Each year, around 5,000 workers lose their lives due to preventable workplace accidents. Startlingly, over half of these fatalities come from employees in the construction, extraction and transportation industries. Fortunately, employers can avoid many of the hazards that lead to such tragedies by implementing OSHA's safety guidelines. If you want to prevent accidents and keep your team members safe, it's important to understand the most common construction hazards and follow vital safety tips.
OSHA developed its Focus/Fatal Four Program to create awareness of the top hazards for employees. The construction industry, despite continued improvements in safety procedures and oversight, remains one of the deadliest sectors in the U.S. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 60% of construction worker deaths are attributed to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Fatal Four Hazards: Titanium Adjustable Wrench
Falls are consistently a primary cause of construction fatalities. Improperly positioned ladders, unstable working surfaces and misuse use of fall protection can cause falls and falling objects. If the sides and edges, floor holes and wall openings are not safeguarded, workers can risk falling or being hit by falling objects. Workers must use protective equipment when stationed at a height of 6 feet or more on the construction site.
These dangers are present when a worker can suffer an injury by forcible contact or impact with an object or piece of equipment. Without proper prevention tactics, struck-by hazards can lead to severe and potentially fatal injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one out of every six workplace deaths are from struck-by accidents. Common struck-by hazards in the construction sector include:
These threats occur when a worker is squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched or compressed between two or more objects or parts of an object. According to OSHA, 16% of construction deaths are from these preventable hazards. Excavation workers are twice as like to be killed due to the threat of cave-ins and other forms of caught-in/caught-between hazards. Common incidents on the job site include:
Nearly 10% of the workforce has suffered fatalities resulting from electrocution, which can occur due to multiple hazards present on construction job sites. Potential electrocution events can occur from contact with overhead power lines, energized conductors or circuit components, extension cords and power tools neglect as well as lightning.
Common injuries and accidents associated with electricity include:
As an employer, it's your responsibility to prioritize employee safety with hazard-free work sites that comply with OSHA standards. To gain valuable safety recommendations and review your insurance coverage, connect with a CBIZ construction risk manager who can provide expert insight and ensure you have the coverage you need.
Each year, around 5,000 workers lose their lives due to preventable workplace accidents. Startlingly, over half of these fatalities come from employees in the construction, extraction and transportation industries. Fortunately, employers can avoid many of the hazards that lead to such tragedies by implementing OSHA's safety guidelines. If you want to prevent accidents and keep your team members safe, it's important to understand the most common construction hazards and follow vital safety tips.
OSHA developed its Focus/Fatal Four Program to create awareness of the top hazards for employees. The construction industry, despite continued improvements in safety procedures and oversight, remains one of the deadliest sectors in the U.S. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 60% of construction worker deaths are attributed to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Fatal Four Hazards:
Falls are consistently a primary cause of construction fatalities. Improperly positioned ladders, unstable working surfaces and misuse use of fall protection can cause falls and falling objects. If the sides and edges, floor holes and wall openings are not safeguarded, workers can risk falling or being hit by falling objects. Workers must use protective equipment when stationed at a height of 6 feet or more on the construction site.
These dangers are present when a worker can suffer an injury by forcible contact or impact with an object or piece of equipment. Without proper prevention tactics, struck-by hazards can lead to severe and potentially fatal injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one out of every six workplace deaths are from struck-by accidents. Common struck-by hazards in the construction sector include:
These threats occur when a worker is squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched or compressed between two or more objects or parts of an object. According to OSHA, 16% of construction deaths are from these preventable hazards. Excavation workers are twice as like to be killed due to the threat of cave-ins and other forms of caught-in/caught-between hazards. Common incidents on the job site include:
Nearly 10% of the workforce has suffered fatalities resulting from electrocution, which can occur due to multiple hazards present on construction job sites. Potential electrocution events can occur from contact with overhead power lines, energized conductors or circuit components, extension cords and power tools neglect as well as lightning.
Common injuries and accidents associated with electricity include:
Drill Bit As an employer, it's your responsibility to prioritize employee safety with hazard-free work sites that comply with OSHA standards. To gain valuable safety recommendations and review your insurance coverage, connect with a CBIZ construction risk manager who can provide expert insight and ensure you have the coverage you need.