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April 28, 2016

The Fatal Four and Safety In the Construction Industry

Latest posts by Atlantic Research Team (see all)
Construction Injury and Deaths

Construction’s “Fatal Four” consists of four deadly construction hazards that contribute to a mass of fatalities year after year. They make up the majority of construction deaths, making them a major focus in construction safety training programs. The top four causes of construction fatalities are: Falls, Struck-By, Caught-In/Between and Electrocutions.

The following infographic shows just how prevalent and dangerous the “Fatal Four” are, but prior to that, the below information on how to prevent them comes from this OSHA Quick Card.

Prevent Falls
  • 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.
Prevent Falls
Prevent Struck-By
  • Never position yourself between moving and fixed objects.
  • Wear high-visibility clothes near equipment/vehicles.
Prevent Struck-By
Prevent Caught-In/Between
  • Never enter an unprotected trench or excavation 5 feet or deeper without an adequate protective system in place; some trenches under 5 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.
Prevent Caught-In/Between
Prevent Electrocutions
  • Locate and identify utilities before starting work.
  • Look for overhead power lines when operating any equipment.
  • Maintain a safe distance away from power lines; learn the safe distance requirements.
  • Do not operate 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.
Prevent Electrocutions
fatal four
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Related Category: Construction Safety Training Source: EHSToday

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