Construction is a dangerous career. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are four (4) types of accidents that continue to cause more deaths on the worksite than any other type of accidents, which they have dubbed the “Fatal Four”. These accidents accounted for over 58% of fatalities on construction sites in 2018.
The “Fatal Four” according to OSHA include:
- Falls – The leading cause of construction workplace injuries and deaths continues to be falls, with over 100,000 injuries and deaths occurring yearly. Fall prevention measures, such as safety harnesses and lines, safety nets, railings, guard rails and toe-boards, are often overlooked putting workers at serious risk.
- Electrocution – Every year, electrical hazards cause more than 300 deaths and 4,000 injuries in the workplace each year. Electricity is a serious workplace hazard and these injuries and deaths could be prevented if safety precautions, such as proper training, providing personal protection equipment, and Arc Flash protection, is provided and followed.
- Struck-by-object – These types of accidents occur when an employee is hit by an object that has fallen, is thrown, swinging, or rolling. Workers should wear safety gear, ensure that protective guards are in place on machinery and tools, avoid working in areas where work is being done above them, and never position themselves under a suspended load.
- Caught-in-between – When a worker or their body parts are caught, crushed, or squeezed between two or more objects, or they are caught in a collapse, it is considered a caught-in-between accident. OSHA recommends that workers never wear jewelry, tie back long hair, and never wear loose fitting clothing on the job site, as well as provide training to employees so they are aware of where pinch points might be on machinery and how to shut down machinery quickly.
OSHA estimates that eliminating the “Fatal Four” would save over 500 workers’ lives every year.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to negligence on the job site or a defective product, an experienced personal injury lawyer can review your claim and determine if there were unsafe working conditions, potential OSHA violations, and other hazards that may have existed at the time of your accident. They will also determine who may be liable for your injuries and damages and what compensation you may be entitled to.
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