A construction fatality is the last thing anyone on a worksite wants to consider. No family wants to receive the call that an accident has occurred, and no manager wants to make that call. But one in five workplace deaths happen on construction sites, according to data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. There are around 14 occupational deaths each day in the United States, which equates to nearly three per day on worksites. These fatalities are tragic, and they’re sometimes avoidable with proper safety procedures and equipment. These tips can help reduce the number of jobsite deaths each year.
The four most common causes of construction fatalities are electrocution, fall hazards, “caught in-between” accidents and incidents involving large equipment. Even companies with well-defined emergency plans can discover one or more of these hazards on a worksite.
Overhead power lines, underground electrical lines and potentially even generators can cause electrocution hazards. One of the most effective ways to prevent electrocutions is to fence off and clearly label any areas where live wires may be present. Make sure worksites are equipped with temporary fencing and appropriate electrical warning signage anywhere workers may come into contact with power sources.
Fall hazards are another risk area where it pays to make sure there are enough barricades onsite. One of the most unexpected causes of accidents is driving heavy equipment into a ditch or off the edge of a foundation because dangerous terrain or steep drops aren’t cordoned off. In fact, OSHA estimates the largest percentage of construction accidents, almost 40%, are caused by fall hazards. Make sure workers are trained to understand when and how to use barricades to prevent fatal falls.
A related worksite danger is a “caught in between” accident. These are incidents where workers are crushed between objects. It may happen if equipment pins a person to a wall, someone is caught under a collapsing structure or buried by materials while working in an excavation area or trench. The two most common scenarios are people struck by cranes and vehicle back-overs.
Caught in-between accidents are relatively rare, around 5% of fatal worksite accidents, but they can be preventable. Remind workers to be aware of their surroundings and keep an eye out for others when operating heavy equipment or working in areas where equipment operators don’t have clear lines of sight.
Finally, the fourth major cause of worksite fatalities is large equipment dangers. Similar to “caught in-between” dangers, this is when a worker is struck down by heavy equipment. Any crew working in areas with large equipment should be required to wear bright reflective safety vests. They should also be reminded to watch out for other workers whether they are operating equipment or on the ground. Consider requiring safety fencing around areas where large equipment operates, if possible.
With each of these worksite dangers, it’s important to keep unauthorized crew members or jobsite visitors out of danger and away from the action. Crews need access to safety equipment such as safety vests, proper signage, proper barriers and a clearly articulated culture of safety.
Creating awareness of these four dangers, along with encouraging a safety-first worksite, ensures crews stay safe throughout construction. Most companies have developed comprehensive safety plans, so encourage workers to review the company’s plan and suggest improvements to prevent injuries on the job. OSHA also developed a video series to educate workers about these four dangers and how to prevent them.
When crews are invested in the safety plan, and they have the equipment they need to make the worksite safer, it helps prevent these accidents and the unfortunate phone calls that follow.
