid operating portable electric tools unless they are grounded or double-insulated.
Use ground-fault circuit interrupters for protection.
Be alert to electrical hazards when working with ladders, scaffolds or other platforms.
4. Caught-in/between This categorization includes construction workers who are killed when caught in or compressed by equipment or objects, as well as the hazards of being struck, caught, or crushed in a collapsing structure, equipment or material.
Preventing Caught-in/Between Accidents
Caught-in/between accidents involve those individuals who get caught or crushed in operating equipment, between other mashing objects, between a moving object and a stationary object, or between two or more moving objects. Cave-ins, trenching and being pulled into or caught in machinery and equipment fall under these fatal four hazards.
To prevent caught-in/between accidents, safety managers should ensure that their employees:
Always use machinery that is properly guarded.
Use other methods to ensure that machinery is sufficiently supported, secured, or otherwise made safe.
Never enter unprotected trenches or excavations that are five feet or deeper without an adequate protective system in place (some trenches under five feet deep may also need such a system).
Make sure the trench or excavation is protected either by sloping, shoring, benching, or trench shield systems.
